Not being one to avoid making enemies, Tim Robbins took the opportunity of his keynote speech at the NAB Show in Vegas. "We don't want any kind of reporting outside the soundbite," said Robbins. "I don't know about you, but show me a drunk starlet getting out of a car with no panties on, and I think the world is a better place."
But it's what he said about satellite radio which will be of most interest to folks here. Here's an excerpt from Variety, which has one of the better accounts of the keynote:
"Robbins stepped on sensitive ground when noting that 'just when we were getting close to a national music playlist, along comes satellite radio that actually plays music people want to hear.' NAB battled to stop the proposed XM and Sirius merger, which the Justice Dept. recently approved. Despite NAB's ongoing, bitter protests, the Federal Communications Commission is likely to approve the merger, too."
The article ends saying that about two-thirds of the packed ballroom rose to a standing ovation.
[Variety]
"The article ends saying that about two-thirds of the packed ballroom rose to a standing ovation."
None of which owns a satellite radio...
Never really liked the guy, as I don't like being preached to by movie stars, but this was a good speech.
Yeah that will help the cause...NOT! Perhaps Tim Robbins has money on when the whole satrad industry implodes, this "merge" MONOPOLY idea is a good kick in the pants towards the complete decline of the fragile, and overly expensive satrad industry.
“We are at an abyss as an industry and as a country,” Robbins said.
"Ditching the chance to give his views in an exchange with TV critic David Bianculli, who appears on National Public Radio and in the pages of Broadcasting & Cable magazine, Robbins described that abyss using expletives that would not be allowed on free over-the-air radio or television by the Federal Communications Commission. In addition to using the common vulgarity for copulation, known as the f-bomb, Robbins joked that “Die, you Nazi c___suckers" was the lesser known of Edward R. Murrow's signoffs at the end of his London blitz broadcasts."
"Enough is enough," he said. "Now is the time to move away from our lesser selves. Now is the time to stop making money on the misfortunes of others and the prurient and salacious desires" of the public.
Way to go Tim! To bad Tim doesn't get that thats what the Sirius/xm "merge" MONOPOLY is all about
NAB executive vice president Dennis Wharton, the spokesman for the industry group running the show, said "We found Mr. Robbins' remarks to be entertaining and thought-provoking, although we were not expecting the expletives not deleted," Wharton said. “We would obviously disagree with some of his characterizations but respect his viewpoints."
The ignorant (like ignorant Lou) can paint a target on NAB but they are hardly the only problem. Keep on cheerleading for the "merge" MONOPOLY in satrad girls, if the FCC doesn't do the right thing you may get your wish, and then we'll all see the satrad industry as history sooner than later.
Maybe Tim has money in HD Radio which is going to be the real winner when smart consumers vote with their wallets and vote NO! to "merge" MONOPOLY
I always knew I liked this guy. Well done Mr. Robbins.
How can HD be this winner when to start with it is a flawed System.
It took years for HD to figure out how to fit the signal into the bandwith of analog.
It was like getting one last thing into a shopping bag but to do it they had to remove something smaller. In other words cutting down the quailty of the analog signal.
One good thing about HD is it forces many people myself and my Wife included to use satellite only. We lost the only station we listen to when they added HD.
It's funny that NAB is getting called out -- the government isn't getting the brunt of the criticism. The funny thing is that the government does the right thing only when the money is even. Otherwise, it's a war of the checkbook.
In the forum of ideas, this merger is a no-brainer. In the reality of money driven politicos, it takes people with independence to use their freedom of speech, and use the capital of influence to counter money and paying for votes.
Bravo, Mr Robbins. Whether we agree on specific points, I value your voice.
thank you mr robbins may i have ANOTHER PLEASE
John,
HD Radio a flawed system? hmmm Dont think so. Analog is going away, If you didn't know you can fit more digital into the real estate analog took up while increasing the quality. One HUGE advantage HD Radio has is it's terrestrial based and doesn't come with the unobtainable balance of profit over expense that satellite based radio has. Sad too you feel "it forces many people myself and my Wife included to use satellite only". This "merge" MONOPOLY is really going to take it's toll on you and them when the whole satrad industry implodes.
