JP
So ever since XM and Sirius even mentioned the possibility that they might be merging they have had to battle the FCC, the NAB, and Clear Channel to the death. Well apparently they got past the FCC (sort of) and past the NAB and now their last opponent is Clear Channel.
Basically the biggest issue is that up until now terrestrial radio services (AM/FM) haven’t really seen satellite radio as too much of a threat, but now they are worried that if the two companies merge they’ll actually have to earn their audience again. But Clear Channel isn’t dead set against the merger, in fact with some conditions they are more or less ok with it, those being as follows: first, the FCC should cut the amount of spectrum available to the new satellite radio giant that would be formed, second, they should bar them from getting into local broadcasting, so that at least local radio stations will still be needed for local news, traffic, and weather, and third, they require the company to start integrating HD Radio receivers into all of their receivers.
That last one is the one that interests me the most, because I’d love to see HD Radio get some widespread distribution and integrating it into satellite radio receivers would definitely get that done and would be a value added feature for the satellite receivers prompting current subscribers to upgrade and likely prompting a wave of new customers. That third point is also being backed by iBiquity Digital who develops HD Radios and the HD Radio Alliance who is obviously a major proponent of HD Radio.
[via ArsTechnica]
6 Responses to “Clear Channel, FCC, XM, and Sirius in massive pile up, but there may be an end in sight”
PocketRadio February 11, 2008
“Regarding the Technical Aspects of the SDARS Providers XM and Sirius”
“There are significant differences in certain technical aspects of the two SDARS systems as deployed by XM and Sirius. The systems as currently deployed are not interoperable. That is to say, an XM receiver cannot receive the Sirius signal and vice versa. Thus, as is true today, if the proposed merger of XM and Sirius were consummated, consumers would still need to purchase a new interoperable receiver in order to receive the signals of both providers. These differences in system operation, function, and structure make the design and implementation of a single unified and interoperable receiver both complex and expensive. In fact, both XM and Sirius have been working in a joint venture to develop an interoperable radio since 2000. At this time, no interoperable radios have been introduced into commercial production.”
http://tinyurl.com/2kek8t
“Digital Audio Broadcasting Systems and Their Impact on the Terrestrial Radio Broadcast Service”
15. We will not establish a deadline for radio stations to convert to digital broadcasting. Stations may decide if, and when, they will provide digital service to the public. Several reasons support this decision. First, unlike television licensees, radio stations are under no statutory mandate to convert to a digital format. Second, a hard deadline is unnecessary given that DAB uses an in-band technology that does not require the allocation of additional spectrum. Thus, the spectrum reclamation needs that exist for DTV do not exist here. Moreover, there is no evidence in the record that marketplace forces cannot propel the DAB conversion forward, and effective markets tend to provide better solutions than regulatory schemes.
16. iBiquity argues that in the early stages of the transition, the Commission should favor and protect existing analog signals. It states that this could be accomplished by limiting the power level and bandwidth occupancy of the digital carriers in the hybrid mode. At some point in the future, when the Commission determines there is sufficient market penetration of digital receivers, iBiquity asserts that the public interest will be best served by reversing this presumption to favor digital operations. At that time, broadcasters will no longer need to protect analog operations by limiting the digital signal and stations should have the option to implement all-digital broadcasts. We decline to adopt iBiquity’s presumption policy because it is too early in the DAB conversion process for us to consider such a mechanism. We find that such a policy, if adopted now, may have unknown and unintended consequences for a new technology that has yet to be accepted by the public or widely adopted by the broadcast industry.
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EP.....i15922.htm
Good-luck with this one Clear Channel/iNiquity!
HD/IBOC jams our airways and has zero consumer interest:
http://hdradiofarce.blogspot.com/
Neutralpaul vincent zecchino February 11, 2008
The HD gang probably hangs upside down all night, dreaming up ways to manipulate public agencies into legalizing yet more jamming of AM and FM.
Digital HD noise ruins AM and FM reception and renders billions of existing radios – yours included – worthless. Isn’t that called a ‘taking’? Next, they demand you buy costly HD stooge radios.
As different from analog AM and FM, through whose fades you can still get the sense of what you’re hearing, HD digital sets fall dead silent during fades.
Digital radio? Does that mean endless software glitches for perpetual updates? But for today, BigRadio just asks that you suffer their jamming.
The rest of BigRadio’s digital love offerings will soon spring forth, as does cholera from
tainted wells.
Paul Vincent Zecchino
+2Manasota Key, Florida
11 February, 2008
Dominick LaViola February 11, 2008
I think it’s ridiculous that they want their technology added to satellite technology. I would agree with the proposal if every HD radio had satellite capabilities.
Let’s say I build a better mousetrap. THE mousetrap to beat all other mousetraps! Should I also be forced to integrate someone else’s mousetrap or an older mousetrap into my own design? Ridiculous!
+2bobyoung February 11, 2008
James said:
“because I’d love to see HD Radio get some widespread distribution and integrating it into satellite radio receivers would definitely get that done and would be a value added feature for the satellite receivers prompting current subscribers to upgrade and likely prompting a wave of new customers. That third point is also being backed by iBiquity Digital who develops HD Radios and the HD Radio Alliance who is obviously a major proponent of HD Radio.”
James,
NeutralThere is absolutely no reason that Satellite radio should get saddled with the Albatross of HD radio. HD is already obsolete, does not work anywhere near as advertised and they are desperately trying in any way ethically or unethically to hitch their junk technology to something which has traction with the consumers. HD is not selling no matter how much the noise the junk purveyors like to to lie and say it is. IBOC has done nothing to warrant getting a free ride from Satellite radio. Let HD sink by itself, don’t let it take Satellite with it.
mr. public interest February 11, 2008
so, clear channel the monopolist is concerned….
+1that must mean approval is right around the corner.
john harper February 12, 2008
what a joke. anyone that thinks this country is an actual democracy, or that the markets are efficient and fair, need only look at how the NAB and Clear Channel are spending millions to try to block this merger. the democrats and republicans are both bought and paid for and controlled by organizations like these, and this is just the latest example. there is no reason why Exxon Mobil and other companies should have merged so easily, but now, companies that threaten the complete monopoly of information, that threaten the organizations that blast blathering idiots like Ruch Limbaugh and other right wing, propaganda bs…now they have a threat. “free” speech. new music. not the usual 10 songs.
suddenly, this merger needs to be stopped. what a complete joke. i warn every politican who votes against this merger, you better expect to have your entire record scowered for every possible payoff and conflict of interest that you have with the NAB or other major radio broadcasters.
if this deal doesn’t go through, Howard Stern, and his millions of listeners, are going to put their full force behind exposing the corrupt nutjobs who vote against this.
+1