NAB pushes broadcast functionality for devices
Steve Safran April 10th, 2007
The National Association of Broadcasters has announced its new program to convince manufacturers of new media devices that they should include broadcast-compatible capabilities. From Mediaweek:
The outreach group plans to talk with the manufacturers and developers of new media devices to make sure broadcasting, whether it’s HD Radio or TV, is a part of the functionality of the device. “We want to make sure broadcasting is on every gadget and device that is out there,” said Dennis Wharton, NAB spokesman.
The program is called NAB Fastroad (Flexible Advanced Services for Television and Radio On All Devices). So, for example, they’d want Apple to make sure the iPod can receive HDTV and HD radio. Nice sentiment, but a terribly wrongheaded use of resources. The market gets to decide demand - not the NAB. The NAB should be focusing its efforts helping broadcasters adjust to the realities of the new media marketplace - not getting the new media marketplace to adjust to its old rules. Convincing everyone who makes MP3 players to include the functionality that is in your interest to save is not going to happen. This makes as little sense as insisting that cable boxes also come with over-the-air tuners. The NAB should be focusing its tech efforts on helping its constituents think forward - come up with clever new ways for stations to become creative local media outlets regardless of their platform. This plan will get applause at next week’s convention - and will result in little else.
3 Comments Add your own
1. Brian | April 10th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
The FCC has just given away our free airwaves to a few corporate thugs, including iBiquity Digital Corporation. Especially on AM, HD/IBOC causes adjacent-channel interference, which I have confirmed listening to WTWP 1500 AM-HD in Wash., D.C.- the HD/IBOC digital sidebands are over-powering on 1490 and 1510 and would clobber any existing stations on those frequencies. Few HD radios have been sold, as consumers have not bought into this farce. This whole setup is just to the advantage of the HD Radio Alliance, as they own most of the 1,200 stations broadcasting in HD - the small mom-and-pop stations have lost coverage and will probably disappear. This FCC sole-source, non-competitive contract award to iBiquity is totally outrageous.
2. Andrew Deal | April 10th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Great article Steve.
I am glad we have a real market based solution to this problem in the works. By capturing users first by giving them something universally accessible, we can move from there toward offering other platforms, as long as we follow the universality precedent.
3. Tonto Weinstein | April 11th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
The NAB is the tail wagging the dog. Consumer electronics manufacturers are not going to pay attention to these people; they’ll pay attention to the marketplace. If consumers do not want HD radio, then the NAB better figure out how to get its members aboard new technology to fight irrelevance.
And if that doesn’t work, pay off a legislator and buy laws against irrelevance.
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