[BC] Uselessness of HD

[Mike Vanhooser]

To start another discussion, let me throw a monkey wrench in here.

I recently got an HD radio for my  car (birthday present, I wouldn't have spent money on one), and checked out what was on the other channels (Dallas/Ft. Worth market).  I found a great "station" on 100.3 HD-2, called "The Strip" (Rat-Pack and classic Vegas sounds).  I enjoy the format and listen to it regularly, but it brought up a glaring problem (at least to my thinking).  I do enjoy the fact there are no freaking spots, but the problem is that there are no freaking spots.  I would listen and possibly patronize the sponsors, but since there are none, I can't.  So that brings me to the problem... what is the use for this waste of electricity?  It clearly is pulling me away from other stations on the dial, which do run spots, and are the reason for the station's existence.  If this is being encoded for PPM (I have no idea if sub-channels are), it is giving a false indication if it is tied to counting 100.3's main channel.  What is on 100.3's main channel?  I haven't a clue, I've never listened to it, and if I was logged as a listener, sponsors should be irate, as a non-listener to their spots was recorded.

I'm not against HD sub-channels, I think they're pretty cool, I'm just wondering what's the point?  This is clearly an expense, not only in building an HD facility, but man-hours in programming, royalty fees, and maintenance.  Why would any bottom-line-conscious GM expend a penny on something so worthless?  Maybe there's something here I'm missing, but I don't think so.  Enlighten me, why are these channels here if they generate no revenue and diminish the real station's listenership?  I guess I've spent too many years in AM.