HD Radio's Future in Doubt as Operational Costs and Low Listener Usage Persist
Louisville Public Media's vice president of operations and technology has revealed insights into the future of HD Radio broadcasts. Despite initial enthusiasm, some public storage stations have discontinued HD Radio due to operational costs. Meanwhile, listener usage remains low, particularly among millennials.
Louisville Public Media, which operates 89.3 WFPL(FM), 90.5 WUOL(FM), and 91.9 WFPK(FM), has maintained HD Radio service on all three stations. However, two of these stations are now analog-only due to HD Radio failures. This shift comes as no surprise, given the low adoption rate of HD radios among listeners.
According to Jacobs Media's annual Techsurvey, fewer than 20% of respondents, who are willing to take long surveys, use HD radios. Among millennials, HD radio usage is the lowest across all media consumption. This trend suggests that the benefits of HD Radio, such as enhanced metadata display and improved audio quality, may not be enough to drive widespread adoption.
While HD Radio technology offers advantages, the operational costs and low listener usage have led some stations to discontinue the service. Louisville Public Media has experienced HD Radio failures, resulting in two of its stations operating analog-only. As listener preferences continue to evolve, broadcasters must consider the practicality and value of HD Radio broadcasts.
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