[BC] MS objection to IBOC

[Ernie Belanger]

OH yes,

We are going to see a huge pissing contest now. iBiquity will fight to the
death for this one.

Struble et al have always contended that if they control the codec they
control the technology (of course the radio broadcasters would be indentured
servants, but most have been blinded by the "iBiquity Razzle Dazzle" and
have not figured that out. This includes  the demi gods at the NAB, So they
keep supporting iBiquity).

It would help the Radio Industry immeasurably if the big owners would open
their eyes, look past the short term potential "gain" and see this thing for
what it is. Then they might not be so quick to support it without an open
codec.

Its a pretty sad day when the likes of Bill Gates and Microsoft have to come
to protect the Radio Industry from itself.

Once you strip away all the "We love broadcasters and we're they savior"
Hype and Bull,  THE BOTTOM LINE is that controlling the Codec from the get
go has been and is iBiquity's game plan plain and simple..

They probably already have enough political clout to get NRSC-5 pushed
through. They and their very sharp lawyer have been smoozing the
commissioners  and their staffers for years along with lower level folks  as
well. Because they anticipated this would not be a totally easy fight. So
they have been ready for the war for along time.

When Struble abandoned broadcasters as sole financial supporters and moved
forward to get other investors that got him the recent $30mil influx he then
they became his focus..not broadcasters.  Broadcasters have become relegated
to the position of "cash cow".

Struble  sold  his investors a business plan that had four income streams
and wooed them with the Billions  of dollars to be made.
#1  The initial licensing fees from stations
#2 The $3000 per exciter built which goes to them as a royalty from the
manufacturers.
#3 The money from the receiver manufacturers.
#4 A yet to be made public chunk of the cash flow and licensing fees from
all of the iBiquity created or partnered data
     streams and features

Their codec, their propiretary monoply ensuring their income stream in
perpetuity.

They have to control the codec to keep the long term cash flow of the data
stream royalties coming in the door. This is one of the reasons why
secretly, behind the scenes, they are trying to find a way to make FMExtra
go away.

It offers an alternative to the iBiquity data streams even when broadcasters
go all digital. This will potentially take a chunk of change out of
iBiquity's pocket if stations jump on the FMeXtra technology.  Ultimately it
could save stations Millions when they can run data on the sub carriers and
don't have to pay iBiquity a cut of the cash flow.

Let the Games Begin  ;-)

---- Original Message ----- 
From: "Phil Alexander" <dynotherm at earthlink.net>
To: "The Tech Zone" <tech-zone at radiolists.net>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2005 12:10 AM
Subject: [TZ] MicroSoft enters the IBOC contest


> It appears that Ibiquity is using bandwidth MS wants for data.
>
> This could break Ibiquity's attempted corner on the market
> before it gets started and preserve truly open systems with
> provision for natural evolution as it develops. Just my $0.02. <g>

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Cowboy" <curt at spam-o-matic.net>
To: "Broadcast Radio Mailing List" <broadcast at radiolists.net>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2005 10:13 AM
Subject: Re: [BC] MS objection to IBOC


> On Tuesday 26 July 2005 01:55, Clive Warner wrote:
>
>> - Well I read this and it appears to me:
>
>> 2. MS rightly recognise Ibiquity as a monopoly in the making and are
>> objecting to being shut out.
>
> Now THAT doesn't surprise me at all, but I doubt their motives
> are altruistic in any sense....
>
>
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