Is HD radio catching on?

Now that I have had the opportunity/hassle of trying HD radio in the car, I have come to have my own opinion of HD radio’s potential.

HD Radio, also known as IBDS (In-Band On-Channel Digital Radio), is a digital radio technology that broadcasts digital audio and data alongside existing analog signals. HD Radio provides FM sound quality that can be comparable to CD audio, significantly better than traditional FM radio. For AM, it offers FM-like sound quality, which is a substantial upgrade. Known as HD2, HD3, etc., these additional digital channels allow broadcasters to offer more content without needing new frequencies. This can lead to more variety in programming.
HD Radio can include metadata like song titles, artist names, album art, and even traffic or weather updates, enhancing the listening experience.

Since it broadcasts on existing frequencies, there’s no need for new towers or spectrum allocation, making it cost-effective for broadcasters to transition to digital.

But here is where I take issue with the supposed advantages: Digital signals are supposed to be less susceptible to interference compared to analog signals, which means better reception in areas where analog signals might be weak or noisy. Not so as you travel in a wooded area and even just in outlying suburbs. It is iffy. Is that enough to turn you off about HD? It might, depending on where you live or commute to.

Not all areas have HD Radio broadcasts. The coverage depends on the number of stations that have upgraded their equipment, which can limit the technology’s reach.

Listeners need an HD Radio receiver to benefit from the digital signals, which might not be standard in all car radios or home systems.
For portable devices, HD Radio can consume more power than traditional analog radio, potentially reducing battery life.

In some scenarios, the digital signal can suffer from multipath interference, leading to dropouts or a temporary switch to analog if the digital signal is lost. Multipath interference is a wave phenomenon that occurs when a wave travels to a receiver via multiple paths. The different paths can cause the wave to interfere constructively or destructively. When a radio signal travels to a receiver via multiple paths, such as through walls, furniture, or other reflective surfaces. Too many trees and you get nothing.

There is also this: With stations adding multiple channels, there’s a risk of spreading the audience too thin, potentially leading to lower listenership per channel. How many variations of a format can terrestrial radio serve through HD channels without heavy commercial loads and before it just isn’t cost effective?

Lately, we have seen HD channels gathering steam in Neilsen PPM ratings, huddled at the bottom of the list with NWPB’s KVTI FM, KCIS 630 religion, and even a few online streams.