5.1.2 HD

O HD pode vir a ser um bom negócio

A partir do momento em que há centenas de rádio a emitir por HD, abrem-se perspectivas de novos negócios para os novos canais de multicasting. E a Clear Channel, como gigante, não perde tempo: acaba de criar uma nova empresa/solução, a que chama Format Lab para vender formatos alternativos... à concorrência que quer ter um segundo ou terceiro canal. «a new service that will make 75 new channels available to rival radio broadcasters for use in digital radio multicasts, station web sites and other outlets.

Format Lab channels include a variety of genres, such as traditional jazz, bluegrass and classical music. Within the rock category, Clear Channel offers such channels as Dank, a combination of hip-hop and rock; Vinyl Vineyard, intended as a throwback to Album Oriented Rock; and The Gig, featuring nothing but cuts from live albums.

Among other formats included at Format Lab are variations on urban, Christian, Spanish, comedy, country, and gay-themed programming.

"As other companies begin to use the HD side channels, they’re going to need programming help of the sort we can provide with Format Lab," said John Hogan, president and chief executive of Clear Channel Radio, in an interview. "So they will be very interested in what we can provide them."

fonte: Radio Ink, Clear Channel Experiments In The “Format Lab”, 24/04/06

Nem por acaso: «The member stations of the HD Digital Radio Alliance are rolling out HD2 channels in an additional 22 markets, bringing the total number of markets in which stations are multicasting their digital signal to 50 markets. This is the second wave of multicast formats to be announced; the first 25 markets were unveiled earlier this year. HD2 multicasts will now be available in 50 markets (including 42 of the top 50) -- more than six months ahead of schedule, says the alliance. The number of new radio stations created under the initiative now tops 450»

Uma das potencialidades do multicasting (HD)

«CBS Radio is extending a branded car-buying show and will air it on an HD2 channel for a special event in New York.

The broadcaster is airing a compilation of automotive news and entertainment programming including the latest from the Manhattan Auto Show now through April 16.

"Auto Scoop New York" airs on the HD2 channel for WCBS(FM) and will also be streamed live at www.cbsradio.com on those days. New car designs and debuts and concept cars will be covered; the show will include interviews and commentary from automobile manufactures and local dealerships.

Auto Scoop normally airs on various CBS Radio stations Saturday mornings and focuses on the car buying and leasing process»

fonte: «CBS Will Use Multicast for a Special Car Event», RWonline, 12/4/06

 

HD em França - Vai chegar cá?

«Quincy, IL, and Paris - Apr 7, 2006 - Broadcast Electronics (BE) has installed an HD Radio FM system on an independent station in Paris, France. Towercast, in partnership with independent broadcast syndicate SIRTI and NRJ Group, began broadcasting an HD Radio signal on 88.2MHz last week using a BE low-powered transmission system. In the next phase of the trials, Towercast plans to multicast two or more channels of programming. "As a group, we’re very interested in the HD Radio technology because it lets us move right into digital broadcasting without giving up analog," said Anders Rällvik, who is the technical lead for testing digital technology for Towercast. "I believe we’re the first broadcaster to use HD Radio live, 24 hours in Europe." Towercast is broadcasting HD Radio with a test license granted by Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (CSA), France’s broadcast authority. CSA has also granted Towercast an experimental license to broadcast HD Radio on 93.9MHz, and the group will begin broadcasting a single channel of digital audio on that frequency in the next month. It will eventually add another program channel to test HD Radio multicasting as well as any channel spacing interference»

fonte: «Broadcast Electronics Introduces HD Radio to France », Radio Magazine, 3 a 9 de abril,.

Mais: «Could France give up on Eureka-147?»

HD consegue apoio dos retalhistas

Talvez o facto da transmissão em HD exigir novos receptores, desses receptores serem raros e caros, seja o seu maior problema na actualidade.

