HD Portable : Do as I say, not as I do.
After all the bitching and moaning done by the Radio industry in regard to trying to shame, scold, or scare Steve Jobs into adding an FM radio receiver to his collection of portable iProducts, that self same group of whining little weiners are celebrating the release of the first portable HD Radio ... sans MP3 player capabilities.
How could they be SO stupid???Labels: Duh, HD Radio, Industry
Comparing Apples to Apples
Radio is definitely banking too heavily on the fact Zune added HD to their next model. According to the Radio industry, they think this decision is going to add leverage to their iGroveling at Steve Jobs feet...
Microsoft may help radio with Apple
Microsoft's decision to include HD Radio in the new Zune HD is seen as a "validation" of radio's digital move. The company is likely to help iBiquity with its mission to get HD Radio on all portable devices -- including Apple's iPod.
Ummm... YEAH.
Because Apple is constantly copying Microsoft's every move.
NOT.Labels: Duh, HD Radio, Industry, iPods, Radio
Lipstick + Pig = Zune HD
Confirmation that Microsoft plans to add an HD Radio receiver into its new Zune device. The Radio industry was quick to kiss Bill Gates' feet:
"On behalf of radio broadcasters across the country, National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) applauds Microsoft for recognizing the value of free, local radio," NAB executive VP Dennis Wharton says. "Today's announcement gives America's 235 million weekly radio listeners yet another platform to enjoy our free service, and it uniquely positions the Zune HD at the forefront of entertainment products."
I'd like to see a survey of how many people own HD Radios in comparison to how many people own Zune players. As pathetic as both of these products are, I actually think Zune might be the one to benefit on this deal. If three out of 10,000 people own an HD Radio, I gotta believe that only ONE out of 10,000 has even HEARD of the Zune!
Click here for more coverage from cnet news.
This coverage from PodcastingNews.com pretty much mirrors my own sentiments. And they back-up their very logical assumptions with a recent Teen study that shows they have ZERO interest in any portable media player that isn't an iPod.Labels: HD Radio, iPods, Radio, Rants, Statistics
29% sounds high to me
A big "duh" from InsideRadio.com this morning...
HD Radio awareness stagnates.
Even though millions of dollars have been spent promoting HD Radio, a new study shows only 29% of consumers say they’re familiar with it. And the rate's grown very little over the last three years.
I think the only reason they hit a number as high as 29% is that they counted everyone involved inside HDRadio headquarters.Labels: Duh, HD Radio
Why HD Radio (Still) Doesn't Matter
Wunderadio iPhone App
From the article...
It streams EVERY station on the planet, or so it seems. I'm talking about every station I've ever listened to. It has stations I've picked up while listening at night as a kid. It picks up the stations I listened to commuting in New York and New Jersey and in Pittsburgh. It even has the station I used to listen to to find out whether or not my school would be closed due to snow. In the age of Pandora and last.fm and iTunes, terrestrial radio has taken a back seat. But for me, as someone who has always enjoyed the thrill of the hunt - picking up a distant AM station at night -- this brings me back to my childhood. And it brings me to places I can't be -- like to my favorite afternoon drive DJ in Pittsburgh. I almost forgot ... the stations that use RDS (Radio Data) will show what's playing and who's on the air when you search for the station. ...only $5.99.
Click to read the entire article.Labels: HD Radio, Industry, Internet, iPods, Radio, Streaming, Trendwatch, Webcasting
Baltimore Coffin Nails
In another great leap foward toward making WiMax Radios a realistic and sustainable product, Baltimore adds a city-covering WiMax signal with help from Sprint.
This means any radio station in Baltimore that invested money on HD Radio conversion basically pissed away dollars. Why would the public buy an HD Radio to get only a few stations who converted (and then simply repeat their existing programming) when an entire internet full of audio awaits them?
Just one more coffin nail, my friends.Labels: HD Radio, Industry, Radio, Streaming, Webcasting
...and 100% don't give a crap.
From Inside Radio...
HD Radio awareness rises.
Two-thirds of 18-64 year olds surveyed by Mark Kassof & Co. say they've heard of HD Radio. That's up from two years ago when a similar study found only 38% were aware of the product. The survey also shows consumers are also increasingly aware of HD Radio's advantages, such as higher-quality sound. On the downside, 7% think HD Radio is the same as satellite radio.
That shade of lipstick still doesn't look any better on your pig.Labels: Duh, HD Radio, Industry, Statistics
Mandatory HD? Siriusly??
Apparently the FCC thinks that maybe it should require Sirius/XM Radio to include HD Radio capabilities on all their new receivers. The FCC is taking comments on such issues as impact on reception and manufacturer cost.
This is another brain dead attempt to force-fit Radio and make it seem like the public can't live without it. They can and do -- quite nicely. How about forcing broadcasters not to suck so much, so that CUSTOMERS force Sirius/XM to include traditional Radio access into their product?
