[BC] HD Radio -- Folks we have to get it right!

[Robert Meuser]

Kevin

This is simply untrue. In the early 60s FM stereo was rare and it often 
sounded pretty bad due to implementation.  There were all kinds of 
improvised systems. Stereo did not get it legs until the late 60s and 
into the 70s.

Many station's early programs were top 40 and country (often simulcasts 
of AM) and people listened often because the AM was a daytimer and the 
FM extended hours. I had a portable that I hung an outside wire antenna 
on it so I could listen to an FM station  in the car. In major markets 
many stations just sat and simulcast just the keep the channel warm. 
WABC AM and FM was but one example of this. It was when simulcast was 
not longer permitted and the underground/progressive programming hit the 
air waves that interest in FM and FM stereo started to grow. I dont 
think there ever was a time that  Classical or Jazz programming ever 
drove the market.

R


Kevin Tekel wrote:

>In the 1960s, FM Stereo strived to appeal to audiophiles, and with the FM
>programming of that era, it did.  The typical consumer wasn't interested
>in FM radio back then, because they couldn't afford it, and even if they
>could, most of its programming wouldn't appeal to them anyway.  But now,
>we have HD Radio, which _isn't_ attempting to appeal to the people who are
>most likely to purchase it, because as test results have already shown, a
>good number of its potential purchasers are likely to reject it because of
>its poor audio quality, especially on AM.
>
>  
>