Este desenvolvimento acaba por ser relevante: «retailers are now jumping on board. Early this morning, retailers Tweeter, Crutchfield and ABC Warehouse Detroit announced that they would be selling a crop of HD-compatible receivers. Starting today, the receivers will be available in more than 100 stores in over 30 markets across the United States. "Consumer demand for HD digital radio receivers has increased significantly over the past few months as consumers see the incredible value that HD radio offers," said Peter Ferrara, president and CEO of the HD Digital Radio Alliance».

fonte: «Radio Conglomerates Push HD, Retailers Offer More Support», Digital Music News, 10/4/06

Receptor HD com segunda antena

para melhorar a recepção!

«As rádios em AM e FM [EUA] não estão a enfrentar os desafios do satélite sem darem luta»

Mais um texto entusiasmado com o HD, agora no Detroit News.

HD: últimas novidades

O Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) acaba de lançar uma nova versão do «White Paper» sobre o HD. Um documento muito interessante, até pela simplicidade, mas com muita informação.

Destaques:

«HD Radio has propelled the medium into the digital space, and marks the most significant advancement in radio broadcasting since the introduction of FM stereo more than 50 years ago»

Porquê: «HD Radio has provided expanded programming choices, radically improved audio quality, and new wireless data and text services. Its anticipated impact on consumers is so significant that HD Radio received top honors with CNET’s “Next Big Thing” Award at the 2005 International Consumer Electronics Show. Signal fading, static, hisses, and pops are a thing of the past as HD Radio delivers FM quality sound on AM and CD quality sound on FM. Real-time text messages including song title and artist, weather, news, and traffic alerts, and local information for nationally advertised brands are revolutionizing the way consumers experience AM and FM radio. Surround sound, a “buy” button, and traffic data overlaid on in-car navigational systems are on the way. And, as always, it’s FREE»

Sobre o multicasting: «Alliance member stations are coordinating the formats on the new HD2 multicast channels to ensure a variety of program choices within the HD2 multicast markets. More information is available at www.hdradio.com. To date, 3,000 U.S. radio stations covering all major markets and reaching 90% of Americans, have committed to upgrading their stations. Over 700 stations are already broadcasting their primary signal in HD Radio including stations in all top 50 markets. Over 150 stations are currently multicasting an HD2 channel with over 250 HD2 stations expected on the air in the coming months. A few stations are experimenting with HD3 multicasts».

A recepção: «Boston Acoustics’ Receptor HD tabletop radio is widely available, as is Yamaha’s home component receiver. High-end home component units are on the way from Audio Design Associates, Day Sequerra, and Rotel. Polk is scheduled to launch a tabletop radio in April.  After-market auto receivers from Alpine, Kenwood, JVC, Eclipse, Sanyo, and Panasonic are selling in retail stores across the country. New automotive aftermarket technology will debut in 2006 allowing consumers to easily convert their existing analog car radios to receive digital HD Radio signals. BMW is the first car manufacturer to offer HDRadio receivers as a factory installed option in its 2006 “6” and “7” Series models.»

Está tudo aqui (http://www.rab.com/secure/white_papers/HDRADIOWhitePaper.pdf)

Crescimento lento do HD

«Eight million listeners in 2010. That's the latest best guess of research company Bridge Ratings as to how many listeners will have HD Radio, and compares with a projection of 54 million for satellite radio that year. The new HD Radio digital format is growing "slower than previously thought"; still, it has the potential eventually to rival the satcasters in receiver penetration, but that depends on how fast automakers embrace the technology, Bridge said. »

 

Uma previsão pouco favorável para o HD

«The radio research firm projects in its latest report that HD receivers will be in the hands of 1.06 million consumers by the end of 2007, 2.0 million by the end of 2008 and 8.84 million by the end of 2010. Meanwhile, Bridge predicts that XM Satellite Radio will grow to 9.0 million subscribers by the end of 2006 as rival Sirius grows to about 6 million subscribers over the same period. The study comes as part of Bridge’s ongoing review and analysis of audience attrition of traditional radio and subscriber and user growth of alternative digital media.»

Fonte: «Bridge Ratings: HD Radio To Reach 1 Million By End Of ’07», 14/3/06, Brida Connolly, R&R

Uma lista dos novos canais em HD

Interessante esta lista, para ver os novos formatos oferecidos aos ouvintes da rádios norte-americana, que tenham um rádio de recepção digital, claro.

