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It's Not Just AM - G.M. Is Pulling HD Radio From Some Cars
The reason is cost, and the perception that not enough stations use HD to make it worthwhile to install it in their vehicles. And some analysts fear that when a giant carmaker takes that route, others may follow.
"There are currently more than 100 million cars on the road with digital radio receivers, but [National Association of Broadcasters David] Layer worries GM’s move could be followed by other automakers. “There’s not enough stations using digital radio, and at some point, automakers are going to realize that, and maybe not want to invest in digital radio technology and their receivers,” he warned.
I'm not sure how may here have HD Radio in their cars, or even use it. I find it's one of the few good things in the current car I drive, although the rest of the vehicle leaves a lot to be desired.
GM’s HD Radio Retreat Highlights Growing Dashboard Challenge For Radio
- pinto
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Re: It's Not Just AM - G.M. Is Pulling HD Radio From Some Cars
I don't have it in my cars but I do have a Sangean and make use of HD listening to ball games in the summer.
- Skywave
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Re: It's Not Just AM - G.M. Is Pulling HD Radio From Some Cars
I find GM's decision puzzling, because there are universal chips available that cover all world-wide analog and digital standards.
Si4689-A10 Single-Chip, AM/FM/HD/DAB/DAB+ Radio Receiver
I think that a major stumbling block has been Ibiquity's licensing model, which requires stations to purchase a license for HD1 channels, and pay a percentage of revenue which arises from the HD2 and up channels. They should have taken the approach used by Zenith, which patented FM stereo. There was a simple royalty fee paid per receiver by the licensed manufacturers.
- rk12
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Re: It's Not Just AM - G.M. Is Pulling HD Radio From Some Cars
Both the broadcaster and receiver manufacture have to pay a royalty fee for HD radio.The fees plus the added cost for electronics have held HD back.Now streaming is taking over.4 Buffalo stations have stopped using HD radio .The sub channels dont make enough money to cover the fees.
- Skywave
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Re: It's Not Just AM - G.M. Is Pulling HD Radio From Some Cars
I stand corrected, and upon further research, there have been all kinds of lawsuits over the years.
The success of digital television was due to a clearly-defined end game, with a fixed transition date. Had the FCC taken the same "all digital or nothing" approach to next generation radio as it did for television, we would be in a different world. HD Radio has been around for more than 20 years, but the absence of a forced transition, coupled with the financial model, has been a huge impediment. There should have been a ground-up development of an optimized digital transmission system for the FM band.
- paterson1
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Re: It's Not Just AM - G.M. Is Pulling HD Radio From Some Cars
I have HD in my car and use it on about four stations.
- RadioAaron
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Re: It's Not Just AM - G.M. Is Pulling HD Radio From Some Cars
Skywave wrote:
I stand corrected, and upon further research, there have been all kinds of lawsuits over the years.
The success of digital television was due to a clearly-defined end game, with a fixed transition date. Had the FCC taken the same "all digital or nothing" approach to next generation radio as it did for television, we would be in a different world. HD Radio has been around for more than 20 years, but the absence of a forced transition, coupled with the financial model, has been a huge impediment. There should have been a ground-up development of an optimized digital transmission system for the FM band.
A forced transition to digital would have killed the whole band.