I figure we have like 5 years 10 tops before they take away analog radio.
Whoooah pardner!
1) Not true
2) Not in the cards
3) Way different issues involved than TV.
We already HAVE analog and digital FM on the same frequency. They need to change *nothing* in the future - the future is here today.
HD radio is not catching on, it's a catch 22. If they increase the signal power of HD, it affects analog reception and loses current listeners.
No matter what they do, installing HD capability into radios will cost more, if for nothing else, the HD licensing fees. Plus it takes a LOT more signal processing (= power) than analog to work. That's why those little Sony HD tuners run so hot compared to a modern analog FM tuner.
When, and only when, HD radio capability is standard and included in every new car sold, every new home theater receiver, every new clock radio, every new walkman, then you can start counting 5-10 years. We are so far away from that now, as less than 0.01% or less of the above has HD reception. Part of the reason is these products are designed to sell in a global market, and the US is the only country using the HD standard. Also, consumers are yawning at HD radio - even after trying it. Big companies don't waste money giving people features thay don't want or care about.
And the installed base of FM analog receivers so large, (many hundreds of millions) that many in the radio biz *never* see it going away. There is no reason for it, no driving force, especially from the consumer side, that needs to PAY for new radios.
All my opinons, though.
