February 21, 2006
183 Multicasting Stations on the Air
Billboard analyzes the numbers on currently equipped digital AM/FM stations: The publication's analysis reports that 721 radio station are broadcasting in HD Radio format, with 183 multicasting using an HD2 signal. (KUOW-FM in Seattle is the only one I'm aware of using HD3, a second multicasting station.) 1,190 stations are licensed for HD Radio. Chicago and Detroit have the most digital AM/FM, with 14 stations in each market.
AM/FM Pushes Out Terrestrial Message: We're Free
The blitz for HD Radio to catch on among AM/FM listeners is on: The LA Times writes about the threat of satellite to terrestrial radio today, with a small focus on local FM stations, and a great overview of the market. Satellite has tripped with higher costs in this last quarter, and if enough HD Radio-equipped receivers can get into the market, the ground stations might make a run for listeners who would otherwise pay over $150 per year for satellite reception.
Meanwhile, Billboard reports on the first phase of a $200 million in-kind advertising campaign for digital AM/FM supported by all major radio chains. The ads try to inform about the benefits, but it's definitely going to be a problem to describe better audio on the same medium that people may find lackluster compared to digital formats. As audio stores start to stock HD Radio receivers, that will change. Boston Acoustics gets a boost from these ads: as the only company with a home receiver currently shipping, they're mentioned in some segments. Boston dropped its price for $499 to $299 for the full-featured, rich-sounding Receptor Radio HD on Feb. 1.
February 6, 2006
KRIG 104.9 FM (Oklahoma) Adds Digital Signal
The station, offering country music, is the first locally owned station to add HD Radio, the report says.
February 1, 2006
HD Radio Stations Top 700
iBiquity claims they've topped 700 broadcasting in digital format: The acceleration is continuing as many broadcasters have their deal in place to offer commercial-free, non-format-competing second FM channels (HD2), and radios are shipping to the public. iBiquity says 2,300 stations beyond the 700 broadcasting HD Radio format are in the process of converting. Numbers I've seen count 12,000 radio stations in the U.S.