Special Temporary Authority (STA) to operate terrestrial repeaters in 60 U.S. markets expired Mon., XM Satellite Radio said in annual 10-K report filed with SEC Tues. XM filed for STA extension March 11 and under FCC rules can continue operating repeaters “pending a final determination of our extension request,” filing said.
Consumer electronics makers shipped 1,459,731 DTV products to dealers in 2001, of which 97,157 were integrated sets and 196,564 were set-top decoders, CEA said. Volume of integrated DTVs and set-tops shipped in 2001 was up 1,455% and 434%, respectively, from comparable 2000 span, CEA said. DTV products shipped since introduction through Dec. 31 totaled 2,498,347, including 361,828 integrated sets and set- tops, said CEA, which estimated that 16% of DTV products sold since launch had ATSC reception capability. By comparison, CEA said, only 9% shipped through 2000 were ATSC-capable. CEA projected 2.1 million DTV products would be sold in 2002, 4 million in 2003, 5.4 million in 2004, 8 million in 2005, 10.5 million in 2006.
FCC set Feb. 19 deadline for comments, with replies March 21, on National Radio Systems Committee (NRSC) report recommending Commission’s adoption of iBiquity Digital in- band, on-channel (IBOC) FM system. IBiquity Pres. Robert Struble said company was “right on target” for commercial introduction of first IBOC receivers year from now at Jan. 2003 Las Vegas CES. Introduction of first IBOC broadcast equipment is expected at NAB convention in April. Meanwhile, iBiquity said at CES in Las Vegas Tues. that it had submitted test data on IBOC AM system to NRSC for evaluation. It said field tests were done at 2 commercial AM stations and one experimental station. Subjective listening tests found IBOC AM sound quality comparable with that of existing analog FM, it said. IBiquity has said IBOC FM system has “near-CD” quality. It also announced new licensing agreement under which Visteon will incorporate IBOC AM and FM reception capability into automotive OEM radios set for availability in time for 2004 model year.
LAS VEGAS -- Sirius Satellite Radio’s 2002 rollout plans will have predictable ring of familiarity as new CEO Joseph Clayton told news conference Mon. at Consumer Electronics Show (CES) here that aim would be to repeat successes of 1994 DirecTV launch over which he presided as senior Thomson-RCA executive.
Five years to week after departing CE industry, former RCA veteran Joseph Clayton Tues. assumed pres.-CEO post at Sirius Satellite Radio and told us in interview that learning “how to be retailer-friendly” would be company’s top priority as it prepared 3-city commercial launch Feb. 14. “We'll be putting on a full court press for CES,” Clayton told us. “First and foremost we have to learn how to be retailer- friendly.” Aftermarket sales of digital radio will be most important prong of Sirius’s strategy for 2002, he said, echoing letter and spirit of strategic plan expressed earlier by other Sirius executives. OEM factory build-in of receivers by automakers is priority that will follow later.
Following delays caused mainly by chip problems in its receivers, Sirius Satellite Radio Wed. set Feb. 14 launch date in Denver, Houston and Phoenix markets, saying national rollout would be complete by 3rd quarter next year.
Satellite radio operators XM and Sirius are facing major hurdles in beginning service, meeting financial requirements of their cash-intensive start-ups and gaining widespread acceptance, officials said. Neither is expected to hit subscriber targets by end of next year, and 2nd to market Sirius has delayed debut of its service until next year because of problems with chipset, Lehman Bros. analyst William Kidd said. Sirius continues to test its service and will “continue testing chipsets for some time,” spokeswoman said. Chipsets had been scheduled to be ready for receivers by late Sept. or early Oct. Sirius CEO David Margolese also announced resignation Tues. Kidd said he believed move was effort to restore investor confidence, but Sirius Senior Vp Doug Wilsterman said Margolese’s departure after 10 years as CEO was unrelated to latest delay in company’s commercial launch. Sirius will announce full range of plans in conference call Nov. 14.
Declaring that “the stage is set” for commercial rollout of in-band, on-channel (IBOC) digital audio broadcasting (DAB) radio next year, iBiquity Digital Thurs. hailed results of its digital FM tests submitted day earlier to National Radio Systems Committee (NRSC) as scoring high marks in crucial areas of audio quality, robustness of coverage and compatibility with existing FM infrastructure.
XM Satellite Radio Tues. became first of 2 satellite digital audio radio services (DARS) providers to attach specific dates to start of its commercial service, saying receivers and 100 channels of programming would be available for $9.99 monthly subscription fee in Dallas-Ft. Worth and San Diego starting Sept. 12. Introduction will be expanded to southwestern states encompassing 25% of U.S. in mid.-Oct., followed by nationwide debut in early Nov., senior XM executives told N.Y.C. news conference.
Suppliers shipped 227,349 DTV sets to dealers in 2nd quarter, up 166.7% from 85,241 in same 2000 quarter, CEA said. Statistics include sales of DTV-ready sets and those with integrated decoders. Dollar shipments climbed 90.5% in quarter to $406.68 million as average selling price fell 28.6% to $1,789. For first 6 months of 2001, DTV sales to dealers rose 162.4% to 461,907 sets and dollar volume grew 95.8% to $868.76 million. CEA praised DTV sales performance in June, when suppliers shipped 90,973 sets worth $159.46 million. CEA said June increase represented 3rd straight month of sales growth in 2001 and 82% rise from units shipped in June 2000. However, CEA said suppliers shipped 3.1% fewer DTV sets in 2nd quarter than in first (227,349 vs. 234,558) and dollar volume declined 12%. Nevertheless, CEA Pres. Gary Shapiro said 2nd quarter’s strong finish was proof that “consumers are clearly sold on digital quality.” He said “strong momentum” in DTV set sales should serve as “call” for broadcasters and other content creators “to provide more high-quality digitally originated programming” and for cable industry to resolve must- carry and cable-DTV product compatibility issues.