[BC] IBUZ Funny Money Upped to $680 Million

[Rich Wood]

------ At 10:33 AM 10/15/2007, Dana  Puopolo wrote: -------

>This technology is hopelessly flawed. How long can this charade continue?

The most recent puff release indicates that another $230 million will 
be added to the massively revolutionary promotion effort. At least 
this one actually admits it's not cash but (distressed) inventory. In 
addition, it appears none of the IBUZ spots have displaced paid 
spots. Here, they often run in promo positions.

In addition, the HD Dominion has relaxed its rules about duplication 
of formats in a market. In my market that's a joke, since formats 
already here in analog are duplicated in HD-2 with very minor 
playlist changes. The Country station runs a Country HD-2. The AC 
runs an AC HD-2. Another AC station runs their 50Kw AM on HD-2. It 
appears stations have long ignored the Dominion's requirements. 
According to their rules, no format could be duplicated in a market. 
The "stations between the stations" sound like the stations on the 
stations. It sounds as though there's a master library and an 
additional category has been added to dump a song not played on their 
revenue-generating channels into the HD-2 to make it "unique."

I believe this charade will continue until there's no more equipment 
to be sold. The only equipment manufacturers who will be snookered 
are the receiver folks who ramped up only to see pitiful sales. 
Boston Acoustics and Yamaha have already cut their losses and 
discontinued their IBUZ lines.

I was in Providence late last week and saw a Sangean tabletop at 
Sharper Image. The salesperson told me I was wasting my time trying 
to get it to work. Again, no outdoor antenna. It received analog in 
the store but no IBUZ. They're still trying to get rid of their 
remaining BA Receptors. I found a Radio Shack with an actual 
operating Accurian. Again, no antenna, so no IBUZ.

Until this funny money turns into actual promotional cash spent in 
all media IBUZ will be dead.

IBUZ is dead. Long live IBUZ.

Rich