Perhaps I wasn't entirely clear. I'm not suggesting that the online feeds can substitute. What I was trying to suggest was that they have far more variety than the secondary HD channels at this point and Clear Channel has not pushed those formats from their online service to local HD channels. And they are better than what the locals have now (at least in my listening area). NPR has done slightly better (as you note) but without much innovation so far.
I do agree with John that the media concentration is a large part of the problem. It stifles creativity because of the inherent need for corporate control. Among technology based companies, larger ones always have more trouble pushing innovation internally and getting it to market. A few succeed but it takes unusual corporate culture. Radio ownership is no different. I'm still not decided on the fate of HD radio in the marketplace. There's a lot of money staked on it now and the only thing I am sure of is that more will be thrown at it soon to drive some growth. Too little, too late? Possibly. There are cracks in the damn with some stations now filing complaints against others for interference on AM. WiMAX is the unknown out there. How fast will it arrive? How open will it be? Who will own the spectrum? -- -Rob de Santos Columbus, OH -----Original Message----- From: Richard Cuff [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2007 8:38 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Shortwave programming discussion Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Swprograms] OT: Digital radio market study I don't think online feeds (that link was from Clear Channel) will do the trick by itself. A marginally acceptable version is what a local AM station did here -- create an online and HD oldies feed, inserting local advertising spots / news / traffic / weather that is repurposed (don't you love that word) from their "angry white male" formatted AM counterpart. That at least offers some localized value, but is still warmed-over automated stuff. The public radio HD alternatives tend to showcase additional programming that might not be available in a local market, but again rarely represent anything truly "new". HD radio will find a narrow niche in cars, but even that will be temporary in metropolitan areas. There, WiMAX networks -- in about 5 years' time, perhaps less -- will allow you to take your WiFi radio and put it in your car. Admittedly that won't work for cross-country drivers, but most of us do our driving in metro areas. My two cents... Rich Cuff On Nov 7, 2007 4:34 PM, Rob de Santos <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > You're pretty much on target John. The diversity has improved somewhat in the > past year but one wonders why, given the huge resources of the large station > owner groups, that they can't do better. I recall the link a few weeks back to > the online feeds of various music formats from one of the big groups. Where are > some of those formats on the local HD radio channels? Missing in action. > Without compelling content, the improved audio quality is wasted. > _______________________________________________ Swprograms mailing list [email protected] http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/swprograms To unsubscribe: Send an E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED], or visit the URL shown above.
