Re: [Swprograms] OT: Digital radio market study

["Rob de Santos" <rdesantos@xxxxxxxxx>]

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:rdcuff@xxxxxxxxx] 
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2007 8:38 AM
To: rdesantos@xxxxxxxxx; Shortwave programming discussion
Cc: jfiglio1@xxxxxxxxxxxx
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 <rdesantos@xxxxxxxxx> 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.
>

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