iBiquity is continuing to try to pump hope into the survival of HD Radio, recently announcing that new aftermarket and auto manufacturers are offering the medium.
But it's comments made by iBiquity COO Jeff Jury that really makes me wonder if the company is just hell-bent on persistent propaganda, or actually believes their own hype.
But it's comments made by iBiquity COO Jeff Jury that really makes me wonder if the company is just hell-bent on persistent propaganda, or actually believes their own hype.
First the "news"...
Aftermarket manufacturers like Alpine, JVC, Kenwood, Pioneer, Sony, Clarion, Dual and Jensen are now featuring HD Radio Technology across their product line ups. JVC and Jensen actually are are offering three new receivers now.
At the same time, 9 new vehicle models are now offering HD Radio as either standard or optional equipment. They are the BMW 2011 5 Series; Ford's 2011 Super Duty, Mustang, Flex and Taurus; Jaguar's 2010 XJ model; Hyundai's 2011 Sonata and Lincoln's 2011 MKT and MKS models.
That seems all well and good (truth be told, satellite radio fans would be overjoyed to hear any announcements about new manufacturers or OEM availability), but I really like the comments made by iBiquity Digital Corp COO Jeff Jury:
Really? Critical mass? As in, mass adoption? As in, consumers are actually aware, interested and seeking after the technology?
Now, consumers might have heard about HD Radio, but that's likely because the HD Radio Alliance has been pounding away with commercials on regular AM/FM radio.
According to Media Monitors, the HD Radio Alliance aired 1.3 million radio spots in the past year. Read that again, 1.3 million radio ad spots.
And a large number of those ads were run free-of-charge by member stations. While others were paid through funding provided by device makers, retailers and automotive companies. How convenient.
In order for HD Radio to actually reach critical mass, the technology needs to reach a point of self-sustainability. Whereas, the momentum is so rich that it fuels its own growth. And having member stations dump literally millions of promotional ad spots hardly seems to prove that HD Radio has reached critical mass.
[via FMQB]
Aftermarket manufacturers like Alpine, JVC, Kenwood, Pioneer, Sony, Clarion, Dual and Jensen are now featuring HD Radio Technology across their product line ups. JVC and Jensen actually are are offering three new receivers now.
At the same time, 9 new vehicle models are now offering HD Radio as either standard or optional equipment. They are the BMW 2011 5 Series; Ford's 2011 Super Duty, Mustang, Flex and Taurus; Jaguar's 2010 XJ model; Hyundai's 2011 Sonata and Lincoln's 2011 MKT and MKS models.
That seems all well and good (truth be told, satellite radio fans would be overjoyed to hear any announcements about new manufacturers or OEM availability), but I really like the comments made by iBiquity Digital Corp COO Jeff Jury:
"As competition in the automotive aftermarket segment intensifies, HD Radio Technology is growing market share in both high-end and mid-range brands," said iBiquitry COO Jeff Jury. "This expanded availability in aftermarket devices indicates HD Radio Technology has reached critical mass and further demonstrates leading brands' vision and long-term commitment to HD Radio products."
Really? Critical mass? As in, mass adoption? As in, consumers are actually aware, interested and seeking after the technology?
Now, consumers might have heard about HD Radio, but that's likely because the HD Radio Alliance has been pounding away with commercials on regular AM/FM radio.
According to Media Monitors, the HD Radio Alliance aired 1.3 million radio spots in the past year. Read that again, 1.3 million radio ad spots.
And a large number of those ads were run free-of-charge by member stations. While others were paid through funding provided by device makers, retailers and automotive companies. How convenient.
In order for HD Radio to actually reach critical mass, the technology needs to reach a point of self-sustainability. Whereas, the momentum is so rich that it fuels its own growth. And having member stations dump literally millions of promotional ad spots hardly seems to prove that HD Radio has reached critical mass.
[via FMQB]
I have yet to meet a single person who has HD Radio... Still, I'm sure the industry will beat that dead horse until they're all out of work.
iBiquity is desperate for an IPO, and they are due for another round of financing. Interesting that Struble has Jeff Jury make this "milestone" announcement, letting Jury take responsibilty for this bogus claim. An easy way to judge consumer interest in HD Radio is through this Google Trends graph:
http://tinyurl.com/263qdhv
HD Radio is dead.
What a load of hooey. This is typical iBiquity swag to make it seem like “HD radio” is taking off. It’s going nowhere fast — or slow, for that matter. For the first time in history, public airwaves are in the hands of a monopoly, and it’s trying to foist this scam off on an American public that could care less — even if its claims were true, which they are not. See keeppublicradiopublic.com and MANY other sites on this ripoff. It’s reached critical mass like a cowpie does in yonder pasture…
The article's analysis of this is on target. Despite all of the promotion on terrestrial stations, HD Radio is not taking off.
Why would it? I have a home-model HD Radio, and there's just nothing on there to listen to. What you get right now on HD are a bunch of reconstituted formats featuring the same tired stuff available all over the non-HD dial. The promotions say, "new music," "in-depth news," etc., but I have yet to hear either.
Moreover, you need an exceptionally good signal to get HD, so I'd think it would be frustrating as hell in a car. Also, this pretty much cancels out their claim of "digital clarity," because if you have a clean enough signal to get uninterrupted HD, it'd sound equally good (actually better, owing to lack of digital compression) in analog.
I think in order to get people on board with HD, they are going to have to start partnering with audio content providers who will help in getting the HD radios into people's hands. For example, get an audio program a lot of people might want, such as a 24-hour news, business or sports service offering desirable programming, put it on several stations' HD sub-channels, and get that company to advertise in those markets that people can get the service by purchasing an HD radio.
I have one. Won it (of all places) at NAB a couple years ago. Still in the box, since there's no local HD Radio here. Will probably end up using it to listen to Slacker via my iPod using the AUX jack before much longer though.
I agree. HD Radio is dead.
I know no-one that has it nor
wants it. HD doesn't even mean
that the audio quality is as good
as CD. The most misleading term
for radio I ever heard.
Indeed, the "HD" abbreviation has to be one of the goofiest marketing gimmicks ever. It does not mean, "high definition." For a while people said it meant "hybrid digital," but now they say it doesn't mean that, either. In truth, it means nothing -- just an effort to make people associate it with HDTV. And, as you said, it certainly does not relate to audio quality, which is not as good as analog (on FM).
Did I read that right? HD radio is a new millstone around the neck of the broadcasting industry?
Did I read that right? HD is a millstone around the neck of radio?