Digital Radio

I got out of bed far too early this morning. I needed to be in Martin Place by about five for the “official launch” of digital radio in Australia. I woke at about 4.15, and hit the shower until I was absolutely awake and then caught a cab into town.

There weren’t too many people around in Martin Place at about five this morning. Well, there were lots of radio station marketing people, and a few producers and announcers. From what I could see, I was possibly the only radio station manager, the remainder of whom were probably, sensibly, home in bed.

The only non-radio people I noticed at about five this morning were the garbos, and a few blokes in suits. “Do you think they’re going to work or coming from the bars?”, I asked a colleague when we overhead a couple of blokes in suits chatting on the way through.

Overall, it was a reasonably enjoyable morning, with a large crowd of people attending, and a genuine sense of camaraderie in the air. Even though we’re all rivals in some way shape or form, many of us have worked together in the past, and there was a good feeling in catching up with people you only ever see occasionally.

As for digital radio itself, I think the potential is pretty amazing. Already there are a few new stations on air, though with nothing you couldn’t otherwise find on the net. And more are bound to be launched over the next 6 to 12 months.

Although I have access to one at work, I haven’t actually bought a digital radio yet. Personally, I think they’re still too expensive, and I’m prepared to wait for the next generation of receivers – only a few months away – which also incorporate internet radio, tapping into your home wireless network. In my lounge room, I have my computer set up to my sound system, so I can listen to good quality audio over the net all the time. I’m keen, however, for something in my bedroom which is where I also do a fair bit of listening.

In the midst of a couple of busy days, I came home for a couple of hours to break up the long day and even managed to have an hour or so asleep on the couch.

I went back to work at about 3 and did a few more things.

Coming home tonight I was impressed by a lovely moment on Sydney buses. You don’t often hear about bus drivers being kind and considerate, so I thought I’d share this story of a bloke asking for directions at Railway Square. Rather than just tell the passenger he was at the wrong spot, the driver said, “Grab a seat and I’ll drop you off on the way”. How cool is that?