Radio AM to FM: December 10, 2004
Bad Audio?
HD Radios are still all but impossible to find -- and the jury is still out
on whether the digital AM and FM broadcasts will catch on -- yet there is already
talk of changing the standard so that a radio station can broadcast multiple
audio channels rather than trying to improve the overall sound.
This is actually nothing new, as separate audio channels were part of the original
design, and National Public Radio has been pushing for permission to broadcast
as such. Heck, even current FM stations can already broadcast multiple audio
channels using the sides of each frequency on which they broadcast (SCA broadcasts
often leased for commercial or nonprofit use). Yet in the past, outside of
NPR, there has been rarely a mention of the capability.
For its part and to its credit, Ibiquity, the company that designed HD Radio,
has stayed the course by marketing the system as a way to potentially improve
the sound of AM and FM broadcasts. AM can sound as good as FM; FM can sound
as good as CDs.
Purists balk at the idea. CDs are hardly audiophile, they say, and good analog
will always beat good digital. However, HD does offer relief from interference,
and some engineers who I respect highly are fans of the technology.
But the recent increased talk of multiple channels is disturbing. The bit rate
of the digital signal is actually quite low. Split it up for multiple channels
and it goes even lower per audio channel. In other words, for all the expense
of buying new radios -- and HD radios are currently quite expensive -- audio
quality could actually decrease, benefitting only the station owners who now
get three signals for the price of one.
Sound Surround
That being said, there is some really neat news from the HD camp: it may be
possible to encode surround sound into the system, so that AM or FM broadcasts
could truly give an improved audio experience.
At least four systems are being tried out with the HD system. If HD Radio does
eventually catch on, it could be quite a listening experience.
Satellite Update
XM claims to hold 80% of the market for satellite radio, but they're still
losing money. As the old joke goes, they lose money on everything they sell,
but they're making it up on volume.
Seriously, Both XM and Sirius are running in the red due in part to a talent
spending spree they both have been on. Sirius nabbed Howard Stern, XM just
signed with Major League Baseball. And while many observers feel that only
one will ultimately survive, I now think both will do well as long as they
differentiate themselves from each other and from traditional broadcast radio.
Both companies expect to at least break even by 2006 or 2007.
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Copyright © 2004 Richard Wagoner and The Copley Press.
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