At the International Consumer Electronics Show from January 7-10 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada, there was another great year of technology and gadgets. In fact, the company that developed HD radio in band/on channel, iBiquity Digital Corporation, plus other partners who help them manufacture, made announcements that are very excited about the future of their developments. iBiquity’s HD radio has to have a special receiver and it has the FM and AM analog. Simulcasting is also inexpensive when it comes to HD Radio, which is also a plus (Pg. 341).

Kiryoung and Cydle Corporation, who are two manufacturers, presented prototype receivers through ATSC Mobile DTV and HD Radio reception. In October 2009 the Advanced Television Systems Committee located in Washington D.C., adopted ATSC Mobile DTV Standard. Plus, they promised that there would be new services in mobile television to United States Consumers and television broadcasters.

In addition, many different types of features and devices that are more advanced that HD Radio technology supports were shown for the first time at this event. For example, the portable navigation device (PND) with a HD Radio Receiver (Vehicle Power Adapter), that includes NAVTEQ Dynamic Content to give traffic in real-time as well as fuel prices and weather information.

Another feature shown was a Clear Channel Real Time Traffic that included a Journaline Information Services that is displayed by a JVC KD-NT3HDT in dash receiver as well as a HD Radio supporting image development platform in dash that had features including pictures of album art, branding and advertising of clients, images of stations and logos, and news, plus sports updates. In the iBiquity booth there was a sample of the album art transmission. iBiquity also has a plan to release a Software Development Kit (SDK) to help the integration of features for receiving partners later in 2010.

Cydle Corporation also had the PND that had a built in HD Radio Electronic Program Guide (EPG). This EPG technology was created under NAB FASTROAD technology advocacy program. There was also protected content delivered by NDS that was aimed at receivers that included services for radio reading for people who were visually impaired as well as premium content about sports. Another word for all of this that was created by NDS who worked with iBiquity was “conditional access.”

The first Sangean DT-800 HD portable receiver that could operate AM and FM-band HD radio was displayed in the iBiquity booth as well. There were special features included such as a rechargeable battery, a speaker that was already built in, a sleep timer as well as twenty radio stations that could be preset. In 2010 they expect it to be available however, it is still being further developed.

HD radio technology was shown at the HD radio booth in three new vehicles. This included a 2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI, a 2011 Ford Taurus SHO, and a 2010 Scion xB. Ford also announced that in most of their vehicles in 2010 they would have HD technology. They even expect to be the first factory to have iTunes as part of their model. In addition, Volkswagen said that in selected models in 2010 they would have a DVD navigational system that will have HD Radio technology. HD Radio technology will also be in Kia select models as well. The 2011 Sonata will have the first middle-sized sedan that will have HD Radio technology as well, announced Hyundai. Plus in 2011 Lincoln vehicles HD Radio Technology and DTS Neural Surround will be in certain THX II certified system vehicles.

I think HD Radio technology and all the special features that come along with it will definitely impact the industry. If HD Radios are in cars they will make HD Radio technology more popular and give more people access to this type of technology. Currently HD Radio technology costs extra but if it comes with the car then more people will be able to use this radio format. This format may effect local radio stations because people may rather listen to one of the many options available on this technology rather than their local radio station.

Therefore, HD Radio technology will impact the audience because they will have the option of listening to their local radio stations or HD Radio. Their decision will impact if both formats of radio will exists or if one will prosper over the other. It will only be a matter of time before that decision is clear to radio professionals.

http://www.radioheardhere.com/hdradio_ces.htm