[BC] Interest in/Availibility of HD gear

[Alan Kline]

------ At 05:20 PM 1/16/2006 -0600, The Most Honourable Davis, Steve - SVP wrote: -------
>
>However broadcasters didn't begin to adopt it on any sort of methodical basis
>until 2004 (when the codec was changed).  The FIRST AM AND FM DIGITAL
>BROADCASTS DIDN'T OCCUR UNTIL 2003!  

So why wasn't it until late 2005 that the industry learned of the great
HD Alliance?  What was being done during that period of 2+ years to 
develop the killer programming that would drive terrestrial digital
radio?

I'd be willing to bet that XM and Sirius didn't sit around waiting for
the birds to be launched before they started developing the programming
that would make people want to buy their radios and service...

I'm sure Rich can relate how long it takes to develop a concept, sell it,
engage talent, and launch it.  Multiply that by the number of concepts that
are required here, and I think the HD folks are way behind, even now.

Seems to me that the biggest hurdle faced by digital broadcasters is
convincing consumers, who have turned away to iPod's and satellite, that
the same radio companies which produce the programming that they're ignoring
now will suddenly, magically, make radio shows that justify the investment
in new technology.

ak