Recently in HD Radio Category

Microsoft has finally come clean on the rumors of its new touch-screen Zune HD, set to go on sale this Fall. The new Zune is an attempt to take on the iPod Touch, but it's not the interface I'm interested in - it's the "HD" in the new Zune HD.

Nearly three years ago, the old-school Microsoft Zune touted a built-in FM radio - not exactly a feature that would make it an "iPod killer" (as history shows, the Zune barely made a dent in iPod sales), but it was a feature nonetheless. Including a radio tuner gave consumers the choice to listen to their own collection, or live content from over-the-air radio.

And now, the new Zune HD will include an "upgrade" to its featureset: built-in HD Radio.

The Minority Media and Telecommunications Council (MMTC) has petitioned the Federal Communications Commission to include HD Radio capabilities into most satellite radio receivers.

Audi of America will be including HD Radio technology in "many" of its vehicles starting with the 2011 model year.

The vehicles that will be equipped with HD Radio will be those featuring top-of-the-line audio systems. No specific model lines were announced, but it was pointed out that these vehicles will arrive in dealers in 2010.

The news further underscores the legitimate competition that HD Radio serves against Satellite Radio, but also illustrates exactly how slow automakers are to react. This announcement comes out a full 2 years before the feature will even be available to the public.

Representative Edward Markey (D-MA), not content with a Federal Communications Commission inquiry on the subject, is has sponsored a bill to force HD Radio chips into  Satellite Radios.

The "Radio All Digital Channel Receiver Act" (H.R. 7157) would mandate that devices designed to receive both Sirius XM Radio Inc. service - and terrestrial radio - must be able to receive HD Radio too.

Of course, the FCC launched a Notice of Inquiry on the HD Radio mandate just last month. But Markey can't wait to let that play out it seems.

"Millions of Americans today rely on local broadcast radio for news, public safety bulletins, sports, weather, traffic and other information," Markey said in a statement.

"The recent merger of the only two satellite radio providers, XM and Sirius satellite radio, has underscored the importance of ensuring consumer access to a diversity of sources for digital radio content, in particular content originating in their local communities," Markey added.

A research report by Mark Kassof & Co. has revealed that 67 percent of 18-64 year olds have heard of HD Radio, a rise from 38 percent (two years ago). Woopee, "awareness" isn't what is truly important.

Don't tell that to the terrestrial radio trade mags though, they seem ready to pop the champagne over this report.

The measurement of awareness is an old-media way of thinking, so you can't really blame them. For years, "reach and frequency" have been the mantra of advertisers and media buyers, all striving to get their marketing message to as many people as possible.

But should the HD Radio really be celebrating "awareness"? Afterall, I'm highly aware of AIDS. But I don't want it. You can be "aware" of a product, and have absolutely no urge to associate yourself with it.

To be fair, the Kassof study didn't just measure awareness, it measured "consumer understanding" of HD Radio in addition, which also grew: 21 percent said they are aware that HD Radio delivers "higher quality" sound, while 8 percent now know that HD Radio delivers more listening choices.

But maybe, that's all skewed anyway, because 7 percent of those surveyed confuse HD Radio with Satellite Radio, and that metric is up from 3 percent two years ago. Come to think of it, I should have entitled this post "HD Radio confusion with Satellite Radio more than doubles."

Another three percent think they already receive HD Radio, even though they do not own an HD Radio receiver. Now that's progress.

[FMQB]
(Disclaimer: FMQB is one of the trade mags that I actually don't loathe.)

The National Association of Broadcasters in January joined other industry groups advocating an optional power boost for HD Radio, but the increase would nearly double the interference with analog FM radio, according to an extensive study by NPR Labs.

The NPR study estimates that 41 percent of public radio stations would lose one-third - or more - of the automotive radios their analog signals can reach. With the power increase, HD Radio's interference with terrestrial analog radio would nearly double, affecting 26 percent of listeners in vehicles.

NPR still backs HD Radio as an advance in radio technology. "However," Mike Starling, NPR chief technology officer and head of NPR Labs, wrote in a memo introducing the report, "we cannot responsibly support boosting HD Radio power [to] 10 percent en masse to the detriment of existing FM analog signals."

