I'm looking forward to it! FM like CD, AM like FM and it does not require a subscription like the alternatives. it's free like radio has always been.
hopefully HD Radio will improve on me AM and FM radio experience with multicasting and by pulling in the stations clearer.
I already have three stations in the area that are broadcasting both HD and Analog transmissions. two of the stations I listen to frequently and they already come in very clear. WNCW 88.7 is a killer station with varied progaming already.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...toryId=6672638.
New Ad Campaign Plugs High-Definition Radio
Morning Edition, December 25, 2006 · The radio industry is rolling out a $250 million ad blitz to promote high-definition radio in the face of sluggish consumer demand for the HD radio devices. After all, to hear HD radio, you have to OWN an HD radio.
http://www.hdradio.com/stations_on_the_air.php
1001 Stations and Counting!
More than 900 radio stations are currently broadcasting primary signals in HD Digital, reaching 75% of the U.S. population, expanding to 1200 stations and 90% of the population by the end of this year. By July 31 of this year, the number of stations broadcasting HD2 multicast channels with exciting new music formats is expected to grow to 400.
http://www.ibiquity.com/hd_radio/hdradio_multicasting
At a minimum, multicasting can double the number of choices available on free digital FM radio. HD Radio technology enables an FM broadcaster to offer more than one program stream on its existing spectrum. As of April 2006, more than 200 HD Radio stations across the United States offer two to three additional channels above and beyond their analog and main digital channels, with many more expected to go on the air this year. Stations are using their HD2 multicast channels to experiment with new music and news formats, showcase young artists and local bands, offer non-English language programming, and more.
FM stations have 150 kilobits per second (kps) of bandwidth available with HD Radio technology, of which 96 kps is typically used for digital audio programming. In addition to offering superior sound quality, this 96 kps “bit rate” can also be carved into separate program streams (e.g., 93.7-HD2, 93.7-HD3, etc.) allowing FM broadcasters to expand their content offerings without requiring additional frequencies or spectrum.