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The Revo Pico

Revo Ready for DAB+ Down Under
Revo Technologies, a designer and manufacturer of digital radio products headquartered in Scotland, says it will have DAB+ compatible receivers available in Australia in April, just in time for a rollout of a new national DAB+ transmission network there.

Among the first product to find its way to Aussie consumers will be the company's Pico Radio station model, which features FM analog and DAB/DAB+ digital radio reception, along with Wi-fi/wired Internet radio capability, stereo RCA line-level outputs, and an LCD display screen for text and graphics. Pico is also equipped with a rechargeable NiMH battery pack and an SD flash card slot for MP3 playback. Revo, which currently distributes its products in Europe, the U.S., India and Singapore, says it also plans to offer DAB+ versions of its Blik and Iblik Radio Station models.

Australia is still on track to turn up its new DAB+ network on or around May 1. Currently, the only nation routinely operating in DAB+ is the tiny island nation of Malta, which offers 22 channels on a single multiplex signal.

Business

World Space Bankruptcy Sale on Hold
A Jan. 26 auction of World Space satellite radio assets by a U.S. Bankruptcy court in Delaware has apparently been sidetracked by a series of objections filed by stakeholders.

A recent report on rapidtvnews.com, suggests that the delay was necessitated by objections regarding understated debt amounts and detailed allegation from World Space's Italian partners that the bankrupt broadcaster is deliberately attempting to sell assets it does not own.

Based on filings for extension of World Space's Debtor In Possession (DIP) loan, it appears that the bankruptcy court extended the asset auction date to Feb. 26, allowing more time for details in the case to be sorted out by the respective attorneys.

To Mel, Liberty Looks Siriusly Better than Bankruptcy
Cash-strapped Sirius XM Satellite Radio has dodged a bullet, at least for the moment. Wire reports from AP and Reuters confirm that company CEO Mel Karmazan struck an 11th hour deal with Liberty Media to provide a secured loan of $280 million, more than enough to cover $172 million in debt that came due just hours after news of the agreement broke.

Nearly all of the pending debt had been purchased by Echo Star's Charlie Ergen, who had high hopes of using it to wrest control of Sirius from Karmazan. Past history suggests the two executives share little affection for one another, and speculation held that Karmazan was preparing to file for Chapter 11 reorganization in order to fend off the move.

Under the current deal, Karmazan will remain at the helm of Sirius, and his firm will receive a second phase loan of an additional $150 million. Liberty will also sop up another $100 million of Sirius debt for a total outlay of over half a billion dollars.

In return, Dish Network owner Liberty reportedly receives a more than 40 percent interest in Siruis, along with seats on the board of directors for Liberty's CE Greg Maffei and President John Malone.

But unless Sirius XM can reduce its expenses while simultaneously boosting subscriptions, its financial position in 2009 is likely to remain perilous. The firm still must meet $350 million in bank loans due in May, and another $228 million in notes due in December, while the Liberty deal is expected to draw the attention of regulators looking at potential anti-trust issues.

IBOC Across America

IBOC by State: Colorado
Ibiquity has a list of stations with licensed HD Radio technology and notes those on the air now. IBOC by state looks at various states and lists the stations making the transition. There are 56 stations in the Centennial State broadcasting 82 HD Radio channels.

HD Radio Terminology

The New Language of Digital Radio
FFT: fast fourier transform
FM: frequency modulation
GPS: Global Positioning System
HD BML: HD Broadcast Multimedia Language (HD BML is an Ibiquity trademark)
HDC: the codec used in the HD Radio system (HDC is an Ibiquity trademark)
HDLC: high-level data link control
HTTP: Hypertext Transfer Protocol

Products

Jaguar Jumping on HD Radio Bandwagon
Jaguar will be the next carmaker to offer HD Radio technology across its 2010 product line. Breaking the news last week at the Chicago auto show, the company says factory-installed HD Radio receivers will appear this summer in its XK model, followed later in the year by the XF.

"Jaguar is committed to being at the forefront of adopting innovative media and HD Radio technology is part of that vision," said Nick Gionis, senior manager, Jaguar Infotainment.

Jaguar, formerly owned by Ford Motor Co., was recently spun off to India-based Tata Motors, which is reportedly trying to restore some cachet to the heritage brand as its sales continue to ebb. No word yet as to whether Land Rover, another Tata acquisition from Ford, might also be adding HD Radio to its line.