Satellite : Radio Companies Push for HD Radio Mandate

[evd]

Traditional radio broadcasters have been big proponents of HD Radio. Maybe that's why the broadcast industry is pushing for a regulatory mandate that would require the next-generation radio technology for satellite radio receivers.

Recently at the Federal Communications Commission, a group of AM/FM broadcasters lobbied for the inclusion of HD Radio technology in satellite radio receivers. The agency is taking comments on the inclusion proposal, which is opposed by Sirius XM as well as car markers and electronics manufacturers.

Radio broadcasters participating in a filing at the FCC said it's appropriate for the agency to mandate inclusion of HD Radio reception technology in all satellite radio receivers that are subject to contractual relationships between Sirius XM and receiver manufacturers. Without such a regulation, "The well-recognized benefits of HD Radio may never be fully realized, given the enhanced horizontal and vertical integration resulting from the FCC-sanctioned merger of XM and Sirius," stated the filing.

The broadcaster group participating in the filing said radio stations have invested more than $46.3 million in developing and implementing HD Radio, and the radio industry has invested hundreds of millions of dollars marketing HD Radio to the listening public.

Broadcasters that were part of the filing are Beasley Broadcast Group, Bonneville International, CBS Radio, Clarke Broadcasting, Emmis Communications, Entercom Communications, Greater Media, Journal Broadcast, Premier Broadcasters, and Saga Communications.