Ibiquity States 2007 Was Breakthrough Year For HD Radio
While Ibiqity’s FCC filings in the proposed merger between Sirius and XM indicate that they do not see themselves at the point of being viable competition for satellite radio yet, their feelings discussed in a National Association of Broadcasters board meeting paint a different picture. That’s sometimes how things are though.
NAB BOARD MEETING EXCEPT
Bob Struble, president of iBiquity Digital Radio Corp., updated the Board on what he termed a “breakthrough year” for HD Radio in 2007. He noted that HD Radio receiver sales topped 330,000 in 2007, compared to 40,000 the previous year. He thanked NAB for its support of HD Radio and urged broadcasters to continue to expand promotional efforts to help boost consumer demand.
Caroline Beasley, chair of the HD Radio Technology Advancement Task Force, briefed the Board on efforts by the Task Force and the HD Radio Alliance to target auto manufacturers with positive HD Radio messages. The goal is to encourage carmakers to “fully equip” vehicles with an HD Radio.
Given the data presented, HD Radio saw growth of 825% in HD radio sales from 2006 to 2007, and now stands at 370,000 consumers. For Comparison, it Took XM six quarters to reach the same level of penetration and Sirius 9 quarters.
Interestingly, HD Radio has stated in FCC filings that the exclusive deals are prohibiting them from being included in the OEM channel. Sirius Buzz has pointed out that this is not the case, and that HD Radio is free to negotiate with OEM’s. It appears that is exactly what they intend to do with their statement that they will “encourage” auto makers to fully equip vehicles.
It is always interesting seeing how the “argument” changes depending on the audience that is listening.
Position – Long Sirius, Long XM
Like those numbers are believable, minus returns and “trade” purchases:
“DEAD AIR: Radio’s great leap forward stalling in the Valley”
“Retailers say no one is buying HD radios in South Texas despite scattered attempts by broadcasters to promote the digital signal technology…”
http://www.themonitor.com/news.....l_new.html
“HD Radio Has Yet To Take Off”
“But the technology hasn’t taken off as expected. NBC 5 could not find one person who owns a hi-def radio and neither could KISS FM’s program director. I don’t know anybody that has one yet, Davis said.”
http://www.nbc5i.com/technolog.....etail.html
“High-def radio is here, but is anyone listening?”
“But 19 Utah stations are broadcasting 31 high-definition radio channels with six more coming soon… It seems the stations are investing in technology the public isn’t quite ready to embrace…. Some have heard it referred to but never had cause to get one. Unless you are a gadget person, few of these radios have sold.”
http://www.sltrib.com/technolo.....ci_7852904
“HD’s here. Who’s listening?”
“But consumers haven’t exactly been stampeding to electronics stores for the new HD Radio sets that are required to tune in the digital signals.”
http://www.twincities.com/busi.....ecent_comm
Breakthrough? Where? HD sales figures were long ago called into question. QVC HD sale was an embarassment, unfit for discussion in polite company.
Breakthrough? Yeah, HD’s raucous destructive illegal jamming breaks through our favorite programs. Call that a breakthrough?
Germany just junked digital. UK digital radio is onna ropes, fadin’ fast. Listeners like good shows. They don’t care a whit about digital.
The only ones who do are those who want to make a buck off it and usurp our airwaves.
HD brokethrough in 2007? Right. Same as Tor Johnson, four hundred pound heavy in Ed Wood’s campy sci-fi flicks was said to break through toilet seats every time he visited with Ed for a coupla drinks.
Breakthrough. Haven’t they a gift for hyperbole?
Paul Vincent Zecchino
Manasota Key, Florida
31 January, 2008
LOL…..
I can’t say that I have been a fan of HD Radio. I do not have it, and have no plans to get it unless it comes already built into my car and does not cost me anything.
That being said, they are trying to get a golden ticket on the heels of the merger.
Their stance, as I stated, changes depending on the audience. They tell the FCC that they are “poor struggling souls” and then tell the NAB Board that they are “going gangbusters”.
HMMMMMM
It reminds me of the NABs statements before and after the licenses were granted to Sirius and XMSR. But those arguements did a 180 (on competition) infront of the same group.
Home HD units need an outside roof top antenna to even receive half the range of a comparable analog receiver. What are these despicable HD stooges trying to do now? Anyone with half a brain can see the end result of IBOC radios being put into cars, the consumer will receive virtually nothing on them, think there defective and return them. This company iNiquity will stop at nothing to push their non-working still-born technology onto the unsuspecting American consumer. I wonder out of the 330,00 units sold this year, which is a drop in the bucket by the way, were sold to broadcasting professional and gadget junkies? I would be willing to bet the majority were as I do not personally know of one person who has even heard of it let alone anyone who owns one and they are simply not available. There are none at any of the big box electronic stores near my home which is near the second largest city in New England. This “breakthrough!!??” is more BS hype from INiquity. The only people who believe anything they say anymore are the people who are completely brainwashed already anyway. So let them bluster away, HD will soon take it’s place next to the 8 track player units at the Museum Of Obsolete Useless Junk, no matter how much baloney emanates from the Alliance and iNiquity.