September 17, 2007
Why Digital Radio Succeeded in England
Washington Post's Marc Fisher explains HD Radio's failure to catch on: In the UK, digital radio has had the largest success of any market in the world with about 6m receivers sold. Fisher notes that only a few hundred thousand HD Radio capable receivers are in consumers' hands in the U.S. The reason? Broadcasters in the UK provided "new and live content on digital stations." He notes that WAMU-FM in Washington, D.C., will shift all its bluegrass and acoustic Americana music to a digital-only offering, plus give up to 1,000 HD Radio receivers free to previous station donors. They'll leave NPR news and talk on their main station, and put BBC news and additional NPR programming on a digital-only station, too.
Fisher thinks this kind of move could finally jumpstart HD Radio. I think that the real reason for its failure to gain a foothold is a combination of stale programming outside public radio and a lack of affordable receivers, as well as no integration into non-tabletop models. The fact is, until HD Radio is built into integrated receiver/amplifiers, found in most car radios as an almost-basic option, and available in portable form or as a plug-in to MP3 players like the iPod, it's unlikely to find a mass audience.
My local NPR station has been using the HD format for about as long as any station, and still has a very small listenership. They haven't particularly promoted the format because, I believe, the lack of receivers that average listeners might want to purchase. I've tried most HD Radio tabletop models on the market, and while I have complaints about this or that in each unit, the primary problem is that they solve a problem most people don't have: most people don't need a new radio. They buy a radio for a new home or to replace one that dies.
So far, HD Radio hasn't given people a reason to replace their sets as an upgrade, as the folks with satellite radio did, by convincing listeners that satellite radio had so much more variety than commercial. In the end, satellite radio's variety is more about range than actual variety. There's not that much different on satellite, there's just more of it in one place.
March 29, 2007
KAMU-FM Turns 30, Adds HD
The Texas station upgrades: In connection with its 30th anniversary, KAMU-FM will add HD Radio, and multicast two stations. The station airs 35 hours of local programming each week.
March 15, 2007
Nighttime AM, FM Multicasting on FCC Agenda?
On March 22, the FCC could move ahead to authorize nighttime AM broadcasting, and fully authorize FM multicasting: There are many heated opinions about the quality and nature of iBiquity's in-band, on-channel AM encoding and broadcasting technology. Right now, AM stations can only broadcast during daylight hours, which severely limits HD Radio's inroads into AM stations. It's fair to say that AM stations have a vast amount to gain by going digital because of the potential quality of signal improvement, loss of tunnel fadeout, and elimination of other problems. Please note: I have not heard broadcast AM HD Radio! I was unable to tune in the one station in my market because it's far too distant from Seattle during my testing last November of five HD Radio receivers.
The FCC could approve nighttime broadcasts, and I suspect there will be loud wailing and gnashing of teeth that follows, and perhaps lawsuits. We'll see.
The other issue that might be considered is full authorization for FM multicasting. While the idea of many digital channels on an FM station is part of the marketing pitch for HD Radio, each station must apply to the FCC at the moment to multicast. Removing that obligation reduces cost and friction.
December 20, 2006
Popular Bluegrass Host Anchors WAMU 88.5-3
An interesting move, and the first I've seen where a personality becomes the voice of an HD-only channel: Ray Davis, described here as a "legendary...music host," will have a live, 3-6 pm program weekdays on WAMU 88.5-3 (Washington, DC)--the station's third HD channel--starting Jan. 2, 2007. WAMU devotes 88.5-2 to a collaboration with WTMD in Maryland, while 88.5-3 is all bluegrass, all the time.
This could be an interesting pull for dedicated licensers. A public radio station thrives on donations, and WAMU already simulcasts its bluegrass offering at Bluegrasscountry.org. Convincing more listeners to get HD Radio receivers to hear regular programming could also boost pledges.
December 13, 2006
Wyoming Public Radio Goes HD
Wyoming Public Radio pushing HD Radio signals on 14 primary transmitters: The funding for this project included $828,000 from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which has a heavy interest in subsidizing the potential for new programming through multicasting, and $244,000 from the state legislature. The transmitters were rebuilt over two summers--they are apparently hard to reach in winter! Multicasting starts next year with HD Classical Channel statewide, with tests in Laramie and Cheyenne. The release notes that this may be the first satellite-delivered statewide digital radio. Very interesting hybrid. Another $150,000 will be required to make this work.
A note on the press release's mention that HD stands for Hybrid Digital. It doesn't. HD Radio is a trademark that doesn't mean anything, per se. It's just a phrase meant to evoke something. Hybrid digital doesn't really describe digital AM/FM, nor does high definition. It's...digital.
November 20, 2006
KVOD-FM Adds HD2
The Colorado classical station puts news on HD2: KVOD-FM runs classical music 24 hours a day across the state on FM on several frequencies, as well as streaming via their Web site. They also offer both AM and FM news broadcasts on a sister station, KCFR. KCFR's main broadcast will now be the HD2 multicast offering on all of KVOD's transmissions.
November 1, 2006
More Regulatory Problems for Satellite Radio
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and National Public Radio lodge complaints against XM, Sirius: NAB alleges that many of the terrestrial repeaters used by XM and Sirius are out of compliance with FCC rules. The dirty little secret of satellite digital radio--we'll get to HD Radio's secrets in the future, of course--is that hundreds upon hundreds of ground stations rebroadcast the satellite signals in urban areas where reception would otherwise not exist. "Satellite" is really "satellite in the wide open spaces with lots of terrestrial stations." NAB alleges that 21% of XM's terrestrial stations are out of compliance. XM says they're working to fix problems, which don't interfere with terrestrial radio stations.
