December 3, 2007
HD Radio's AM Troubles: No Real Solution Ahead
Radio World offers a balanced look at the problems with early full-time AM radio deployment of HD Radio, but it's clear that the solution may be ugly: It's been known for some time that iBiquity's technology for digital AM radio was a compromise the outcome of which was unclear. Since the FCC approved 24-hour-a-day digital AM broadcasting--up from daylight hours only--more knowledge has been gained about precisely how much interference is caused to adjacent and distant stations.
Radio World doesn't conclude digital AM is busted, because, they note, "not enough [AM] stations have been transmitting HD Radio at night to provide a realistic evaluation of the consequences."
However, there's no question there's trouble. The consequence of the FCC intervening where interference is present and requiring stations to back off, or of iBiquity being forced to go back to the drawing board, is digital AM/FM as a whole would suffer a huge blow.
Without AM stations being able to deliver a higher-quality digital signal reliably across their coverage area at night, they're unlike to promote HD Radio much, and their listeners are unlikely to upgrade over time. It's serious enough that, Radio World writes, "Owners like Clear Channel and CBS reportedly are having to choose which AM HD stations to leave on at night and which ones they’ll turn off due to interference inflicted on more important co-owned stations."
If iBiquity is forced by broadcasters or the FCC--the latter being unlikely given the commission's full-on approval--to change AM encoding that would likely mean that all HD Radios sold up until that point would be unable to receive future digital AM transmissions. Radio World notes, correctly, that that wouldn't be a problem if updates could be performed via software. It's possible that the chips deployed so far have that ability and could be flexible enough--although only a few radios have an easy way to handle upgrades. (Some can be upgraded by dealers and manufacturers, I've been told).
But this is not good news.
I've been concerned from the beginning of my coverage of digital AM/FM about the paucity of AM stations broadcasting in HD Radio format. I was told that the lack of 24-hour broadcasting ability was the big reason. But I was also told about the compromises that led to the AM specification being adopted.
The more widely spread the knowledge among consumers (and retailers) that digital AM is up in the air, the less likely receivers will be sold.
September 6, 2007
iPod, iTunes, and an HD Radio Receiver with a Dock: Tag, You're Bought
Something new under the HD Radio sun: Interesting announcement today from Apple and iBiquity: iTunes Tagging. This will allow you when listening to a song on a properly equipped HD Radio receiver to press a hardware button--the Tag button, naturally--and have that choice recorded to a docked iPod or iPhone. Then, when you sync that iPod/iPhone to iTunes, the program will tell you which songs you were interested in. (Most, ostensibly, will be in the iTunes Store's huge catalog.)
To use the Tag button, you'll have to get an HD Radio receiver that has both an iPod dock and this special button. Part of today's announcement was that Polk Audio's second generation i-Sonic would forgo its DVD playback capability--via an external jack--and replace that with an iPod dock. iPod audio can be played through built-in speakers, and iPod video via S-Video and component outputs.
Radio stations also have to get in on the action to make iTunes Tagging work. They'll have to broadcast the tag information. The HD Digital Radio Alliance said that hundreds of their HD Radio broadcasting stations will participate in tagging initially, with more to follow.
What's neat about this is that it's the first step in tying together two different kinds of digital music listening. What's also cool is that it shouldn't leave college, independent, and alternative stations out in the cold as previous technologies that alleged to offer this service did. (Sony eMarker, I'm talking to you.) I don't know right now whether Apple or iBiquity will charge fees or share revenue with radio stations for broadcasting tags.
The price is $499, $100 less than the first i-Sonic, but this unit omits DVD playing and the slot for an optional $50 add-on XM satellite radio module.
(For some reason, Polk decided to mock up the iPod screen that's in their promo image: what, they think we've never seen an iPod before and wouldn't notice?)
March 23, 2007
Sirius, XM Applaud IBOC Decision
As might be expected, the two satellite giants love the HD Radio decision: Sirius and XM need to demonstrate a strong set of competitive markets to their offerings in order to convince the FCC and other governmental bodies to approve a merger. While castigating HD Radio as a not-even-also-ran in the past, they now must praise it. There are some ownership overlaps, with Clear Channel having investments in both iBiquity and XM.
December 21, 2006
HD Radio Showcase at CES Details
iBiquity has released more details about what they'll show at their booth at the Consumer Electronics Show in early January in Las Vegas: They list a potpourri of products, including four adapters designed to integrate existing car stereo systems with HD Radio; 40 home and automotive products; and live broadcasts from local Las Vegas stations.
More significantly, they'll show off the next generation of features, including store-and-replay units that will allow you to record what you're listening to or pause it; live traffic updates that would appear in car stereo systems; and an electronic program guide. They'll also show a USB adapter with an HD Radio receiver. These are all prototypes, of course.
December 13, 2006
iBiquity at CES
iBiquity announced its plans for the Consumer Electronics Show: CES is an overpowering event with acres of displays. I attended last year and saw mock-ups at iBiquity's booth of radios that still haven't shipped. Nonetheless, they have a more powerful presence this year with more products in the market, and with substantially lower prices. Last January, Boston Acoustics had the only tabletop radio, and it retailed for $500. A few weeks later, the price dropped to $300 before rebate. Now, you can pick up the RadioShack Accurian for $150 before rebate.
iBiquity will demonstrate new devices from manufacturers that are still nearing, but not in production, and others will be announced at the show. They'll be at Booth #4616 in the North Hall for those attending. (I'm sitting out this year.)