Blogia

Transistor kills the radio star?

Um receptor que junte XM e Sirius? Até que enfim...

«Satellite radio enthusiasts who subscribe to both XM and Sirius may soon be able to consolidate both of their satellite subscriptions into one radio receiver. A company called Interoperable Technologies, a joint venture between Sirius and XM, is currently working to create interoperable satellite radio receiver technology that allows subscribers to access both services. Last year the company successfully completed the design of a radio capable of receiving both services, and now they have a timeline to bring a receiver to market this year, says Orbitcast.com

fonte: Dual XM/Sirius Radio Could Appear This Year, FMQB, 19/6/06

Canais de HD2 silenciosos

«(...) Each time, I'd tuned the Recepter to the "HD2" channel of a local radio station -- but the station had allowed this second, digital-only broadcast to go silent for no apparent reason. The first offender was WTOP; instead of its HD2 feed's usual pleasant classical music, I heard silence. Rather, I heard nothing -- with no music to awake me, I enjoyed an extra hour of blissful shut-eye.

WAMU pulled the same stunt a couple of weeks later, silencing its second channel.

Much as I enjoyed my bonus nap time, this kind of thing does not bode well for HD radio's future. If the radio stations offering HD2 broadcasts (all of whom have shelled out some non-trivial cash to do so) can't be bothered to keep them on their air full-time, why should anybody at home bother risking their cash on this technology?

HD radio does have other selling points, but they hardly compete with the dramatic expansion of listening choices that HD2 broadcasts could bring. Digital FM just doesn't sound that much better than analog. Digital AM does, but it's too hard to find and is still limited to daylight hours.»

fonte: «HD Radio Needs Wake-Up Call» 19/6/06, Washington Post

O HD tambem digitaliza a AM

«News that Radio Sangkakala in Indonesia has signed on with an AM HD Radio signal on 1,062kHz is being touted as the first foray of AM HD Radio hybrid technology in Asia by Broadcast Electronics, the transmission system vendor.

While a number of countries outside of the United States have granted experimental permits for FM HD radio broadcasts, little testing of Ibiquity's AM hybrid technology has been undertaken outside of the Western hemisphere.

The medium-wave HD Radio system was installed for Radio Sangkakala's owner, Pohan E. Harliman in April--15 years after private AM stations in Indonesia migrated to FM, virtually abandoning the medium-wave band. The station, reportedly the first privately owned AM operation to return since the 1991 exodus, purchased the rights to three channels and is operating its carrier in the center of the available bandwidth with an output power of 10kW.

Coverage and reception of the digital signal has been reported as "excellent" by the station's owner/operator

fonte: «AM HD Radio on Air in Indonesia», beradio, 21/6/06

Viva a convergência (no Japão)

«U.S. consumers may soon have the opportunity to subscribe to terrestrially-based streaming audio and video services via third generation mobile phone handsets, but Japan remains a step ahead as it becomes the first nation to offer consumers streaming audio on handsets via satellite, according to the latest edition of NAB's Radio Tech Check.

NTT Docomo of Tokyo will offer a satellite radio package to consumers equipped with Mitubishi's new Music Porter X model handset. The satellite channels will originate from Mobile Broadcasting (MBCO), a Japanese provider currently offering more than 30 channels of audio as well as multi-channel video services via a single geostationary satellite with a terrestrial gap-filling network operating at about 2.6GHz. That system has been operating as a stand-alone service since 2004»

fonte: «New Japanese Handsets Include Satellite Audio Services», beradio, 21/6/06

Paula Cordeiro: «O anúncio do primeiro telemóvel capaz de receber rádio por satélite, transforma velhos transístores e walkan's fora de moda, num novo gadget, presente no quotidiano da maioria dos cidadãos»

Novidades (especulativas?) do novo iPod

«Apple is rumored to release an updated iPod within the next few months, and that will place even more pressure on precious, NAND flash memory supplies. According to a recent research report issued Wednesday by Gartner Research, global sales of portable MP3 players will soar to 187.7 million units this year, up from 134.5 million in 2005. A major chunk of that growth will come from Apple, which leverages its market dominance to craft longer-term memory supply contracts. The Gartner report pointed to a 5.8 percent supply deficit during the fourth quarter of this year, and a 2.6 percent shortage during the first quarter of 2007»

fonte: New iPod Release Could Prolong Flash Memory Shortages, digital music news, 22/6/06

Contra o descarregamento ilegal - decisão histórica

Um tribunal da Holanda ordenou o encerramento da página Zoekmp3 porque esta publicita páginas onde é possivel fazer descarregamentos ilegais.

