[BC] What is left for the industry to do?

[Dave]

>          It is my observation that much of the negativity
>          expressed on IBOC derives from a feeling
>          of frustration - we got stuck with this
>          banana peel, are told there is nothing to do
>          but implement it.

Here's my personal take on it. Two things, first it'll ruin the radio I like
to listen to (CBC 540 up in Canada) when KFYR implements it, and second,
it's prohibitively expensive to buy replacement radios. Even when the
so-called economy of scale price drops. It'll never hit the $20 clock radio
price range. I couldn't care less about digital 48k/96k/192k or even 1mb if
it were available, I don't care one whit for expanded data channels or
whatever. I'm just a listener and I listen for what's there of interest,
hence CBC most of the time, the local LPFM a lot of the time (an eclectic
mix of music and programming suits me just fine).

My wife listens to the radio as a background sound track most of the time at
work, she and her co-workers will not plunk down 100's or even 10's of $$$
ever to buy a digital radio. If and when traditional AM/FM goes away,
they'll find something else to listen to. And, there being a roomfull of
computers, I'd make a guess as to the next source of entertainment.

I've asked at work in a casual way (with no leadin or other hints as to what
I'm after), if any of my co-workers would put up 100's of $$$ for a new
digital radio system. Straight across the board, no.

And that's my view. I have no vested interest in "making the best of a bad
thing" as I'm not involved in installing any HD. If I were, I'd make it work
as well as I possibly could. I'd spend days and nights working out the
details, learning, tweaking etc. But I'm speaking here from a common
listener's point of view, and that is my opinion.

As someone here (at least) once said, it's the content, not the medium. And
if the medium ruins all sources of content anywhere (without everyone
putting up $$$$ to keep up with Joneses), there will soon be a glut of radio
folks looking for something else to do....

In one regard, I'm so very anxious to know what the US broadcasting climate
will look like in 5, 10 and 15 years from now. On the other hand, it really
worries me.

Dave Dunsmoor