LAS VEGAS – The results of an unprecedented partnership (which, ironically, includes a Canadian company) aimed at dramatically boosting the rollout of HD Radio across the U.S. by taking some of the conversion costs out was unveiled at the National Association of Broadcasters convention here Sunday afternoon.
The NAB itself invested US$ million in a partnership with iBiquity Digital Corporation and four broadcast equipment manufacturers to develop products based on next-generation HD Radio "Exporter" technology. The new products, which significantly reduce a radio station’s cost to upgrade to HD Radio, are being introduced and made available for purchase during the NAB Show in Las Vegas.
Manufacturers say the new equipment, which will carve at least 25% out of the costs of radio stations going digital, will be ready for shipping in the third quarter of this year.
HD Radio stations use the Exporter to combine multicast audio channels and advanced data services along with a station’s main audio channel into a format suitable for transmission. NAB and iBiquity, the developer of HD Radio digital broadcasting, worked with four manufacturers — BE, Continental, Harris and Nautel — to accelerate the development and implementation of this next-generation technology. Known as an "Embedded Exporter," the technology further reduces the size and cost of HD Radio transmission facilities.
Nautel is a Hacket’s Cove, Nova Scotia-based manufacturer and the reason why it’s more than a little ironic is because few radio stations in Canada have rolled out digital radio and those that have used the DAB standard, which has since been all but abandoned since there are just about no consumer radios in the market.
At the press conference this afternoon, NAB president and CEO David Rehr noted that 1,650 American radio stations have deployed HD Radio, which dramatically improves the sound of the station and, because it’s digital, lets stations send out more than one stream.
On the consumer side, car manufacturers have begun to take notice as the likes of Ford, BMW, Mercedes, and Volvo are installing HD Radio receivers in cars. According to iBiquity president and CEO Bob Struble, there are now over 60 HD Radio receivers for consumers in the market, up from about 20 at this time 12 months ago. Plus, semiconductor manufacturers have made HD Radio chipsets for inclusion in devices like cell phones and MP3 players.
But so far, installing and launching HD Radio has been cost-prohibitive for small to mid-sized radio stations. And, while this new standardized software can trim about a quarter of that cost, NAB members get a further 20 to 25% discount on purchases, depending on the manufacturer they choose.
Overall, this project could save the American radio industry $100 million, said Harris Corporation’s Tim Anderson.
The project began in 2006, and the newly formed NAB HD Radio Technology Advancement Task Force was charged with overseeing the effort, culminating in today’s announcement.
Now all we need in Canada is the desire among broadcasters to make the switch.