NPR's complaint, by contrast, is about interference from low-wattage FM modulators that allow you to listen to audio via unused or less-used FM frequencies. These devices have long been used to retrofit car audio receivers that have no inputs; it's a frequent way to bridge iPods to an automotive stereo system. NPR says based on their testing that some FM modulators exceed allowable limits by 20,000% (200 times the limit). The FCC previously halted shipments of some XM and Sirius gear for just these problems.
Now neither of these situations per se benefits HD Radio, but if satellite broadcasters are forced to make changes that make their service harder to receive and harder to integrate with existing equipment, it makes it less likely people will pay the monthly service fees to receive satellite programming--which could drive more listeners to try HD Radio as the receivers start to roll out.
July 26, 2006
WVPR-FM (89.5), Windsor, Vermont, Marks State's First HD Radio Station
The public radio broadcaster launches its service at 6.06 pm: Clever, as they turned on the HD Radio signal for All Things Considered. They'll start multicasting in fall, offering Vermont Public Radio Classical 24 hours a day on HD2 (89.5-2). They'll expand throughout Vermont as funding allows.
April 29, 2006
KUOW Adds Fourth HD Channel
KUOW-FM in Seattle grows from three to four HD Radio channels: The station has been one of the leaders in HD Radio broadcasting, adding an HD1 (simulcast) and HD2 (alternative programming) channel in the early days. HD3 runs at just 16 Kbps with BBC Radio (mostly voice). They're now adding a fourth HD channel at 22 Kbps which will carry music programming pending approval from both the FCC (regulation) and iBiquity (technology).
KUOW uses Neural Audio pre-conditioning hardware, which optimizes an audio signal for the particular kind of compression and encoding that it will be turned into. This pretuning produces much better results than sending raw audio into broadcasting or encoding hardware. Neural said they can now encode high-quality audio with just 16 Kbps for HD Radio channels.
April 24, 2006
Second Big HD2 Push Rolls Out
The HD Digital Radio Alliance pushes into 21 more markets today: This group has brought together many broadcasters (mostly larger chains) to promote the use of the second HD channel in FM, HD2, to offer commercial-free, non-competing formats. The industry hopes that these new channels and offerings will be the pull necessary to convince consumers to give HD Radio a try.
Of course, there's still just one tabletop radio available, the $300 Boston Acoustics Receptor Radio HD. More hardware must enter the market, and that will happen soon, for HD Radio to see any real quantity of listeners.
The first push by the alliance put their combined formats in 28 markets. The number of stations broadcasting on HD2 should increase to 450 nationwide as part of this push.
April 11, 2006
HD Radio Tested in France
The company Broadcast Electronics has installed an HD Radio FM system in Paris: On 88.2 MHz, you can pick up a low-power HD Radio signal in the City of Lights. This is most likely the first and only HD Radio system operating full-time in France. Most European countries have adopted Eureka-147 which has seen little acceptance outside of the UK, where millions of Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) servers have been sold. This test of HD Radio might be the first fusillade in a format war--it all depends on regulators and radios, meaning what's allowed and what's available for use.
April 3, 2006
More Stations: KUWS-FM, WFPK-FM, WFPL-FM, WUOL-FM, Plus Dayton
Stations are turning on HD Radio at a fast pace to judge by the articles in newspapers across the country.
Dayton has eight HD stations: Six Clear Channel offerings--four with HD2 running--WDPR-FM public radio, and one other. Clear Channel has, almost uniquely, an AM station in the mix: WIZE-AM. The FCC doesn't yet allow 24-hour AM broadcasting due to concerns about interference after dark and AM waves travel further. Dawn to dusk are the current rules. Two other stations are licensed, but not yet up and running.
Three public radio stations turn on HD and streaming in Kentucky: A local Internet service provider is handling the streaming as a barter for on-air credit for the three stations. The stations began broadcasting in HD Radio format last November with help from a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Wisconsin station celebrates 40th anniversary with digital FM addition: The first station to add stereo in the Duluth/Lake Superior market, KUWS-FM is among four to go digital in the Wisconsin public radio network.
March 29, 2006
Thumbs Down on Receptor HD FM Antenna
Phila. Daily News columnist criticizes Boston Acoustics antenna: The only tabletop radio on the market that receives HD Radio has an inadequate FM antenna, writes Jonathan Takiff. The columnist says that NPR wrote a "testy note" to Receptor Radio HD's maker because the receiver comes with a poor, short FM antenna rather than a slightly longer dipole antenna. The FM antenna can be replaced easily, but the included antenna is insufficient, Takiff writes.
In my testing of the Receptor, I found it a bit hard to get consistent reception, but I could ultimately string the wire out and receive all the HD stations broadcasting a few months ago in Seattle. Takiff says Boston Acoustics will swap out a hardly more expensive but superior antenna in a few weeks.
Update: Boston Acoustics points the finger at iBiquity's specifications and won't confirm NPR driving the requirement. But it did confirm the upgraded antenna. Those who have already bought a Receptor Radio HD can contact Boston Acoustics for a free antenna upgrade.
March 28, 2006
WPLN-FM Goes Digital
The Nashville station adds HD Radio and multicasting: The main analog broadcast is simulcast on HD1, the first HD Radio station in the tuner. HD2 features alternative programming includes the Diane Rehm Show, Performance Today, and Groove Salad.
March 26, 2006
WFAE-FM Adds HD2
The North Carolina radio station WFAE-FM multicasts: The station has been broadcasting its HD1 channel since spring 2005. They were an early station in testing multicasting.