John,
HD Radio a flawed system? hmmm Dont think so. Analog is going away, If you didn't know you can fit more digital into the real estate analog took up while increasing the quality. One HUGE advantage HD Radio has is it's terrestrial based and doesn't come with the unobtainable balance of profit over expense that satellite based radio has. Sad too you feel "it forces many people myself and my Wife included to use satellite only". This "merge" MONOPOLY is really going to take it's toll on you and them when the whole satrad industry implodes.
Way to go Tim! Tim gets what the Sirius/xm "merge" MONOPOLY is all about.
This "merge" MONOPOLY is really going to be great.
YES! to "merge" MONOPOLY
How can HD be this winner when to start with it is a flawed System.
It took years for HD to figure out how to fit the signal into the bandwith of analog.
It was like getting one last thing into a shopping bag but to do it they had to remove something smaller. In other words cutting down the quailty of the analog signal.
One good thing about HD is it forces many people myself and my Wife included to use satellite only. We lost the only station we listen to when they added HD.
Way to go Tim! Tim gets what the Sirius/xm "merge" MONOPOLY is all about.
This "merge" MONOPOLY is really going to be great.
YES! to "merge" MONOPOLY
How can HD be this winner when to start with it is a flawed System.
It took years for HD to figure out how to fit the signal into the bandwith of analog.
It was like getting one last thing into a shopping bag but to do it they had to remove something smaller. In other words cutting down the quailty of the analog signal.
One good thing about HD is it forces many people myself and my Wife included to use satellite only. We lost the only station we listen to when they added HD.
Study: HD Radio Awareness Dips
NEW YORK -- April 9, 2008: Arbitron and Edison Media Research's new "Infinite Dial: Radio's Digital Platforms" study found that consumer awareness of HD Radio is at 24 percent -- significantly lower than the 77 percent found in a Critical Mass Media study cited by the HD Digital Radio Alliance. Additionally, the Arbitron-Edison study showed that HD awareness has fallen slightly, from 26 percent in the January 2007 survey.
Edison VP Tom Webster said of the HD results, "Clearly, when we see an awareness curve that looks like this, change is necessary to bring about change. If broadcasters want to move the needle on awareness of HD, more and different measures are therefore called for."
A number of listeners to Wednesday's conference call on the study had questions about why the awareness numbers "seem low compared to some of the other studies that folks have seen," said Arbitron President/Sales & Marketing Pierre Bouvard.
Bouvard said, "It's important to remember that we asked the question very specifically."
Arbitron and Edison have used the same definition to describe HD Radio for respondents in the last three studies. That definition reads, "HD Digital Radio is a new technology that enables AM and FM radio stations to broadcast their signals digitally, providing listeners with vastly improved audio quality. In addition, HD Radio features new radio formats that may not be currently available on regular AM/FM radio in your area. HD Radio also allows for a digital display with song information, weather reports, and traffic alerts."
Bouvard said, "We went into great detail about the three aspects of HD and then asked the awareness question. There might be some other studies out there that simply say 'Are you aware of HD Radio?' And certainly, you might be getting a bigger number with that."
The study found that 29 percent of respondents were "very" or "somewhat" interested in HD Radio based on the description, with 41 percent "not at all interested." Webster said that 29 percent figure is "somewhat encouraging, and not necessarily far away from where satellite radio's numbers were at a comparable time in that technology's maturity cycle." But, he said, "Thirty percent interest does not equate to 30 percent market penetration, and the HD Radio Alliance and others have some more ground to cover."
Bouvard and Webster did not refer specifically to the HD Alliance or Critical Mass Media during the call.
Satellite Awareness Flat
With most recent news coverage concerned with their proposed merger, awareness of XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio has stayed relatively flat, the study showed, at 59 percent for XM and 60 percent for Sirius in 2008's study, compared to 64 percent for XM and 60 percent for Sirius a year ago and 61 percent for both in 2006.
Among the respondents who aren't already satellite subscribers, 84 percent said they're "not at all likely" to sign up in the next 12 months, with 14 percent saying they are "somewhat likely" and 2 percent saying they're "very likely" to subscribe.
But based on Arbitron's fall 2007 survey (excluding the PPM markets), XM has a 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6 a.m.-midnight cume of 10.5 million, while Sirius has just over 7 million. That gives them a combined national rating of a .5 or .6, which, Bouvard noted, is "pretty darn respectable." He said, "We'll keep an eye on satellite as we move forward."
