Ibiquity Extends Licensee Discount, Finalizes Broadcast Fee Schedule

Ibiquity Digital Corp. is extending its break on licensing fees for broadcasters until mid-year and intends to raise the price after that.
As recently reported in Radio World’s print edition, the technology developer is extending its base licensing fee of $5,000 until June 30 for broadcasters who commit to transition their plants to HD Radio within this calendar year.
What’s new is that Ibiquity has gone public with what the new fees will be in the future, with the company hoping to give stations an incentive to convert early.
After July 1 of this year, the one-time license fee per station goes up to $7,500 for those who commit to convert within 2006.
After July 1, 2006, the fee rises to $10,000 for those who commit to convert within 2007; after July 1, 2007, the amount rises to $15,000 for those who commit to convert within 2008.
As of July 1, 2008, the company says, incentives disappear and the fee becomes $25,000, according to Ibiquity.
The license fee is a one-time payment that grants a station the right to use Ibiquity Digital’s HD Radio patents, software and trademarks for its main channel audio. Licenses must be in place before a station receives broadcast equipment that contains Ibiquity Digital’s intellectual property from manufacturers or resellers.