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]
The bigger news is that HD Radio will now start airing commercials. Now that is an upgrade.
"Orlando, Fla. — Up until now, HD Radio, like satellite radio, limited the commercials it aired, but that is about to change.
The HD Radio Alliance announced today it will allow HD2 Radio stations to begin airing commercials, lifting a three-year ban."
http://www.twice.com/article/CA6592673.html
The HD Alliance, iBiquity, and the NAB are a fraud. Yea, if HD Radio was doing so great, then why the switch to Warren - just like John Gorman predicted. Yea, Peter, the 1,000,000th HD Radio sold:
"HD Radio spinners claim a breakthrough year: Pulling a fast one"
"According to a press release from the Alliance 330,000 HD receivers were sold last year. This is a 725 per cent increase from the 40,000 sets purchased a year earlier and therefore 2007 was a 'breakthrough year' for the technology. In 2008 they will sell a million of the things."
http://tinyurl.com/4zgkaw
How many returned, and purchased by those in the broadcast industry? Retailers are giving up on HD Radio:
"HD Slowly Passes Into The Night"
"Radio Shack has given up on HD Radio. Their stores have two radios in stock and both are on clearance. One radio that sold for $249 is now on closeout at $82. The other was $149 and now sells for $99. If that isn’t ‘get this out of here’ pricing what is? It appears no new models are coming to replace them. No surprise really."
http://tinyurl.com/5s8zfk
"More HD Fun"
"It was mentioned that retail stores such as Radio Shack are not placing these radios on the shelf. Also, distributor such as Crutchfield are liquidating stock, though I see a pretty decent selection there. How does a radio manufacturer keep up with the changes that Ibiquity keep making? It hurts. And though it is published that consumers are more aware of HD radio, are they buying into it? No."
http://www.eisenhamerengineering.com/wordpress/?p=70
"American DX Report"
"North American shortwave broadcasters have decided to conduct research into current shortwave listening patterns in North America, digital HD radio receivers are being removed from radio shop inventories in the United States, and some American AM mediumwave stations with IBOC capability are choosing to switch off due to interference problems and the lack of listeners with IBOC receivers."
http://mt-shortwave.blogspot.com/2008/09/american-dx-report.html
Fraud.
HD Radio had better survive. I have three HD Radios now with less than satisfactory AM performance. At least I can have HD to make up for that...
FM performance is great on all three, but AM performance leaves much to be desired on all three. The receivers are a Pioneer GEX-P10HD, Integra DTR-8.8, and Sony XDR-S3HD as pictured in this post.
Most importantly is my Integra DTR-8.8 that has an HD Radio tuner that only ran me about $2400 (said with sarcasm) - great FM performance, AM performance is definitely on the "meh" side. I would say that's attributable to the HD chipset's performance with AM envelopes. There are some things I enjoy listening to on AM, and one thing I will only be able to get on AM (EWTN Radio) if Sirius (Sirius XM) ever drops it. The station broadcasts right here in the city but I cannot pick it up too clearly on either of the tuners.
On the other hand, I can pick up WLS-AM HD Chicago in HD, well into Missouri. So, it may be attributable to the power of the AM broadcast as well.
If they want to get this thing out, they need to make them a LOT cheaper, and put it in every radio.
And allowing HD2 to carry commercials is NOT a good motivator to get consumers to purchase them. I enjoy having commercial free HD2 stations myself.
Oh well... Happy Sirius XM subscriber. I still maintain both services and love them.
3 years.
3 years and I still have not seen an HD radio in the wild or on a store shelf.
3 years and no stations in my part of the state are "HD".
What a goatfuck of a product/service/boat anchor.
good luck, bro
This is precisely why the FCC IS GOING to mandate inclusion of HD radio chipsets into each and every satellite radio receiver. GO FCC! Down with the Melvin "Mel" Alan Karmazin's merge-to-monopoly scheme! Sell your one dollar lottery tickets before it's too late people! Go Cramer!
I thought we got rid of this "Melvin "Mel" Alan Karmazin's merge-to-monopoly scheme" guy. He's really the hemorrhoid of Orbitcast.
I approved that "Melvin 'Mel' Alan Karmazin" comment by mistake... sorry about that.
BTW, while I understand pocketradio's stance for being anti-HD, I really hate those copy/paste comments. Can't we keep those to just one article or just a link?
I know lots of people who are really into radio but not one of them has an HD radio.
The terrestrial people just don't understand that no one cares about the technology......only content is important. Someone needs to have the guts to put Rush on HD2 and not on analog.
I'm not holding my breath.
HD radio = AM stereo. Yes, it works but no one cares.
Sorry, Ryan, I'll try and keep the links to a minimum - but, according to our resident attorney, AC, who spells "libalous", my comments would be considered libelous without links to back up my statements. I've been waiting almost 2 years for that certified letter from iBiquity/NAB/HD Alliance. I'm looking forward to that early retirement, after my counter-suit for violations of First Amendment Rights, and will enjoy contacting all of the local media - let them try and "SLAPP" me to shut down my blog:
http://w2.eff.org/bloggers/lg/faq-overview.php
Ryan,
Can you please do something with Pocketradio and his endless and desperate HD thread craps? This debunked troll does the same sh*t all over the net why let him foul Orbitcast?
Orbitcast certainly can do without little Mat making typical off topic thread craps desperate for attention and his ego to be stroked, he's got nothing to add to the threads.
Sure thought the "new" Orbitcast was going to rid the site of that crap for good.