HD interfere com a transmissão AM?

«WSJ Reports on AM IBOC Interference

AM interference from digital radio is in the Wall Street Journal. The paper reports that some AMs that have elected to remain analog are experiencing adjacent-channel interference from neighboring AMs that have gone digital.

Anecdotally, reports of such interference on AM from new digital signals have been circulating in the industry for some time and we've reported on those.

The WSJ article cites a listener in Elkridge, Md., who has had trouble tuning into WTRI(AM), 1520 kHz, since WTOP, at 1500 kHz in Washington, went HD Radio about a year ago.

In most cases, the interference is confined outside the FCC-protected coverage area, the account reports, agreeing with NRSC sources, quoted here in the past, who have tested the Ibiquity system. They and the FCC have known there would be some interference caused by IBOC and have maintained the levels would be acceptable.

FCC Audio Division Chief Peter Doyle is quoted by the Journal as explaining that broadcasters chose to go digital with Ibiquity's technology because it doesn't require new spectrum and that the advantages more than outweigh the shortcomings. Adding digital service is one way to combat the problem, although some small stations can't afford the cost. »

(fonte: «WSJ Reports on AM IBOC Interference», Date posted: 2006-03-02)

183 em multicasting com segundo canal

«There are 721 radio stations on the air and broadcasting in HD, but only 183 of these stations are multicasting and broadcasting an additional HD2 signal, according to Billboard Radio Monitor’s analysis of data posted at the iBiquity Web site.

To date, 1,190 stations have been licensed to broadcast in HD, according to iBiquity’s online tally. The 721 HD stations that are on air represent 61% of that total. The 183 stations that are broadcasting an additional, HD2 signal represent just over 25% of the on-air total, or about 15% of the full, 1,190 total.»
Billboard Radio Monitor, HD Radio's Multicast Tally: 183 HD2s On Air, Feb. 21, 2006, By Tony Sanders

O HD como resposta à crise de programação

«The advertising push comes against heavy satellite radio momentum, which is being powered by targeted genre channels and personalities like Howard Stern. That variety is being embraced by those that feel alienated by traditional radio, especially after a wave of ownership consolidation. As mom-and-pop radio stations were bought out by giants like Clear Channel, content variety gave way to tight playlists and a general sameness amongst stations. HD attempts to solve this dilemma through HD2 multicasting, which gives stations the ability to broadcast multiple channels on the same bandwidth allotted for their analog signals. That offers increased choices for listeners, without the need to pay $12.95 a month to get it. There are already 264 HD2 channels available nationwide, and initially they will all be commercial free». (Rich Menta, Digital Radio Consortium Kicks Off $200 Million Ad Campaign, Digital Music News, 21/2/06)

Consórcio HD cria site oficial

para mais informações sobre o sistema que meteu o DAB num bolso!

700 emissoras em HD!

«While the story on digital (HD) radio is still early, more and more terrestrial stations are upgrading their broadcasts. Just recently, HD radio technology provider iBiquity Digital counted its 700th compliant station, part of an early swell in the United States. "As a result of broadcasters converting stations at a pace of more than one per day, 6 in 10 Americans now have access to HD Radio broadcasts," commented Robert Struble, president and CEO of iBiquity. The updated tally includes stations across the AM and FM band, many of which have "multicasting," or "HD2" capabilities. iBiquity is the sole licensor of HD radio technology in the United States.» fonte: "Terrestrial Radio Industry Counts 700th HD Broadcaster"

Uma explicação para o (aparente) sucesso: «certainly the promise of new content moved the business news needle in a way that the promise of digital sound never did. That's also because the concept is easy for consumers and analysts to understand. "You can get new program channels in addition to your old ones, and all you need is to buy a new radio." Nothing particularly complicated about that».

 

 

Reduzir o preço dos receptores HD

"Boston Acoustics has now decided to help out a bit by lowering the manufacturer's suggested retail price on its Recepter Radio HD from $499 to $299, effective today".

