IBOC Proponents Look to Broadcasters to Turn On the Power

IBOC proponents say broadcasters should bite the bullet and go on the air with digital radio even before receivers are widely available.
“Without broadcasters taking the lead and investing in IBOC installations, I fear that IBOC may become stalled or simply die a slow death,” so said Charles Morgan, chairman of the standards-setting organization the National Radio Systems Committee said to attendees of “What You Always Wanted to Know About IBOC But Were Afraid to Ask.”
All panelists agreed terrestrial radio must go digital to survive.
An executive in Delphi’s Wireless Division, Robert Schumacher, said consumers want all their electronics in the car to be digital and the satellite radio companies are creating the digital radio market.
“Delphi has shipped over 1.1 million digital radios” to retailers so far, said Schumacher.
Panelists spoke at the NAB Radio Show in Philadelphia.