HD Radios at "Best Buy" for $39

[jeffryan]

They care about hearing what they want to hear and don't care if it's coming out of a radio, computer, phone, or coffee maker. The more people get accustomed to hearing what they want when they want, the more impatient they will become. Radio can't give audiences what they want when they want so it's answer is to program to people not inclined to seek entertainment elsewhere or to hire compelling enough people so that audiences will sit through what they could care less about because they like the station enough and not just the music. Naturally radio isn't about to hire people of that caliber outside of mornings and today's PDs wouldn't know how to program them anyway.

Bingo. Or they spend the majority of their efforts on their website or internet portal. You find media consumers where they live and the majority of them (especially kids) don't live in radio land.

[jeffryan]

I think both of you are missing the point.  The people who always "cared" about radio still care about it but there is now a generation of people who never "cared" about radio because they received their entertainment in other ways.

If radio is going to last beyond the next several generations it needs to find a way to interest the emerging generations who have never listened or cared about radio. 

Totally agree.

[Don Juannn]

Uh, are you aware of the MILLIONS upon MILLIONS of dollars that the HD Radio Alliance has spent on radio advertising in the last five years?

Uh, are you aware that most (if not all) of the radio advertising has been provided free of charge?  (They have not spent MILLIONS upon MILLIONS.)

Advertising that has gotten them nowhere because they refuse to concede that the product is crap.

Agreed that advertising has gotten them nowhere...because instead of selling the new formats available that actually might be of interest to people...they are selling the technology...which no one cares about.

Nobody cares, but they still continue to spend millions on advertising.

They are not spending millions.

If you are going to compare any new technology to the iPod & iPad...then everything will flunk that test.  The iPod is the biggest sucess story in technology in recent memory....and you are going to compare anything to that?

Well isn't that the point? While other new technology fights Apple for market share, HD radio doesn't even show up on the radar.

No, Radio and broadcasting in general are not the same as an iPod. 

They are different products. 

People come to radio for different reasons than they come to an iPod.

[Don Juannn]

   Internet radio doesn't have to be LIVE.

If you think that radio and internet radio is only about music...then maybe.

But for internet radio that is time sensitive, news, talk or sports....then "live" is a more important elemnt.

[Skynet74]

If you think that radio and internet radio is only about music...then maybe.

But for internet radio that is time sensitive, news, talk or sports....then "live" is a more important elemnt.

   I agree. People running music stations don't need to be concerned about going LIVE. People tuning in for music aren't going to care. Music stations are pretty much human jukeboxes these days. However News, talk and sports is best done live. I couldn't agree more.

[jeffryan]

Uh, are you aware of the MILLIONS upon MILLIONS of dollars that the HD Radio Alliance has spent on radio advertising in the last five years?

Uh, are you aware that most (if not all) of the radio advertising has been provided free of charge?  (They have not spent MILLIONS upon MILLIONS.)

The Alliance certainly has spent MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS.

http://www.mediabuyerplanner.com/entry/38408/hd-radio-alliance-ups-ad-commitment-by-50-mil/?utm_source=mbp&utm_campaign=sitenav&utm_medium=entrylink

http://www.mediabuyerplanner.com/entry/35863/hd-alliance-increases-financial-backing-by-230mm-renews-charter/?utm_source=mbp&utm_campaign=sitenav&utm_medium=entrylink

So they're getting stations to play these spots free of charge. But how do you think they ultimately get paid for? Santa Claus? Let's not forget the enormous licensing fees that each and every station has to pay out for the "privilege" of having HD radio.

If you are going to compare any new technology to the iPod & iPad...then everything will flunk that test.  The iPod is the biggest sucess story in technology in recent memory....and you are going to compare anything to that?

Well isn't that the point? While other new technology fights Apple for market share, HD radio doesn't even show up on the radar.

No, Radio and broadcasting in general are not the same as an iPod. 

They are different products. 

People come to radio for different reasons than they come to an iPod.

But wait, HD radio was at one time "new technology", was it not? They couldn't sell radios when they launched them, let alone now that the technology is over 5 years old. Classic iPods still sell like crazy almost 10 years later.

How is HD radio different from an iPod? Every HD radio station I've ever seen has no talent and just music. Very much like an iPod. The only difference is that with HD radio you don't get to be the PD. With the iPod, you do. So other than that, if you are looking to consume music, they are pretty much the same thing. One is passive with inferior technology while the other is active with great technology.

Find a media consumer who wants music on the go. You hand a media consumer a wad of cash and ask him to choose between HD radio and an iPod. Of course they're going to choose the iPod. So your argument is that they go to each for different reasons. So please be so kind as to tell me why someone who just purchased an iPod would also turn around and purchase an HD radio... considering your argument that they're so different.

[Don Juannn]

So they're getting stations to play these spots free of charge. But how do you think they ultimately get paid for? Santa Claus?

DO you know anything about the radio business?

How do they ultimately get paid for?  They don't get paid for.

But wait, HD radio was at one time "new technology", was it not? They couldn't sell radios when they launched them, let alone now that the technology is over 5 years old.

They have been selling the technology of HD radio...which the public doesn't care bout.  What they care about is choice...and more formats.  HD has made the mistake of not telling people what new formats are available...but instead, promoting the "new technology" which makes no difference to people.

 Every HD radio station I've ever seen has no talent and just music.

Then you need to get out more and know more about the subject you are talking about.

[RockTheGlobe]

How is HD radio different from an iPod? Every HD radio station I've ever seen has no talent and just music.

Not that I'm attempting to defend the debacle that is HD Radio, but I will say that at least half of the HD stations I've heard have talent on them.

[Skynet74]

I'm just happy that there is finally a fight on here that I'm not involved in.

Carry on.

[N1WVQ]

My experience with IBOC (with a Boston Acoustics receiver) thus far is this:
1. The sound difference on F.M. is hardly noticable.
2. There is a difference on A.M. but whether or not the analog signal is topping out @ 5kc. could be a factor.
3. There's only 1 receivable A.M. IBOC signal in East Providence: WHJJ.
4. The IBOC signals are so damn fussy & brittle it's like a highwire balancing act with fine china to place the antenna.
5. There were 3 HD2 stations that were receivable in E.P.: 93.3-2, 94.1-2 & 101.5-2.  Nothing on 89.7.
6. A.M. IBOC is a nuisance on analog radio.  940/WGFP comes in fine on the Washington Bridge when WHJJ has theirs off.  When it's on, WGFP is unlistenable in Lincoln!
7. 93.3-2 occasionally has D.J.s but they sound like national filler.  94.1-2 hasn't had any that I've heard & 101.5-2 isn't operational anymore.  It was some lame "comedy" channel (Joke Joke or something).
8. Ever since 101.5 installed IBOC, 101.9 has had a harder time coming in.
9. From Taunton no A.M. IBOC signals were decodable.  F.M. may have had marginal success but 93.3 was analog only.

I like the idea of multicast stations but wish digital broadcasting had its own band.  Plus that could mean more owners of stations.