So this is funny. While it was recently announced that HD Radio inked a deal with Sharper Image, there looks to be a bit more motivating the partnership than meets the eye.
Sure, HD Radio gets another retail outlet (with prominent placement in stores and catalogs), but the reality is that Sharper Image gets to piggyback on the $250 million HD Radio ad campaign. Something they desperately need.
Now, it's not that barter is a new concept. Just that this isn't the grand success that terrestrial is making it out to be. If this was such breakthrough technology, it would be something that retailers would be seeking out - not bartering over.
(Kudos to Hear 2.0 for figuring this one out.)
Interesting to note, that Radio Shack, Circuit City, and Sharper Image all are having financial problems - trading free advertising, for HD radio space... hmmmm. Hasn't the HD Radio Alliance learned, that the ad campaign for 2006, with associations with Amazon and Radio Shack, was almost a total failure - looks like, this year's association, with Sharper Image, will bring the same results. I keep hearing, more-and-more ads on radio for HD Radio, and it probably is just getting to the point, of annoying consumers - I certainly, am getting sick of hearing about it. A humorous road to failure ! Consumers are not interested in this joke:
http://www.google.com/trends?q=%22hd+radio%22%2C+%22internet+radio%22%2C+xm%2C+sirius%2C+podcast
Hey is that the Simpsons' receiver?
I wonder if we went back and looked at blogs like this when Sat Radio was first coming around, would we see comments like the one above bashing SatRad? Yes. The simple fact is, HD radio will catch on and will be big. It just takes time, and these things can not be forced on the buying public. Only recently did Sat Radio get OEM placement in cars, but I bet it won't take as long to have HD receivers in there as well. HD radio will have its day, and it will not kill Sat Radio, but its here to stay. Bad marketing or not.
Remo: Not for nothing, but you don't need to look at the early days to see the bashing of satellite radio. The NAB does it at any chance they get. Terrestrial radio publications do their best to diminish satellite radio's success and to self-praise. An industry with over a 90-year history is doing everything it can do take down an industry that's been around for only 5-years. HD Radio, by the way, is a direct response to satellite radio - so to not discuss it would be like putting the blinders on.
This is just tit-for-tat.
Is Orbitcast bias against HD Radio? You betcha. But don't think for a second that terrestrial radio isn't doing it's part.
People can get over the air local HDTV channels is most places. Those local stations are enough for some people. However, many people get Satellite or cable HD packages because they want a bigger variety or commercial-free HD channels like HBOHD. Eventually most is not all after market radios will include a HD radio receiver built in, but is it a threat to SatRad? Only if you think the local HD stations are a match for cable/satellite HD packages.
I agree that HD radios will be in autos at some point--the problem is that the content will still be limited and repetitious, and will be laden with commercials.
I'll pay for a better service any time.
Here's a question... does anyone actually BUY anything from Sharper Image anymore? Maybe they were popular back in the 90s, but I think they're more associated with "gimmicky" products now more than anything else. Nosehair trimmers and massaging chairs (not to mention the Ionic Breeze, which has had it's share of bad news over the years).
So, regardless of anything else... is HD Radio aligning themselves with Sharper Image even considered, a good thing?
Love it or hate it, HDRadio is here and is here to stay. Another fly in SDARS ointment. XM and Sirius do have the content advantage, but to the average person, once they hear the sound quality difference between XM/Sirius and HDRadio, the vast majority will probably stay with HD!!!!
I hate to be so negative about SDARS lately, but they hurt each other by fighting each other instead of fighting terrestrial for the past three years. Now it may be coming back to bite them in the ass!
satradfan, they aren't fighting each other, they are competing against each other. people are so anal about a merger because they are afraid that the lack of competition will make the industry weak. and here we go with the sound quality versus content arguement. are you serious? any research that confirms that people want better sound over incredible content? what if an over the air antenna has the best picture, but 4 channels? will people not buy cable?
FaFa, my intent was not to argue content vs SQ per se, but the competition (the fighting) of each other HAS had a negative side effect. Look at the sound quality posts over at their respective fansites to see what I mean. Nobody would argue against the fact that SDARS has the best content on any radio, but a sacrifice has been made to get us where we are, and you can be damn sure that HDRadio will market the hell out of that (it's pretty much all they have left):P
As far as sSarper Image is concerned, aren't they the one's that make those air purifiers? Now they sell HDRadio??
Local Clear Chanel station here brings up that the station also is available on HD radio, with clear
"HIGH DEF" sound. until they come clean that HD isn't HIGH DEF it may catch on big with avag. person that hears about the HIGH DEF sound every hour.
I purchased a JVC HD radio and was immediately blown away by the sound quality of FM broadcasts. Once you become accostomed to HD radio, it's hard to settle for anything less. This new technology is truly amazing.
@Len14043
If you're traveling from Jacksonville, FL to New Orleans, I doubt you'll be able to pick up the same HD Radio station that far.
i would buy that for a dollar!
Here, I'll settle this argument:
“4/4/07 - FCC: Market to Decide Fate of HD Radio”
http://www.diymedia.net/archive/0407.htm
“Sirius, XM, and HD: Consumer interest reality check”
“While interest in satellite radio is diminishing, interest in HD shows no signs of a pulse.”
http://www.hear2.com/2007/02/sirius_xm_and_h.html
“U.S. automakers not jumping into HD Radio”
http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSN2632750220070427?pageNumber=1
“Bridge Ratings: Sweat the cell phone and don’t count on HD”
“In other words, Bridge says interest in HD radio is decreasing even as your station works hard to increase awareness. What can I possibly add to this honest and bleak picture that I haven’t said before? My well-intended warnings about HD’s “premature death” seem to be rearing their ugly heads almost two years later.”
http://www.hear2.com/2007/04/bridge_ratings_.html
“But is ‘availability’ of HD radios the problem?”
“And one broadcaster reported to me that he asked an iBiquity rep how many HD radios had actually been sold as of the most recent accounting. And this was his answer: 150,000.”
http://www.hear2.com/2007/04/but_is_availabi.html