É a terceira vez que isto acontece: «The decision is the latest judgment against "deep link" sites offering unauthorized links to copyrighted music. Similar websites recently were deemed illegal in Australia and China

Ouvir HStern na net

A Sirius cumpriu a promessa e passou a ser possível ouvir Howard Stern fora do satélite - mas só para assinantes da Sirius (ou seja, no continente norte-americano). aqui

Sobre as cidades wifi (e a sua viabilidade)

«"Under the agreement, Sacramento residents would pay monthly subscription fees of about $20 to use MobilePro's wireless service, local businesses would pay $90 to $250, and Sacramento's city agencies would be able to use the service free... "But earlier this month, the deal fell apart. The reason: Sacramento city officials had noticed new municipal wireless deals inked in San Francisco and Portland, Ore. The Portland rollout, sponsored by Silicon Valley startup MetroFi Inc., and the San Francisco deployment from Google Inc. and Earthlink Inc., both offered wireless service to those cities with expanded free access for some businesses and residents. Instead of relying on user subscription fees, MetroFi, Google and Earthlink planned to make money off local advertising that would be embedded in their wireless service.

"Sacramento... wanted to pursue an even more aggressive model: a completely free wireless service  supported solely by Internet advertising... Sacramento city officials say they make no apologies in asking for a free wireless network supported only by advertising...»

fonte: Wall Street Journal on line (com subscrição), via RAIN

receitas do on line boas para a Clear Channel

«CLEAR CHANNEL RADIO'S ONLINE MUSIC and radio division has been the company's fastest-growing source of revenue in 2005 and 2006, a Clear Channel spokeswoman said Friday, after Evan Harrison--the executive vice president who was poached from AOL in 2005 to head the division--detailed Clear Channel's efforts in 2005 and program for 2006.

Together, digital tech vehicles--including cell phones, in-vehicle navigation, online streaming, and download subscriptions--account for about 5 percent of Clear Channel Radio's total revenue, or about $40.5 million in first quarter 2006, and Harrison's division is the fastest-growing part. Among its most popular features are streaming video-on-demand and music-on-demand features, according to Harrison, who boasted: "We're now a visual medium." »

fonte: «Clear Channel's Sales Soar, Media Daily News, Erik Sass, 19/6/06, http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.san&s=44629&Nid=21095&p=326057

audiências dos EUA com 125 mil «diários»

A Arbitron acaba de anunciar que alargou a sua amostra de diários de 100 mil para 125 mil!!!

«Arbitron will boost the sample size of its RADAR network radio ratings service by twenty-five percent from 100,000 diarykeepers to 125,000 diarykeepers.

Starting with the release of RADAR 89 this month, more than 6,000 diaries were added to the sample of the most current quarter of the RADAR report, going from the current sample size of 100,000 diaries to 106,299 diaries. By the release of RADAR 92 in March 2007, the RADAR radio network service will be based on an annual sample size of 125,000 diarykeepers.» (fonte: Arbitron Increases RADAR Sample Size By 25%, Radio Ink, 19/6/06)

Ou seja, o PPM vai demorar muito até substituir os diários?

Nem de propósito: «The showdown comes as the industry has decided that the old diary system is an antiquated, unreliable embarrassment. Spurring the desire for change is the lackluster growth in radio advertising revenue, along with competition from advertising media like the Internet, which can show exactly how many people visited various Web sites and how long they stayed. "We're in an electronic age," says Joel Hollander, chairman and chief executive of CBS Radio. "We need more instantaneous measurement."

Radio companies say they could win a bigger chunk of ad dollars if they could prove exactly how much people listen to the radio. Arbitron's solution is the People Meter, a small device that clips onto a belt loop or slides into a purse. It automatically detects what stations its wearers are tuned in to and beams back that information to the number crunchers» (fonte: «Radio Stations, Arbitron Clash
Over How to Tally Listeners
», WSJ.com, SARAH MCBRIDE, June 19, 2006; Page B1), via Clube de Jornalistas

 

Há polémica nos EUA: canais sem publicidade têm publicidade?

Já aqui me tinha questionado - mas a distância impede-me de conhecer melhor essa realidade: a rádio via satélite aparece com um grande trunfo, livre de publicidade, e afinal retransmite publicidade, mesmo nos canais commercial-free?

