Author: Brad Hill

iBiquity proceeding with counter-suit in HD Radio patent case

Posted on by Brad Hill

In an ongoing patent lawsuit against iBiquity, developer of HD Radio technology, and several U.S. radio groups, a judge has declared that the radio groups may retreat to the sidelines while iBiquity argues for the invalidity of the patent claim. The next step will be either a lawsuit dismissal (if the judge finds the patent claim invalid), or a proceeding in which the radio groups will get a clarified version of the case going forward. Continue Reading →

U.K’s Tesco sells Blinkbox video service; music service could be next

Posted on by Brad Hill

Beleaguered retailer Tesco, which owns 3,300 stores in the U.K., and a portfolio of media assets under the Blinkbox brand, has reportedly sold its video Blinkbox service to phone company TalkTalk. Blinkbox Music, which announced a million streams last September, is not part of the deal, but a buyer is reportedly lined up. Continue Reading →

TuneIn prescribes listening for post-“Serial” withdrawal

Posted on by Brad Hill

The well publicized success of audio programming Serial, which achieved cult status and breakthrough metrics for a pureplay podcast (online only, not an archived radio show), has the podcast industry hoping for rising tide which lifts all boats. It’s not only podcast creators looking at 2015 as a potential growth year for the category. Distribution platforms have much to gain from an anticipated surge of interest in on-demand talk-based audio. Continue Reading →

adStream: When audio ads topically match the audio stream

Posted on by Brad Hill

Getting the right ad to the right listener at the right time is accomplished in different ways. We spotted examples of a matchup that is possible with streaming audio — matching product type with playlist type. Specifically, when auditioning Pandora’s “Brunch” playlist (one of Pandora’s house-built listening options, which the company has been promoting lately), we heard ads by McDonald’s and Community Coffee in rotation. Continue Reading →

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Editor’s Notebook: From digital dashboard to self-driving cars

Posted on by Brad Hill

by Brad Hill

The digital dashboard is a gold-rush scramble for territory. But what if there were no dashboard at all? Autonomous (self-driving) cars are rolling toward us, and will be on the road sooner or later. How will audio competition be shaped when the car is a WiFi-connected living room? Continue Reading →