According to the FCC, apparently it's now BAD for the consumer when media outlets consolidate ... which is funny? I seem to remember back during the Michael Powell days that media consolidation was some how GOOD for the consumer ... weird...
Anywho, apparently NOW, it's bad so it's causing friction for the Sirius/XM merger. The argument was that this merger wouldn't affect customers since there was a proliferation of competition from services like HD Radio, and products like iPods ... neither of which have ANYTHING to do with satellite radio ...
"A recent FCC analysis of satellite competition determined that the relevant market for satellite radio consists solely of Sirius and XM...[and that]...other audio services such as terrestrial radio (including HD Radio), iPods, and Internet radio are not competitive substitutes."
READ THE REST HERE
I totally agree with the FCC for once. Saying iPods provide adequate competition is (to me) kinda like saying DVD's are direct competition for Digital Cable.
someaudioguy some audio guy voice over data communication fcc internet technology radio voice acting
After a year of heavy promotions, there is no consumer interest in HD Radio:
ReplyDelete"Sirius, XM, and HD: Consumer interest reality check"
"While interest in satellite radio is diminishing, interest in HD shows no signs of a pulse."
http://www.hear2.com/2007/02/sirius_xm_and_h.html
"What kind of digital radio are listeners searching for?"
http://www.hear2.com/2006/10/what_kind_of_di.html
"HD Radio on the Offense"
"But after an investigation of HD Radio units, the stations playing HD, and the company that owns the technology; and some interviews with the wonks in DC, it looks like HD Radio is a high-level corporate scam, a huge carny shill."
http://www.eastbayexpress.com/2007-03-07/music/hd-radio-on-the-offense
"RW Opinion: Rethinking AM’s future"
"Making AM-HD work well as a long-term investment is seen as an expensive and risky challenge for most stations and their owners. There is the significant downside of potential new interference to some of their own AM analog listeners as well as listeners of adjacent-channel stations."
http://www.rwonline.com/pages/s.0044/t.557.html
Holy CRAP! That's some good info.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, whoever you are, I'm ripping this comment off for another post!
Thanks very much, this is some excellent info!