The New York Times influential tech writer David Pogue has some good things to say about HD radio in a fairly lengthy story. Says Pogue: “In the last few weeks, a series of milestones and current events have aligned to make HD radio worth another look.”
On the few HD radios that he’s tested, Pogue says: “They’re all great-looking and polished; HD radios have steadily improved year after year.”
Pogue goes on to say: “HD radio really does sound better than regular radio. AM loses the tinniness. FM gets richer and deeper.”
Read the full story here.
Best Buy announced Monday that it’s selling HD Radio receivers in all its 832 stores nationally. Best Buy is the first national retailer to make HD Radio technology available to customers across the country. Other retailers, such as Wal-Mart, Circuit City and RadioShack are starting to roll out HD Radio products as well.
”This is a big national rollout by the premier electronics retail outlet in the United States,” said Jeffrey Jury, chief operating officer of iBiquity Digital, which developed the HD Radio system. “It’s an indication that HD Radio has arrived as a consumer product.”
Radiosophy may put a shot in the arm of the emerging HD radio market when it introduces the first $99 HD Radio at the upcoming NAB conference.
Our friends at Engadget have more
Reuters reports that in the coming weeks, high-definition radio backers will launch the second phase of a major promotional campaign to increase awareness of the new radio format.
Only 6% of the country’s 13,000 radio stations broadcast in HD. Most broadcasters are waiting for more HD receivers to become available. To date, only 100,000 units are in the market and none for less than $300.
The HD Radio Alliance, an organization consisting of the nation’s largest radio broadcasters, is conducting a $200 million “Got Milk?”-style awareness campaign for HD radio on members’ respective stations, which president/CEO Peter Ferrara will support via a media roadshow next month.
More than 500,000 HD receivers are expected to reach retail shelves by the holiday season, according to Pat Walsh, CFO for iBiquity, the primary provider of HD radio technology.