The possible FCC enforcement is more akin to forcing Wendy's to produce and giveaway free Big Macs.Labels: Duh, HD Radio, Industry, Satellite
It's Time to Upgrade. You First.
According to this morning's InsideRadio, the HD Radio Alliance has shifted its message focus...
"Armed with research showing 77% consumer awareness, the HD Digital Radio Alliance is moving into the next stage of its marketing effort focusing on selling receivers. Starting today the alliance launches a 13-week advertising campaign on more than 700 stations, featuring the tagline: 'It's Time To Upgrade.'"
A couple comments...
1. Seems like the pitch's message is more targeted to the last of the Broadcasting hold-outs who have had the good sense to avoid the million+ dollar investment to 'upgrade' their signal in order to reach an all but non-existant HD audience.
2. With a "time to upgrade" message like that, the Alliance should be more concerned with the radio audience actually listening to them -- and upgrading to a technology that offers more choice, customization, and access. Like WiFi Radio.
3. ...And if Radio is going to point their finger and suggest that listeners upgrade -- I would argue that that audience should rise up, point right back and say "You go first." The dictionary defines "upgrade" as "an increase or improvement" and Radio listenership, revenue, and content quality has been doing anything but that in the last few years.
Yes, HD Radio Alliance -- it IS time to upgrade -- but I'd suggest that you look to your own industry and improve performance and quality from within before asking the most active portion of your audience to shell out a couple hundred bucks in order to hear the high-definition demise of your media.
Labels: Duh, HD Radio, Rants
The #1 Radio Advertiser in '07? Radio.
Apparently the number one advertiser on Radio in 2007 was Radio itself -- or rather its lamest evisioned evolution... HD Radio.
The HD Digital Radio Alliance spent $250 MILLION dollars in radio dollars last year pimping the Edsel of airwave evolution. The investment netted them a little over 1,451,00 ad units.
And let me check... Yep.
HD Radio is still inferior when compared to the choice (and cost) of Web Radio.Labels: HD Radio, Industry, Rants
Ray of iHope for HD?
Apple says it's planning an HD Radio push.
While some were surprised to see the latest generation of iPods did not include a traditional Radio tuner, the iPod could converting itself into an ally for the HD Radio initiative.
Apple will reportedly unveil HD Radio-equipped boomboxes with iPod docks at the Macworld Expo in January. These new units will be iTunes Tagging-ready, allowing users to more easily turn songs heard on the radio into purchases via the iTunes store.
iLounge.com reports that Apple VP Greg Joswiak says they're pleased with the "strong support" they're getting from the radio industry (duh!) and CBS Radio, Clear Channel, Cumulus, Cox, Entercom and Greater Media have begun encoding stations for iTunes Tagging.
While some in the broadcast industry are apparently getting excited by the fact encoded HD stations would get a share of iTunes music sales revenues, I think the sum would be paltry compared to the fact this is the potentially first device to meld the HD albatross with something else people might desire -- an iPod boombox. I also find it funny that the big broadcast boys are also so quick to turn their HD signals into low rent shills for iTunes. What can they truly expect on a share of revenue... 5 or 6 cents? They can already make that with iTunes affiliate programs on their websites. Are they seeing lots of revenue from that option? I doubt it. You know why? Because few people discover any new music on traditional Radio these days. If they like the song a station is playing, chances are they probably already own it because Radio is afraid of playing anything unproven and untested.
Hell, the local station in my town keeps bragging about how "you probably recognize that Fiest song we just played from the iTunes commercial."
Great.
Radio is programming their playlist from iTunes commercials.Labels: HD Radio, Industry, iPods
Kindle-d Spirits
Friend of ZombieRadio, Don The Idea Guy has blogged on suggestions to improve on the new Amazon digital book reader "Kindle."
DTIG provides a long list of opinions on where Kindle missed the boat, and even includes a line about them being so far off-base, that they've have entered HD Radio territory.
What's that about those not learning from history being doomed to repeat it? (Yeah -- I'm talking to you, too Zune 2.0)Labels: HD Radio, Rants
iTunes Tagging
According to Inside Radio, five more groups have commited to encoding their HD Radio signals to include the Tagging technology. CBS Radio, Cox, Cumulus, Entercom and Greater Media are joining Clear Channel in adding the tag that allows listeners who hear a song on a HD Radio station to preview, buy and download it later on iTunes.
Cox CEO Bob Neil says "Empowering our audience with more information and choice has been a cornerstone of Cox Radio's new technology efforts, and this exciting opportunity is a natural extension of that."
Whatever.
As far as this concept goes, this is a great way for a profit to FINALLY be made off HD Radio. At least for iTunes...
You want to earn a little bit for Radio?
Allow the tags to include the iTunes affiliate code. Stations could earn a whopping penny (or two!) for every download made from their tag.
You want a wake-up call?
