BC-DX 841 04 Jan 2008 Private Verwendung der Meldun

Writing off DRM seems to be done on the grounds that there are no
receivers in the market. That's true. We're 12 years since the official
launch of DRM in China (I made the first set of test transmission tapes
when at Radio Netherlands) but still there is no one willing to take the
plunge and mass produce them. And they are right to be concerned because
the range of programming is not in place to make the system fly. It is
also interesting that the die-hard shortwave fans seem to be relieved at
any news of DRM's failure - because it means interference levels are lower
on the increasingly less crowded bands. They have made a pastime of
searching for weak, unusual signals.
But the argumentation goes on, saying that analogue shortwave is therefore
here to stay because it is a "rather cheap way of reaching large
audiences". Problem is that this is no longer the case. 100-500 kW for a
single audio channel is becoming a very expensive way to share an idea -
the only way for some countries, but they are definitely in the minority
these days. The death of analogue shortwave has far more to do with the
lack of decent programming.
Compare the 49 mb with the range of programmes on a wifi-radio or on a
free to air satellite TV tuner. Just as few people watch an evening of
Youtube, so shortwave has become a medium of last resort. As a former
shortwave broadcaster, it is shame to say it. But the fact that this part
of the dial is no longer commercially viable speaks volumes. It explains
why analogue shortwave is haemorrhaging now, rather than being just the
long slow fade.
Let's move on, guys. Radio has this terrible user interface, sorting
content by frequency. Where are tagged interfaces for audio and the
electronic programme guides? Blinkx experimented with audio and video
feeds but is rightly concentrating on the video side of the business. Why?
Because radio stations cannot supply them with any relevant metadata. Are
you going to leave it all to iTunes? May be you are!
(Posted by Jonathan Marks-HOL, dxld Feb 26)
I don't know if my personal experiences can be counted as a sort of
"canary in the coal mine", but I can tell you that even I a former dyed in
the wool shortwave listener have shifted most of my listening to satellite
radio (XM/Sirius), podcasting and now wifi internet radio. The last one
surprised me, to be frank. Internet radio has been available to me for
years via my desktop and laptop computers, but I've accessed it that way
only sporadically.
On a whim, I purchased a wifi radio (Com One Phoenix) about six weeks ago.
It runs on rechargeable batteries and it follows me around the house
almost constantly. As you say, the better quality audio (at least on many,
if not all, stations), better content at greater variety, and ease of use
all contribute to a much more satisfying experience than what I can get
today from my old friend shortwave. Podcasting extends the experience to
my daily walks; satellite to the car.
Sadly, there's hardly any room for shortwave especially sad because I own
about two dozen radios. I still worry about the very real potential for
interdiction of all radio not delivered by analog shortwave that
characteristic of shortwave remaining its only tangible benefit over the
other platforms. In sober moments, it should be recognized as a
significant concern; but in all the euphoria over the alternatives it gets
lost in the discussion quite readily. As with many things, we all may just
have to learn the hard way on that one.
(John Figliozzi-USA in Critical Distance blog via dxld Feb 28)