Radio Stations Give HD Radio a Boost
Hoping to stem the ever-increasing popularity of satellite radio, the HD Radio Alliance said Monday that it would rollout products in Circuit City stores in the top 10 radio markets, and expand its RadioShack availability to 2,500 stores. In addition, new rebates and discounts are being offered.
The next phase of a $200 million advertising blitz is set to begin on November 13. This would mean approximately 150 commercials would air on each member station per week. The ads would promote the expanded retail availability of high-definition radio, the group said.
"This has been an incredible ten months and we believe these announcements punctuate HD digital radio as the fastest rollout of a digital consumer entertainment technology to date," said Peter Ferrara, president and CEO of the HD Digital Radio Alliance.
A $50 rebate would be available on select receiver models, and JVC has announced a $199 in-dash receiver that would qualify for the discount. The manufacturer claims better-than-expected sales have allowed it to reduce the price of the product.
Ferrara wouldn't disclose new sales numbers for HD Radios, although he did say in August that 100,000 radios have been sold. The group is optimistic about the future, as the functionality becomes standard and would benefit from the natural replacement cycle of consumer electronics over the next several years.
Currently over 1,000 HD radio stations exist in the United States, with more planned to go live over the next several months.