Clear Channel has launched a new service that will distribute 75 new music channels for HD Radio broadcasts on rival terrestrial radio stations. Using formats that have been ignored by terrestrial radio, like traditional jazz, bluegrass and classical music, the new service called "Format Lab" will be a content trove for HD radio stations to dip into rather than having to come up with their own playlist of music.

"As other companies begin to use the HD side channels, they're going to need programming help of the sort we can provide with Format Lab," said John Hogan, president and chief executive of Clear Channel Radio. "So they will be very interested in what we can provide them."

Funny thing is, I always thought the 'big deal' over terrestrial was the ability to provide local content to their listeners. Isn't this "Format Lab" the exact opposite of that?

[MarketWatch]

In lieu of a semi-boring day in world of satellite radio today, let's take a trip back in time to just over a year ago. When Dan Mason, former CBS Radio President, predicted that by this time today - there would be over 1,300 HD Radio stations broadcasting digital radio across the U, S of A. With the euphoric HD Radio signal washing over a whopping 80% of the US population, and over 15 separate manufacturers pumping out HD Radios, it was proclaimed that "AM and FM is changing before your eyes."

Or maybe not.

Here we are, a year later after such lofty dreams were crafted. Yet, a mere 700 stations have the ability to broadcast in HD Radio, and only 1,200 are expected by year's end. Just over 260 are even multicasting any HD2 channels. And with word that HD Radio's inventor, iBiquity, is halting all current and future projects... is the writing on the wall?

[Radio Rave April 14, 2005]
(For more giggles, read the Satellite Radio: Too Early For Cigars written by Cox Radio President/CEO Bob Neil. With quotable quotes like "I'd liken the satellite market more to a zygote than to an embryo" and "Satellite radio's impact on traditional radio is minimal," you'll be sure to be entertained.)

I'm hearing some very interesting rumors about iBiquity, the company behind terrestrial radio's savior technology HD Radio (just a little refresher, the "HD" doesn't actually stand for "high definition" - funny huh?). Word has it that iBiquity is experiencing so much financial mayhem that they've stopped all projects, both current and future, and are regrouping or possibily worse.

Look, I'm all for competition and all, but with a phenominal tag line like "are you deaf yet?" (listen to campaign spots here and here) who wouldn't bet all their chips on this technology?
Thanks Hurricane Ben!