Remember that HD Radio Alliance that was formed a while back? It was basically just a bunch of Big Radio Suits getting together and coming up with some sort of organization, with a neato name, because they couldn't get their stuff together with their HD Radio technology. We all know how scared of satellite radio they are and HD Radio is their only hope for salvation (in their eyes - personally, my feeling is that HD Radio will provide no benefit to Terrestrial's offering whatsoever - but hey, that's just me).

Well, it looks like finally something will come of this because The Rebel Alliance has announced the initiative for broadcasting HD2 multicast programming. Set to launch within a few days in 28 markets (NY, LA, Chicago, etc) with 264 new HD2 channels covering a variety of music and talk formats. Member broadcasters will be responsible for programming each of their multicast channels (as opposed to the templatized playlists we all know and love) and all HD2 formats will be initially commercial-free. In addition, all current analog radio signals will also be available as HD digital radio broadcasts (on HD1 channels).

The commercial-free part is very interesting. It looks like Terrestrial is willing to (uncharacteristically) eat some potential profits in hopes to spur adoption of HD Radio. Currently, no one owns HD Radio and there's not really any reason to. But commercial-free programming that's non-templatized? That almost sounds as good as satellite radio!

Things are getting interesting...

[FMQB] 

It looks like TimeTrax Technologies has made the move away from pirating recording satelllite radio and instead is working towards a simplistic way to record FM Radio. Their new line of devices unveiled at CES, called the PopCatcher, records FM radio to MP3 allowing you to build a free MP3 library.

It works with an alogorithm that detects individual songs broadcast, allowing seamless capturing of songs. Pretty neat actually.

I just find it interesting that they seem to have moved away from the XM and SIRIUS recording, seeing as many of the new receivers all have time-shifting built in, and now are going after terrestrial. While TimeTrax CEO Elliot Frutkin is touting the ol' RIAA-spin - it's not stealing if it's already been broadcast. So I say, more luck to them!

[Engadget]