XM to Offer High-Def Surround Sound
XM announced plans to broadcast two of its channels in high-definition surround sound in 2006, and extend the feature to select shows and live performances from the XM studios during the year. The technology that made the new feature possible comes from work done by digital sound processing company Neural Audio Corporation.
Beginning in March, XM's free form music channel Fine Tuning and classical pops channel XM Pops will broadcast in "XM HD Surround" 24 hours a day. Six discrete audio channels will be provided in the signal.
The company says the new offering marks the first time a radio service would offer over-the-air surround sound programming. "Terrestrial radio stations are just starting to convert from analog to digital," XM CEO Hugh Panero said.
The service is locked in a tight battle with smaller competitor Sirius for customers. While Sirius has taken the programming route in order to attract new subscribers with figures like Howard Stern, XM has focused on adding features to its service to get consumers interested.
Manufacturing partners Denon, Onkyo, Pioneer, and Yamaha have all agreed to begin production and release receivers capable of receiving the surround sound content next year.
The company also said home audio systems that have Neural Surround would also be able to play XM HD Surround correctly. The new format would be backwards compatible, meaning customers with older receivers would still be able to listen to the stations as they had before.
Neural also shared XM's excitement over debuting the new technology. "We are excited to partner with XM to provide the largest source of 5.1 original music content of any medium today," said Neural Audio CEO Geir Skaaden.
XM plans to demo the new technology at the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show, to be held next week in Las Vegas.