Wait until Radio sees just how many downloads were actually made off their HD Radio tag. My guess is ZERO.Labels: HD Radio, Industry, iPods
Smirking in HD
This is such utter rubbish.
Less than half the people in the survey even know what HD Radio IS, and of that tiny, tiny, tiny, (did I mention tiny?) group, almost 3/4 understand they need to buy a special device in order to listen to HD Radio.
From Inside Radio:
HD Radio awareness falls short.
Results from a new Paragon Media Strategies study found that awareness of HD lags far behind Satellite and Internet radio.
Only 42% of 707 radio-listening survey participants -- ages 14-64 -- say they're familiar with HD, compared to 87% for satellite and 85% for Internet radio.
When asked to agree or disagree with various statements about HD, 72% of survey participants -- who had heard of HD -- agreed that it requires a "specially designed radio." And 84% agreed that HD "makes stations sound clearer/better."
HD is still stupid, stupid, stupid (did I mention it's stupid?) idea. Why not take advantage of the larger percentage of the group (85%!) that are familiar with Internet Radio -- which also has digital quality sound (which is just as 'clearer/better') and does NOT require a special device!
According to Newsweek (August 1, 2005) more than half of U.S. homes are wired for high-speed internet access. In the August 11 issue an article revealed that 75% of Americans use the internet for an average of three hours per day.
Why in the world would you want to base a broadcast model on an alternate device that nobody HAS -- and nobody NEEDS?Labels: HD Radio
HD + QVC = WTF?
Looks like some HD Radios are going to be featured on QVC -- the cable equivalent of carnival barkers -- and the HD Digital Radio Alliance thinks this is a GOOD move:
QVC to showcase HD Radio.
Three HD Radio receiver models will premiere on QVC's cable TV network next Wednesday night. HD Digital Radio alliance president/CEO Peter Ferrara says "QVC provides a unique retail at-home environment that is ideal for helping even more consumers discover the cool new content and crystal clear sound provided by HD Digital Radio."
Hell, having these things featured on QVC makes the fact RadioShack carried 'em look like the friggin' "Big Time!"
Don't it look purty?
Someone needs to record the QVC pitch and post it to YouTube. Send me a link if you do -- I want to feature it on the ZR blog.Labels: HD Radio, Industry
Radio's Future Appears to be in the Hands of BestBuy Employees
What?
People are having a hard time understanding and justifying the purchase of a HD radio? Gosh. Didn't see THAT coming...
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From InsideRadio:
Inside the store - Trying to buy an HD Radio can be tough.
The HD Radio rollout is quickly moving from the transmitter site to the retail outlet and consumers are being asked to lay out a lot of money to buy a new receiver. Inside Radio recently paid a visit to a number of New York area stores to see what kind of experience listeners' face. Read about our experience - in today's Inside Radio.
HD Radio advocates agree - retail is the weakest link so far.
HD Radio Alliance CEO Peter Ferrara tells Inside Radio they're doing an "amazing amount" in terms of creating consumer awareness, and improving quality. But Ferrara says the retail world is still getting "up to speed with the technology and benefits". High staff turnover at stores isn't helping. ibiquity CEO Bob Struble says there's an online HD Radio University in which sales staff can learn the ins-and-outs of the technology.
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A couple things from ZombieRadio...
Ferrara says the retail world is still getting "up to speed with the technology and benefits" -- ummm. Yeah. Gonna be working awhile on that "benefits" part. A whole fleet of NASCAR racers couldn't get THAT one up to speed!
"Bob Struble says there's an online HD Radio University in which sales staff can learn the ins-and-outs of the technology. " Have fun with that one... how ya gonna get the RADIO LISTENERS to get enroll?
...And exactly what flavor of Kool-Aid will you be serving?Labels: HD Radio, Industry, Rants
Give Me Some Skin
Philly's new "Skin Radio" sees a future for music on AM radio. Tom Kelly (Marconi Broadcasting) told Inside Radio "in the research, we found that listeners in their 20s don't have a negative attitude about AM radio" -- not the way some baby boomers do. Kelly (who just paid $5 million for 1340 WHAT) likes the future for music on digital AM. And ZombieRadio thinks he's right. With digital broadcast of AM stations on HD Radio (one of the few real benefits of HD Radio at all) and the sure-to-kill-HD WiFi Radios combined with city-wide Wi-Max signals, matching digital streams with a terrestrial AM radio has most-likely never been more lucrative. Skin Radio is streaming (at SkinRadio.com).Labels: AM, HD Radio, Trendwatch
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Brraaaaainnssss...
Focusing
primarily on terrestrial radio broadcasting, ZombieRadio.com is
dedicated to pointing out the mindless and brain-dead actions of the
mainstream media industry in general.
Don't
get too comfortable satellite, television, cable, and internet -- we
all know from seeing zombie movies that the contagion spreads quickly.
"They're
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