[BC] Interesting IBUZ article & WTWP

Rich Wood richwood
Sun Mar 18 08:05:38 CDT 2007


------ At 11:33 PM 3/17/2007, Jerry Mathis wrote: -------

>Well, I raise my hand. I've complained on and off ever since I joined the
>lists about 5 or 6 years ago about the problem of the AM noise floor. My
>solution was to move the AM band to VHF or UHF, and eliminate all the noise
>and static and fix all the other problems that plague AM.

There's no question you're right, in my opinion. However, you still 
have the same insurmountable problem IBUZ has: 800 million receivers 
that have to be replaced. While we're at it, why do AM? Simply create 
another FM band. While we're replacing those receivers, why not 
eliminate the pre-emphasis and let the new band enjoy true uncodec'd 
near CD quality just up to the pilot frequency. Most people can't 
hear 20KHz, anyway. I suspect today's technology could make 
pre-emphasis unnecessary. We'd probably still have multipath. Even 
with it, the industry has been able to make huge amounts of money and 
become one of life's necessary utilities.

Opening a new band, in an ideal world, would give us a fresh start 
and, maybe, the best system could have a chance of winning. Since 
politics is involved that's very unlikely.

My recent Los Angeles trip cemented my belief that IBUZ is dead on 
arrival. Not only is the hybrid system horribly flawed and overhyped 
but I was amazed at hundreds of the industry's leading programmers 
and managers (in the Talk format, alone) didn't find it worth 
discussing beyond criticizing the stupidity of on-air promotion that 
gives listeners the impression they already have it and "how are we 
going to make money with 22,000 radio stations." We're still 
complaining about Docket 80-90.

I was there on a factfinding mssion to see if one of the nation's 
most-viewed public TV shows could be adapted for commercial radio 
before we launch the project. What I found were the usual suspects 
discussing the same topics I've heard for years - with one exception. 
the future of radio against all the competing technologies is 
aggressive use of the Internet to extend our brands. Since everyone 
has radio and TV we have the unique ability to drive huge numbers of 
people to our web sites.

The results of my "Where in the World is Carmen IBUZ" retailer tours 
leads me to believe we'll be wiped out by an asteroid before there 
are enough receivers in listeners hands to cause a blip in an 
Arbitron ratings report.

Even with my infrequent cynicism I was blown away by the internal 
management and programming apathy towards the technology. It's almost 
as aggressive as the consumer apathy I've seen.

Replacing 800 million analog receivers - ain't gonna happen.

Rich



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