Looking Toward HD Radio's 'Visionary Future'

At the NAB Radio Show 9/22, iBiquity Digital Corp. CEO Bob Struble "... called multicasting (or 'supplemental audio,' as he referred to it) as 'the first killer application of HD radio. It's a low-risk way to try out some of your nuttier ideas,' he said of HD side channels. 'I guarantee somebody in this room will come up with the new hot format because they're doing it on their multicast [channel.]'  ¶  As for HD's second 'killer app,' Struble predicted it will be the service's datacasting features, such as traffic maps displayed on the receiver.  ¶  Looking toward what he called HD's 'visionary future,' Struble painted a picture of HD radio available on PDAs, 'smart' cell phones, e-tablets and other 'alternative devices.'  ¶  There are currently 535 stations on the air broadcasting in HD, according to Struble, with the industry converting at a rate of one per day."  Link:  Billboard Radio Monitor.  Phyllis Stark article.  Struble might have hit on something with the "some of your nuttier ideas" statement.  Radio broadcasting is in need of new programming ideas, so if HD can provide a platform for this, then that alone might be worth the conversion costs.  --Dennis