Desenvolvimentos:

«Subscribers to XM Satellite Radio continue to be either upset, dismayed, or confused about XM’s policy concerning commercials on music channels. I have...noticed a marked increase in little "blurbs" such as "the next hour of music is brought to you by so-and-so". This is an advertisement, no matter how you look at it, and I pay premium dollar to not hear ONE advertisement. The promos pushing their own shows on other channels irritate me also, but I can deal with those since there is no extra money funneling into XM Radio to have these promos. I'm NOT happy about the plugs for sponsors... - Andy»

Novos tempos na (boa) Radio Caroline

A mítica Radio Caroline, que - a partir d um barco - desafiou os poderes na GB, no pós-guerra, e obrigou a desregulamentar o espectro, a mesma Radio Caroline está desde a semana passada a emitir via satélite, através da plataforma digital da Sky, a Sky's Electronic Programme Guide (EPG).

A RC recolheu donativos dos ouvintes para conseguir este objectivo:

Station manager Peter Moore said in a statement: "Yes, we are the same station that famously broadcast from ships at sea from 1964 to 1990. We might still be at sea had it not been for a dramatic shipwreck and a sinister change to UK law. "No, we are not owned by or connected with any other radio station or holding group, we are totally independent.

"Yes, many of our presenters and staff were with us during our time at sea and yes we still have our 'pirate ship' MV Ross Revenge, currently under restoration. Perhaps we will one day broadcast from our ship again. Certainly we would like to invite the public on board when restoration is more advanced.

We are all volunteers. Nobody in Caroline whether on air or behind the scenes, or even the Boss, gets a wage or takes any expenses. We create radio for the love of it. Some of our guys have walked out of good radio jobs to return to Caroline.»

Sirius encomenda quarto satélite

«New York - Jun 8, 2006 - Sirius Satellite Radio has placed an order with Space Systems/Loral to design and build a new satellite. The satellite is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2008. Sirius plans to launch the satellite on a Proton rocket from the International Launch Services (ILS).

Sirius currently flies three satellites in highly elliptical orbits so that at least two of them are visible at any time in the United States. This fourth satellite will complement these three by being launched into a geostationary orbit. This hybrid constellation will provide redundancy and enhanced coverage.

The cost to design, build and launch the satellite will be about $260 million.»

fonte: «Sirius Orders Fourth Satellite», beradio: http://beradio.com/currents/radio_currents_061206/index.html#sirius 

O aproveitamento dos canais HD para nichos (nichos?)

«Clear Channel Radio Chicago has announced that Gay Radio has arrived in the Windy City [Chicago]. WKSC-FM’s HD2 Side Channel will be the new home of Pride Radio. The company adds that this move will not affect the current programming on WKSC/Kiss-FM.

Chicagoland is home to one of America's largest gay populations, and our new Pride Radio channel is designed to be a voice and a source of entertainment for the gay community,” said Darren Davis, Clear Channel RVP of Programming. “The music will be mostly upbeat, dance-oriented, and energetic. It's an idea that's so fabulous; we just had to do it in High Definition on HD Radio.”

fonte: WKSC-FM Chicago’s HD2 Side Channel Is All About Gay Pride, Radio Ink, 19/6/06

O LAD da Microsoft...

«More information is now surfacing on the possible launch of a Microsoft-branded iPod competitor. The device would be the latest attempt to chip away at the continued dominance of Apple in the space, and would be accompanied by a hand-in-glove, music software companion. A recent report in Reuters pointed to Robbie Bach, a major player within the Xbox division at Microsoft, as a contender to lead the project. Discussions and rumors have been circulating on a Microsoft bid for some time, driven by the inability of numerous partners to offer a serious threat to the iPod+iTunes stalwart.


The latest iTunes competitor to emerge was Urge from MTV, which beta launched in May. That system plugs into the freshly-unveiled Windows Media Player 11, which delivers enhanced media management, device synchronization, and a competitive interface. But early reviews have been sour on the release, both on early-stage bugs and the overall strength of the play. The system is part of the Microsoft PlaysForSure network of compatible devices and services, though an incompatibility with the iPod is likely to create serious adoption problems. The MTV launch was timed with the release of the iRiver Clix, which offers an innovative click-screen approach and tiny form factor, though most iPod competitors have had difficulty gaining significant market share.»

fonte: «More Chatter Bubbles on Microsoft-Branded iPod Killer», Digital Music News, 19;6,06

o WiMAX em Portugal (testes)

«A Anacom autorizou a PT a prolongar os testes técnicos que tem vindo a realizar à tecnologia WiMAX até ao proximo mês de Outubro. Não obstante, a PT não é a única a testar esta tecnologia, uma vez que desde 2003 que a Intel e a Alcatel, em parceria, também o têm vindo a fazer, com o objectivo de acelerar a chegada desta tecnologia ao mercado nacional, tendo a Bradnet, também este ano, entrado na corrida para a realização de testes.

