High-definition radio has sound future

The future of radio is at the door. It's being touted as the most significant advance in radio broadcasting since the debut of FM stereo. There's talk of the new technology "saving the industry." What is it? Say hello to high-definition radio.\nConsumers have consistently and rapidly adopted new digital technologies -- CDs, MP3s and DVDs, to name a few -- because of the improved quality, choice, convenience and interactivity they provide. High-definition radio technology, now with the Federal Communications Commission's approval, can offer broadcasters and their listeners radically upgraded audio quality, multi-casting ability and wireless data services such as the streaming of news, traffic, weather, and artist and song information.\nText scrolling and multi-casting features will allow traditional radio stations to compete with satellite radio providers XM and Sirius by allowing stations to broadcast up to three programs simultaneously.\n"This is the really good part," said Christina Kuzmych, station manager of WFIU, the only station in Bloomington transmitting in HD. "HD radio opens up the possibility for SAC (secondary audio channel). This means that we will be able to provide two channels -- one for talk programming, one for music. Having this two-format possibility solves our most critical programming issues. Listeners who want all talk will be able to get it. Those who want more music should be able to keep receiving the current programming."\nThere are now more than 500 AM and FM stations across the country broadcasting in HD, including stations serving all of the top 50 U.S. markets, and 2,800 more stations in the process of converting, according to iBiquity Digital Corp., the sole licensor of HD radio technology.\n"This has been a breakthrough year in the rollout of HD radio technology. Broadcasters are converting stations at a pace of more than one per day as they ramp up efforts to market and promote the technology to consumers," said Robert Struble, president and CEO of iBiquity Digital Corp., in a statement.\niBiquity, based in Maryland, developed the technology several years ago, receiving FCC approval in 2002.\nHD radio works like this: As stations bundle analog and digital audio signals together to be transmitted, the digital signal will be compressed, much like a song is squeezed into an MP3. The HD radio receiver will sort through the transmitted signal and reduce static, hiss, pops and fades common to analog radio broadcasting, greatly enhancing the sound quality. \n"It improves fidelity," said Herb Terry, associate professor in the IU Department of Telecommunications. "For AM, which can, at best, go stereo with only moderate fidelity, a digital AM signal would be equal in quality to a stereo CD. For FM, which, at present, routinely goes stereo with good fidelity, you would get the equivalent of quad sound or, quite possibly, quad with a fifth channel subwoofer, home theater-type stuff."\nThe challenge right now is trying to find an HD radio receiver able to pick up the digital signal. Mass market electronics retailers like RadioShack and Best Buy don't carry them yet. \nHowever, HD radio receiver products are currently or will shortly be available from Audio Design Associates, Alpine, Boston Acoustics, Day Sequerra, Eclipse, JVC, Kenwood, Panasonic, Radiosophy, Rotel, Sanyo and Yamaha.\nBMW announced that it will be the first auto manufacturer to offer an HD radio receiver as a factory installed option in 2006.\nABC, Clear Channel and Viacom are a few of the industry giants investing in digital conversion, while National Public Radio, Westwood One and the Jones Radio Networks have already announced new feeds of music and news programming tailored to broadcasters seeking content for their multicast channels.\nStill, for all the excitement regarding digital radio, the challenges to the industry loom large.\n"To some extent nothing can save over-the-air terrestrial broadcasting, meaning restoring its listening levels to what those were in the past," Terry said. "You just can't get rid of competition from CDs, MP3s, iPods, satellite radio, etc. -- all of which cut into broadcast radio's audience"