[BC] HDradio & our digital future

[Rich Wood]

------ At 07:22 PM 12/21/2006, ChuxGarage at aol.com wrote: -------

>One of the "features" touted by the HD radio contingent is the HD 2 and  HD-3
>channels, where "new and compelling programming can be found in  between
>existing stations."  Fair enough, but It makes me wonder, if  they 
>have this kind
>of programming available, why doesn't someone try it on  their regular analog
>signals? It might be a refreshing change from a dial full  of 
>signals that are
>merely slight variations on a few basic themes.

Whether we like it or not the average listener likes what he or she 
hears. They like familiarity and they like hearing their favorites 
relatively often. Large playlists are usually ratings death. That's 
why HD-2 and HD-3 are perfect places to hide niche programming. Think 
of a time far in the future when people actually own IBUZ receivers. 
The secondaries will probably be used as test beds of new formats 
(ones that have never been tried in analog).

>So far, most HD-2 channels are just jukeboxes.  If somebody came out  with a
>few CD's full of snappy liners, you could download them onto your iPod  and
>have the same thing, except it would be your  favorite songs, not someone
>else's.

It would be interesting to see what iPod users actually listen to. My 
guess is that it's a limited playlist of their favorites, not 30GB of 
everything ever recorded. Let's do a survey of iTunes stats of most 
listened-to cuts. They'll probably be a small number of favorite, 
familiar cuts.

>Something is wrong with this picture.  Maybe it's just me....

No. You're one of many. The dial is littered with stations that tried 
variety and failed. Just remember how hugely popular Top 40 was.

Rich

Rich Wood
Rich Wood Multimedia
Phone: 413-454-3258