Há quem ache que o HD vai mudar a forma como ouvimos a rádio convencional

Corey Deitz: "Can't afford Satellite Radio or just don't want to pay for it? You're in luck: the HD2 Radio rollout is underway and it will literally change the way you hear AM and FM radio. Plus: because the technology brings a new form of multicasting to these terrestrial bands, you will be able to receive even more channels than before with completely new formats that are designed to appeal to more narrow and eclectic niches. It means a lot more entertainment, news, and information than you've ever had before - for free"

HD como rádio de alta definição?

O Obercom, edição desta semana, chama "Rádio de Alta Definição" à rádio HD dos EUA. Não seria mais fácil chamar rádio digital?

A origem do HD

O sistema de emissão dupla, sem ser em simulcasting, com programações distintas, que o HD está a explorar, teve neste relato de 1995 de Ricardo Haye, o seu antecedente (aqui através de uma onda subportadora, no HD numa emissão digital):

"Esta alternativa [doble emisión a travésde un mismo canal] la vimos aplicada con gran utilidad en una pequena emisora integrante del sistema público estadounidense en la ciudad de Phoenix, Arizona. La señal principal está íntegramente dedicada a la difusión de noticias y música de jazz. Una subportadora fue cedida a una institución de ciegos que la utiliza para brindar servicios al público no vidente. Son audiciones de lectura de diarios, libros, comentarios, entrevistas, dirigidas a un público específico. La institución posee sus propios estudios y emplea invidentes para muchas tareas, entre ellas las de operador de control. Complementariarnente, entrega en forma gratuita a quienes lo soliciten un receptor de sintonía fija, única forma de acceder a esta propuesta".

Haye, Ricardo, Hacia una nueva radio, Paidós, Buenos Aires, 1995, pág. 46 

HD aposta nos canais secundários (HD2)

"The HD2 rollouts will cover the top 28 markets in the United States, which include mega-cities New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco, as well as smaller markets like Albuquerque, Dayton, Tulsa, and Wichita. The rollouts will include 250 new channels, many of which will begin airing “within a few days”. The rollout will bring the total number of HD2 stations to 264. "Listeners will now have even more local choices of new and diverse programming," said Peter Ferrara, president and CEO of the HD Digital Radio Alliance. "I think a lot of people are going to want an HD Radio for their car, home and office."

High-definition (HD) radio, often simply referred to as "digital radio," offers a higher-fidelity, digital upgrade over analog transmissions. Part of that upgrade includes the ability to multicast different programs over a single channel. One station, for example, could offer a flagship "HD1" channel, and a more specialized "HD2" station that delivers more niche content"

Fonte: "Terrestrial Conglomerates Push HD2 Digital Radio Rollouts" Digital Music News

ACT a 20/1:"The Wall Street Journal reports that America's biggest radio companies have started multicasting two or three stations onto FM frequencies that previously just carried one. For listeners, it means dozens of new channels are coming onto the air.

Clear Channel, CBS Radio and other broadcasters are starting to spell out what formats they will use for the new stations that will be created to take advantage of the emerging digital technology. Clear Channel has begun multicasting 10 new stations in New York and San Francisco, with more debuting in the next few days and an even bigger push to follow. CBS Radio is in the process of unveiling new multicast stations in several cities. In all, more than 250 multicast digital stations will soon be available in 28 large markets, including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

The radio companies hope the extra programming, which will largely be commercial-free, will lure back consumers who were considering subscribing to satellite radio.

A spokesman for XM Satellite Radio was dismissive of the new approach, saying, "While satellite radio continues its record growth as the radio service of the future, we just see more circling wagons from a traditional radio industry that has clearly lost touch with its audience."

The take at Sirius, meanwhile, is: "We wish them luck. We have more than 125 channels of great programming, and we think that what is good for radio will be very good for us."

fonte: "Terrestrial Radio Gets "Serious" About HD"

Nesta notícia da Radio Ink "Twenty-five Clear Channel Radio stations in five markets are now in the process of turning on their HD2 multicast digital radio channels. Within two weeks, another 82 stations in 20 more markets will begin HD2 multicasts" está uma lista de canais suplementares. Mas todos os principais grupos fizeram o mesmo, além da Clear Channel