For the last couple of years, we have heard a lot about High Definition TV. Walk into any store that sells TV sets, and about 90% of every demo set they have on the floor is HD. But, did you know there also HD radio? What is that, you say?
HD radio is the radio equivalent of HDTV...high quality sound over the airwaves. We are not talking about satellite radio now such as Sirius or XM. This is the same type of broadcast radio you hear now all over the world...only in high definition. Believe it or not, more than 1,200 radio stations currently broadcast in HD, with over 600 offering HD2 multicasts, giving consumers crystal clear digital sound and more choices, with no subscription fee. But of course, you need a special HD radio set to enjoy HD radio.
Right now, there are over 1,000 standard analog radio products on the market, but you'll find no more than a smattering of consumer-level HD digital models. But that is about to change. Best Buy Stores has made a solid commitment to carry HD radio sets. According to their press release, "Best Buy is the first national retailer to make HD Radio technology available to customers throughout its national chain. Customers will find a premium HD Radio experience in their cars with the JVC KD-HDR1 Mobile HD Radio receiver and the Visteon Zoom. Throughout 2007, the HD Radio line-up will expand to home products and more mobile offerings."
A very short history of radio is needed here. AM Radio was invented long before any of you or me were born. FM radio came upon us in 1961...and neither has changed much since. Both AM and FM added stereo, but that is about it. Satellite radio came along a few years ago and drastically improved the sound quality, but at not only the cost of a new receiver, but also a monthly subscription.
HD radio gives you the same or even better sound quality, equal to CD quality and, unlike satellite radio, you only have to buy a receiver. There is no monthly fee; once you have the radio, you're good to go forever and roam the world at will at have radio to listen to.
Interestingly, in the United Kingdom, digital radio has found a firm foothold because the technology is standardized and open, in much the same way that high-definition television was rolled out. In the U.K. 4.7 million digital receivers have been sold since 1999. In fact, these actually outsold traditional radios last year. U.K. enthusiasts of digital audio broadcasting, liken the phenomenon to that of the digital camera overtaking the traditional film camera in popularity. Many of the digital radios sold in the U.K. have TiVo-like functionality, letting you time-shift programs, save interesting broadcasts, and bookmark your favorite stations.
My only qualm about this new technology is not with the technology...it is with what is being broadcast over the airwaves. Out here in the hinterlands, 99% the radio stations are not worth listening to, except maybe for NPR. As most broadcast stations are owned now by larger corporate companies that operate many stations at once, the quality of the music has deteriorated to the point that it is not worth listening to, no matter what the genre. It has been homogenized to the point of being something that won't offend anyone (like a McDonald's hamburger) and offers very little variety and only a select number of artists. And AM radio is mostly talk shows, so who needs HD for that?
Maybe in large metropolitan areas where there are a large variety of music being played over the many stations, it might be worth doing...but even there you run into the same issues. But, occasionally there are the interesting small stations that haven't followed their bigger brothers and sisters into programming boredom.
The bottom line is garbage in...garbage out. Garbage being broadcast in HD is still garbage. I wrote this blog while listening to classical music coming in over my satellite system. There is never anyone talking, no ads, no public service announcements...just pure unadulterated music. Can you guess where I stand?
If you would like to learn more about HD radio, as well as information about receiver availability, a station guide and more can be found at http://www.hdradio.com/.
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