The study spans nearly 2-years of testing receiver performance, developing a formula for predicting analog/digital coverage, field testing at 10 stations, and mapping coverage for 850 public radio stations under several scenarios.

NPR Labs and the Association of Public Radio Engineers will present the findings of the report for station engineers at a day-long seminar on September 16th in Austin, Texas. The seminar will precede the National Association of Broadcasters Radio Show.

[Current.org]
Thanks Karl!

I guess it really is "time to upgrade." HD Radio Digital Alliance president Peter Ferrara has stepped down from the head position to become the new Strategic Advisor.

At the same time, the HD Radio Alliance is celebrated its 3rd year anniversary.

"When we began putting the pieces in place for the Alliance in the fall of 2005, there was little attention being paid to HD Radio and the industry lacked a plan to make it a reality," said Ferrara. "There were only a few HD stations on the air, no automakers offered an HD Radio and no national retailers carried receivers." 

"Today, it is gratifying to know how far we've come in three short years. While there is still much to do, this has been an unprecedented effort with unparalleled success within the radio industry. It's a testament to what broadcasters can achieve when the industry comes together with a clear purpose and mission."

You bet buddy. HD Radio really has come a long way in three "short" years. What's listenership up to now?

[FMQB]

Mercedes-Benz today said that it will offer HD Radio as optional factory-installed equipment on select 2009 model-year vehicles, joining the ranks of BMW, Jaguar and Volvo.

Funny, amid all that crying over the unfair competition that HD Radio will face against a merged Sirius and XM, HD Radio continued to make strides in signing deals with automakers. No wonder Toyota and GM so vehemently opposed an HD Radio mandate.

The HD Radio option will be available in M-, R-, GL-, G-Class SUVs and E-Class vehicles (GL-Class is pictured above).

These models will feature a new head unit with a 6.5-inch color display screen with an in-dash, 6-disc CD/DVD changer and a Bluetooth interface which runs through the audio system. The new head unit has the option of an iPod/MP3 media interface, Sirius Satellite Radio, HD Radio, and an advanced voice control system for audio, navigation and phone systems.

Mercedes' new system can also display maps and directions for the optional GPS nav system, which can also show off Sirius' real-time traffic information and Zagat restaurant ratings.

HD Radio will be reaching a significant and momentous milestone this August: portability. If there's ever a reason to "upgrade" to HD Radio, this has got to be it.

Enter the COBY HDR-700, a fully portable HD Radio tuner with integrated speakers. This baby can run completely on its rechargeable batteries for a full 5-hours at a clip. Combine that with the splash-proof housing (convenient for outdoor use), and the high-contrast LCD display (with backlight), and you'll be enjoying pure high-definition (oops) digital radio anywhere you want to go.

Following one of the best FCC filings I've ever read, Pioneer held a myriad of meetings with the Commission, on June 5th, outlining their opposition to iBiquity's proposal that HD Radio be forced into satellite radio receivers.

"[iBiquity's] condition would limit which radio component suppliers' products be designed into radios, granting some form of oligopoly to iBiquity and component `manufacturers that incorporate iBiquity technology," wrote Pioneer in their latest filing. "This could yield predatory practices on the part of the technology vendors."

Pionner's best comment follows...

"Furthermore, existing AM/FM/HD components have poorer AM/FM reception capability than the existing AM/FM devices," the company added. "This condition would have the effect of decreasing AM/FM tuning performance, while at the same time significantly increasing consumer prices (even for consumers uninterested in HD Radio)."

Of course, iBiquity held it's own meeting with the Commission the following day, explaining that they don't support U.S. Electronics' proposal for open access.

When a manufacturer like Pioneer - which sells HD Radio devices - comes out with such vehement opposition to a proposal, and at the same time, iBiquity opposes a free market proposal such as open device access. You have to question, is it the public, or the private interest that iBiquity is looking out for?

[View FCC Filings: 1, 2, 3 (PDF)]