Num comunicado, a Anacom referiu que a realização destes testes não implica qualquer compromisso, obrigação ou condicionante à utilização futura de sistemas do tipo WiMAX em Portugal, nem implica qualquer vínculo do regulador à atribuição de direitos de utilização num eventual processo futuro de autorização desta tecnologia. Por outras palavras, os testes que têm vindo a ser realizados não influenciam qualquer decisão da Anacom relativamente à futura atribuição de licenças para operar a tecnologia. (...) Em relação a esta tecnologia, de referir que é um upgrade do Wi-Fi, que tem uma maior largura vde banda e cobertura, podendo oferecer até 124 Mbps e cobrir um raio de 50 a 70 KM - mais que os 54 Mbps num raio máximo de 120 metros oferecidos pelo Wi-Fi. Por outro lado, esta está a ser desenvolvida como alternativa ao DSL na última milha de ligação da infra-estrutura de comunicações, e numa componente móvel como alternativa para fornecer serviços de Internet em zonas onde as infra-estruturas físicas não estão disponíveis»

fonte: Connect, 05/2006 («PT irá fazer ensaios técnicos ao WIMAX até Outubro»)  

Da música digital em Portugal

(informações recolhidas na Revista ED, ABril de 06, texto «Musica sem CD» de José Carlos Marques)

- no iTunes português, os Clã estiveram em primeiro lugar com «Problema de Expressão»

- o Sapo iniciou as vendas em 2004; têm um catalogo de 1,1 milhões de musicas de 61 mil artistas ao preço base de 99 centimos e 11,99 por album;

- da Musicaonline não é dada qualquer informação;

- A Universal Musica Portugal vende tambem para a Vodafone (comprar e ouvir musica nos telemoveis de 3g); os conteudos digitais (downloads completos e formatos para telemoveis) na UMP representam 10 por cento da facturação total;

- A EMI Portugal espera ter o seu catalogo digitalizado até final de março de 2006 (!); esperam que o consumo digital represente mais de 5 por cento da facturação total até março de 2007;

- A Warner  não trabalha com o catalogo nacional nem o vai digitalizar em breve

A rádio (via net) chega às consolas

A Tversity anuncia ter disponibilizado um sistema que permite trazer a rádio da net, entre outras facilidades, a uma série de dispositivos:

«This includes devices like networked TVs, DVDs, Stereo Receivers, Digital Media Adapaters/Receivers, Mobile Phones, Satellite and Cable set-top-boxes and more.

  • Devices with a web browser (XHTML-MP or WAP 2.0) and media streaming or downloading capabilities like Mobile Phones, PDAs, the Sony PSP, and more.
  • Devices with an RSS reader and media streaming or downloading capabilities like the Sony PSP, iTunes/iPod and more.»
  •  TVersity can handle almost any media format and streaming protocol whether it is coming from your home network or the Internet including live and on-demand Internet streams. This makes it possible to access from your device of choice, Internet TV and Radio stations, audio and video Podcasts, photo blogs and photo feeds (from flickr and other sources), Internet playlist communities (like Webjay.org), video search engines (from Yahoo, Google and others) and much more.

    Música ilegal a diminuir; descarregamentos legais aumentam

    «Nearly a year after the Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling against online music file-sharing services, the CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America says unauthorized song swapping has been "contained."

    "The problem has not been eliminated," says association CEO Mitch Bainwol. "But we believe digital downloads have emerged into a growing, thriving business, and file-trading is flat."

    That's an optimistic view from an industry that saw its numbers slide to near oblivion after the launch of the original Napster in 1999. CD sales fell as much as 30%, and the RIAA pressed Congress and the courts for relief against what it said was rampant piracy.»

    fonte: RIAA chief says illegal song-sharing 'contained', Jefferson Graham, USA TODAY, 12/6/06, http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/services/2006-06-12-riaa_x.htm?csp=34

    Sirius e XM quase empatadas?

    «Bridge Ratings projects that over the last fifteen weeks 1,718,945 additional subscriptions to satellite radio have occurred at the retail level. XM's share of this 15 week projected retail sales total is 50.2%, Sirius 49.8%. Based on the slowing trend line of sales for XM, Bridge Ratings now projects XM total subscriber count at 8.4 million by year end 2006 and 6.5 million for Sirius. Projections are updated quarterly.»

    fonte: Bridge Ratings Update: Sirius & XM Running Neck & Neck, Radio Ink, 17/6/06, http://www.radioink.com/headlineentry.asp?hid=133981&pt=inkheadlines