XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.(NASDAQ:XMSR) and Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. (NASDAQ:SIRI) are
booming, even amid constant predictions of future doom for the industry. Will HD radio be able to pull those subscribers back to earth? Circuit City Stores, Inc. (NYSE:CC) hopes so, as the retailer will begin selling HD radios soon along with online retailer Crutchfield.com and RadioShack Corporation (NYSE:RSH).
Roughly 1,000 terrestrial radio stations are broadcasting in HD Radio already, but relatively few listeners can hear the signals. HD radio gives FM radio CD-like audio quality while giving AM radio FM-like quality.
I don't see how HD radio can lure back former listeners. Sure, there are fidelity enhancements. But all they'll hear is the same tired content, all plugged playlists and tons of ads.
But, the HD Digital Radio Alliance is hoping to change all that now that the country's second-largest consumer electronics retailer has become the first 'big box' retailer to put HD radio products on its shelves -- and just in time for the holiday season.
Will you continue to listen to terrestrial radio stations with the same content, even though it'll sound better than it ever has? Or, are you planning a move to satellite radio soon? I'd be interested to hear from XMSR and SIRI investors as well as consumers on this one.
Closing Bell: Economic Catapult for Thanksgiving & Black Friday (WMT, TGT, GRMN, GOOG, MSFT)
Deere up on Q4 earnings performance
Reid Hoffman: LinkedIn will go public (at some point)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-06-2006 @ 10:21PM
Mike Kagney said...
I have had a Sirius radio for just over two years & nothing would ever pull me back to tired old terrestrial radio. The ability to listen to one station for a 5 - 6 hour car ride is priceless. No commercials being played & played over & over again is tiring & frustrating. Why do all terrestrial stations seem to take commercial breaks at the same time??? I travel alot for business & find my Sirius radio indispensable.
11-07-2006 @ 7:19AM
Jake said...
I just drove across the Mohave yesterday on the way to Vegas..No music out there... I want to hear HD enhance the sound of nothing. This crossing i had Sirius and it was all beautiful. ( HD) Hardly different. Content... Content,,Content!!!!