The question on many radio people’s minds is about HD and whether it’s worth the effort or expense. In my RadiOpinion, it is. Anytime one can add something that enhances the sound quality, it improves the chances for listeners to LISTEN to your station and enjoy it. So why not do it? If an AM station can sound nearly equal to an FM station, that’s a big plus. If an FM station has CD or better sound capability, that’s a plus. HD is an upgrade. An upgrade that levels the playing field to most forms of digital sound reproduction wherever they’re found. We’ve come from vinyl records to tape carts to computer hard drives in the last fifty years. Engineers have installed equalizers, audio processors, and software enhancement to make their on-air product sound better. HD is now the latest innovation in that chain of sound bettering evolution.The ability to add more sub frequencies gives a station more program
possibilities, more opportunity for revenue. I really don’t see a downside to HD. What radio in general must do is to promote it better, and get more receivers in the marketplace. Television stations and manufacturers are doing a superb job of marketing HDTV, while Radio is failing to capitalize on an idea that Television is just "handing" us. This is something which Radio has lost sight of. You must be topical and take advantage of the trends others have spent their millions on to promote and make the country aware of . Radio can spend less by just "piggy backing" to what is already working. Whether "Surfin Bird" by The Trashmen, or "Sugar Sugar" by The Archies will be dynamically improved with the infusion of the HD experience, remains to be heard. Just maybe AM Radio can at least get back to playing music once again, and become the competitive force it once was. For AM , less talk and More Music has always worked. Now it can go to work and have a chance again. HD or not to HD is not the question, it’s the ANSWER! That’s my RadiOpinion, what’s yours?
Comments at: gary.allyn@gmail.com
2 comments:
Good for you Gary. I am disappointed with HDRadio, especially in North County. KOGO on HD is still KOGO; it's the programming that'll drive 'em in. However, that aside, the prospects of all HDRadio should be a reality. Frankly, today, more consumers in San Diego County are using iPhone from Apple ... than all HDRadio users nationwide.
Gary, if HD technology is the sandwich and fresh 'n' tasty programming is the meat, success is possible. If the latter is not the case, we have the equivalent of AM Stereo take up !
Regards,
IAN in Oz.
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