HD Radio: Why America's $3 Billion Digital Radio Revolution Failed Completely

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Ever wondered why HD Radio never took off despite being technically superior to regular FM? This might be the most tragic story in broadcasting history - a technology that had everything going for it but still managed to fail spectacularly.

In this episode, we explore how HD Radio went from revolutionary promise to comprehensive disaster. We'll cover the brilliant engineering behind OFDM technology, why it cost stations up to $200,000 to upgrade, and how the "digital cliff effect" made listening unbearable. Plus, we'll talk about the perfect storm of competition from iPods, satellite radio, and streaming that killed HD Radio's chances.

From the early success of in-band on-channel broadcasting to Wisconsin Public Radio shutting down their HD operations, this is the story of how superior technology couldn't overcome bad timing, economic barriers, and devastating market forces.

Topics covered:

• The ingenious OFDM technology that made it possible
• Why the chicken-and-egg adoption problem doomed HD Radio
• Technical disasters: digital cliff effect and coverage problems
• The $3 billion investment that went nowhere
• How 58% of cars have HD Radio but nobody knows it
• Why major manufacturers abandoned the technology

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