Arbitron and Edison interviewed 1,857 people between January 18 and February 15. Most respondents were chosen at random from a national sample of Arbitron fall 2007 diarykeepers, with a supplemental sample from random-digit dialing.
HD Radio Alliance to Retool Marketing
Mike Boyle, Radio and Records
MARCH 31, 2008 -
Hoping to convince more consumers to buy HD Radio receivers, the HD Digital Radio Alliance, the joint radio broadcaster initiative formed to accelerate consumer adoption of HD Radio, announced the next stage of its campaign. The refocused consumer marketing strategy includes new messaging, logos and radio ads that begin Monday in 100 markets on more than 700 stations.
The campaign's new tagline is "HD Radio – It's Time to Upgrade!"
Many of these new initiatives grew out of an industry-wide collaboration that took place at the HD Radio Idea Summit held earlier this month in Orlando.
More than 1,600 radio stations are broadcasting in HD Radio; more than 600 of those stations also broadcast additional side channels.
While consumer awareness is high, at 77 percent according to a survey by Critical Mass Media, sales have yet to hit a million.
At the end of 2007, 330,000 consumers had purchased HD Radios, according to iBiquity Digital Corp. In a separate study of current or likely auto buyers by J.D. Powers, 31 percent said they want HD Radio in their next vehicle.
"We closed 2007 with consumer awareness at unprecedented levels," said Peter Ferrara, president and CEO of the HD Digital Radio Alliance. "This year will see unparalleled numbers of receivers in cars and at retail, totally new data applications, and new investments in HD2 and HD3 programming from broadcasters. Now is the time to convert consumer awareness into purchasing action."
--additional reporting by Katy Bachman, Mediaweek
More people have had sex with dogs than own HD radio!
(For obvious reasons.)
Sorry about all the duplicate posts it just kept posting every time i attempted to get out
Coward must work for IB if it is a AM station he works for and not on a clear channel his station will be gone because HD will force out all the smaller stations . All that 700Mhz bandwith but they had to add digital to analog. Was that to force out all the smaller stations?
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John,
HD Radio a flawed system? hmmm Dont think so. Analog is going away, If you didn't know you can fit more digital into the real estate analog took up while increasing the quality.
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It IS a flawed system the way it is done now but i am sure the goal is to remove all analog.
That may be ok for FM but on AM it is insane because of propagation on that band.
Tim who? ..... Oh yeah, I loved him in the "Price is Right".
what is HD radio?
Digital is always lesser quality than the equivalent analog signal. Digital is simply smapling the audio in order to send it at a rate that is discernable to the listener. HD Radio uses one station's bandwidth to create 4 digital channels. They are not adding capacity to the channels. Each channel is lower quality than the original. Similar to WAV files (CD quality) to MP3s. HD is a misnomer in the case of radio. Signal strength needs to be increased or more repeaters added when dealing with digital signals since they dissipate quicker. Also more dead spots. It is not like HDTV where the signal is sent over coax lines and fibre. I have noticed signal creep in some of my terrestrial music stations, you know, the digital ones. It is not always evident, but you can sometimes hear fragments of what I can only presume are other programming.
HD radio is like Sony Betamax, a better product, but a marketing flop.
Full text of speech at Huffington Post
Robbins was right on and justified, especially his attack on the lack of journalism in the mainstrream media, liberal and conservative. Instead on major stories and/or outrage over the recent disclosure of the President's knowledge and approval of torture - we get talking points on little league baseball and brush clearing in Crawford.
Christ, you don't need a quadrophonic Blaupunkt (to play your satellite radio)! What you need is a curveball! In the show, everyone can hit heat.
the coward doesnt give up does he?
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posted by annonymous coward a.k.a. NAB ambassator: The ignorant (like ignorant Lou) can paint a target on NAB but they are hardly the only problem. Keep on cheerleading for the "merge" MONOPOLY in satrad girls, if the FCC doesn't do the right thing you may get your wish, and then we'll all see the satrad industry as history sooner than later
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by the way! what do you care?...you dont subscribe to it, how will it affect you...i know your job at the NAB means alot to you and the extinction of sat-rad but.....im sure there is an anti-sat rad forum you can invade and at least people over there will agree to your stupid theory!