O video pode ser uma solução para a rádio?

Este artigo do New York Times (reproduzido pelo IHT) parece indicar que sim: a partir da fusão da Sirius com a XM, e a consequente eliminação de canais repetidos, sobraria mais espaço e dinheiro para investir na emissão de imagem/Informação

Por um lado, «The first phase of the business — beaming dedicated music, sports and talk-radio stars like Howard Stern and Opie and Anthony directly to consumers — has not proved to have a clear advantage over old technology like free radio and newer ones like the iPod. So now satellite companies are looking into what other services they can offer to make them appealing to motorists». ALém disos, «that trying to create a better iPod than Apple is a losing proposition.”

Alguns esforços já foram feitos:
«Although XM and Sirius offer radio, in theory, the systems could be adapted to distribute any kind of data. And, indeed, both companies have made limited steps in that direction. Subscribers can already choose to have selected stock quotes, as well as news and sports headlines, beamed to the tiny screens on their receivers.
Both companies beam weather data to aviators and boaters through services that cost upwards of $50 a month. Later this year, XM will extend that by beaming weather information to a hand-held unit for hikers and hunters.
But Sirius has also made tentative steps toward offering video. At trade shows, Sirius has displayed prototype systems for sending video to back-seat displays like those now used by in-car DVD players. And the company recently, if vaguely, outlined plans to deliver some form of video programming aimed at children later this year.»

«The future services Mr. Parsons foresees are more modest. One, invisible to users, involves using the satellites to keep the data on in-car navigation systems constantly and automatically up to date. Another is a trick the iPod learned long ago: displaying album cover art when songs are playing. But there are limits to what even a combined satellite radio company can do. Satellite systems effectively do not allow two-way transmissions, ruling out services such as e-mail. And without enormous reinvestment, the systems are not likely to approach the transmission speeds of WiMax, a new wireless technology being developed by Nortel Networks and others that will probably start operating within the year. Those systems, like cellphone networks, will pass moving users from tower to tower and offer transmission speeds comparable to high-speed, wired connections in homes. Susan Kevorkian, an analyst with IDC, said that the satellite radio connections with automakers would give them a significant advantage over WiMax, at least in the short term.» 

fonte: Can Video Help Save the Satellite Radio Business?», IHT, 26/02/07 IAN AUSTEN