Re: [Swprograms] OT: Digital radio market study

[jfiglio1@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

Can I add one more thing?

Recall the creative explosion that characterized FM radio in the 
late '60s and early '70s.  New formats, new ideas, new approaches 
to "doing radio" came out of that time.  The main difference I see 
between the willingness to push the envelope then and the rank 
timidity we experience now is something that I'll use an economic 
regulatory term to describe--"concentration of control".  Simply put, 
we didn't have it then.  So we had a great many more "laboratories" in 
which creative minds could experiment freely.  With a handful of group 
owners tightly controlling what their O&Os and affiliates do (all in 
the name of preserving the bloody bottom line for just the next 
quarter), there's no freedom to play around... no freedom to learn 
from failure...or, to put it succinctly--the discover a new success.

It's happening elsewhere--satellite and the internet, as we've 
observed here.  I think if we want it to happen on terrestrial radio, 
we're going to have to address the concentration of control there.  
But I don't think we're going to in a regulatory sense.  The economic 
model built by the group owners will have to collapse first.  It may 
be coming.

jaf

----- Original Message -----
From: Richard Cuff <rdcuff@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thursday, November 8, 2007 8:38 am
Subject: Re: [Swprograms] OT: Digital radio market study
To: rdesantos@xxxxxxxxx, Shortwave programming discussion 
<swprograms@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: jfiglio1@xxxxxxxxxxxx

> I don't think online feeds (that link was from Clear Channel) will do
> the trick by itself.  A marginally acceptable version is what a local
> AM station did here -- create an online and HD oldies feed, inserting
> local advertising spots / news / traffic / weather that is repurposed
> (don't you love that word) from their "angry white male" formatted AM
> counterpart.
> 
> That at least offers some localized value, but is still warmed-over
> automated stuff.
> 
> The public radio HD alternatives tend to showcase additional
> programming that might not be available in a local market, but again
> rarely represent anything truly "new".
> 
> HD radio will find a narrow niche in cars, but even that will be
> temporary in metropolitan areas.  There, WiMAX networks -- in 
> about 5
> years' time, perhaps less -- will allow you to take your WiFi radio
> and put it in your car.  Admittedly that won't work for cross-country
> drivers, but most of us do our driving in metro areas.
> 
> My two cents...
> 
> Rich Cuff
> 
> On Nov 7, 2007 4:34 PM, Rob de Santos <rdesantos@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > You're pretty much on target John.  The diversity has improved 
> somewhat in the
> > past year but one wonders why, given the huge resources of the 
> large station
> > owner groups, that they can't do better.  I recall the link a 
> few weeks back to
> > the online feeds of various music formats from one of the big 
> groups.  Where are
> > some of those formats on the local HD radio channels?  Missing 
> in action.
> > Without compelling content, the improved audio quality is wasted.
> >
> 
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