Study: HD Listening ‘Worse Than Ever’

While new digital options grew audience, AM/FM’s beleaguered attempt to draw people back to radio through HD did worse than ever. The Pew Research Center’s 2012 Study of News Media Report indicates for the first time since 2004, when HD radio receivers became available for retail sale, more radio stations dropped their HD signal than adopted the technology.

By December 2012, 2,048 radio stations were broadcasting an HD signal, down from 2,103 during the same period in 2011, according to BIA Financial Network data and analysis from the Project for Excellence in Journalism HD failed to both entice AM/FM listeners to pay up rather than continue listening for free and to draw those willing to pay away from satellite.

Signs on the consumer side do not look promising either.  Since 2008, the price of an HD signal receiver dropped from nearly $100 to about $50.8 In response, developer iBiquity began pushing car manufacturers to include factory-installed HD receivers in their newer models.

So far, nearly 30 car models carry this feature.  But this still trails car models that come equipped with factory-installed, in-car apps, such as Pandora. Heading into 2013, nearly 20 car manufacturers come with the installed app.

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