Radio, Radio

Traditional music radio has been taking a beating since the mid '80s, when declining audience numbers entered a ratings freefall. Reader Bard-Alan Finlan argued in his Soapbox a few weeks back that perhaps digital radio could cure the market's over-the-air terrestrial broadcast ills, if only it were implemented with adequate bandwidth and marketed correctly.

"Without a doubt, radio's future is digital," concurs Dale Mowry of Harris Broadcast. In an effort to move In-Band On-Channel (IBOC) digital radio forward, equipment manufacturer and IBOC promoter Harris says it will be launching the "Extreme Digital Roadshow" as a traveling seminar designed to help radio general managers, executives, and engineers better understand IBOC implementation.

Harris Broadcastsays its representatives, along with experts from iBiquity, developer of the recently branded HD Radio IBOC broadcast system, and Impulse Radio, a developer of radio data applications, will present seminars to provide information about the digital transition, standard, and market environment, as well as demonstrations.

According to Mowry, Harris hopes that, as the digital radio word gets out, "radio broadcasters will understand that IBOC offers the most compelling, efficient, and cost-effective path to digital broadcasting with its dramatically improved sound quality and its ability to generate new revenue sources such as wireless data services."

The Extreme Digital Roadshow will initially visit the six cities that have been chosen by iBiquity for a January 2003 IBOC broadcast roll-out. Seminars are scheduled for Seattle (9/10), New York (9/20), Miami (9/18), San Francisco (9/24), Los Angeles (9/25), and Chicago (9/27).

On the satellite radio front, last week saw Kenwood announce a new FM modulator capable of tuning in the Sirius service. Sirius spokesperson Thomas Meyer says that this development is significant for several reasons. "First, at a cost entry point of $229.99, coupled with a $75.00 mail-in rebate, the Kenwood KCA-R70 FM Adapter [bundled with a Kenwood Model KTC-SR901 tuner] allows consumers to purchase Sirius Satellite Radio at a very competitive price point."

Meyer points out that the new Kenwood device can also be added to any car without removing the existing head unit, making it easier to get the system up and running, even if the user has a leased vehicle that cannot be modified. The Kenwood adapter includes a faceplate/controller with 24-presets for Sirius channels and a scrolling LCD readout displaying satellite channel, program category, and song title or artist name.

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