[BC] Interest in/Availibility of HD gear

[Rich Wood]

------ At 11:08 PM 1/16/2006, Alan Kline wrote: -------

>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 was visited by Dave Logan, formerly of XM, to put WOR on XM long 
before the satellites were launched. I decided not to do it because 
it would compete with my terrestrial affiliates. Some months ago Ed 
Christian of Saga decided that programming that appeared on satellite 
would not be carried by his stations. That seems to have died.

The same thing happened with Joe Capobianco, the first programming 
head of SIRIUS. We discussed WOR providing unique programming to 
them. No satellites had been launched. I toured SIRIUS before the 
facilities were finished. Even then they were loading music and 
assigning channels.

By the time the services began to roll out they had everything in 
place. Even beyond the low price, $9.95 per month for XM and $99 for 
a receiver, there was a reason to subscribe beyond a promise that, 
some day, there will be great programming.

>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.

Part of my business is developing programming and helping people 
syndicate shows. It's a long road before you affiliate enough 
stations to attract a sales agent and advertisers. 85% coverage of 
the country is the usual ad agency requirement unless you're willing 
to be bundled with other shows.

Until stations commit, through Jabba the HD and the HD Dominion if 
necessary, to program their secondaries as if they were real radio 
station I don't believe there's a prayer IBUZ's promise of salvation 
will ever come true. I hate to keep harping on WCBS-HD2 but it's the 
perfect example of what shouldn't be done. It's like Broadway with 
most of the lights burned out.

Good product first. Sales later. I wonder how many people bought IBUZ 
receivers to hear WCBS-HD2 without the great talent they refused to pay.

>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.

They be converted because Jabba the HD is involved. All those high 
powered, sales and Wall Street driven experts will strip away 
competition and, like the Commies we hated, centralize creativity 
under the guise of efficiency. That's sure what I want to listen to. 
Efficient programming. Is svim zoot.

Rich