HD Radio

[kjnorman]

Well it is not HDTV, and its not really high definition radio, but that is what they are calling it.  Really it is just the digital transmission of radio on the AM and FM bands.  I post this press release as Milwaukee is one of the mentioned markets.  I personally am all for this if it helps to diversify our otherwise very generic radio.  If it is just the digital rebroadcast of the current limited radio fair then why bother?  

40 MARKETS TO BROADCAST HD RADIO IN EARLY 2003


iBiquity Licenses Over 35 Broadcast Groups For Digital AM/FM Conversion Across U.S.[/b/

Las Vegas, NV (International Consumer Electronics Show - booth #N3727) - January 10, 2003 - iBiquity Digital Corporation, the sole developer and licensor of HD Radio™ digital AM/FM broadcast technology, announced that broadcast groups and stations in 40 large, midsize and small markets, spanning 26 states and 20 formats will begin broadcasting using iBiquity's HD Radio technology on AM and FM stations in early 2003.   Markets include (by market rank); New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Philadelphia, Houston, Boston, Detroit, Atlanta, Miami, Seattle, Baltimore, Tampa-St. Petersburg, Cleveland, Cincinnati, San Jose, Milwaukee, Middlesex-Somerset-Union NJ, New Orleans, Raleigh, West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, Monmouth-Ocean NJ, Louisville, Richmond, Birmingham, Greenville-Spartanburg SC, Syracuse, Ft. Wayne IN, Roanoke-Lynchburg, Morristown NJ, Jackson MS, Charleston WV, Morgantown WV, Cedar Rapids and Lafayette IN.  Four unranked markets will also rollout HD Radio services; Forest VA, Price UT, Raymond VA and White Oak GA.  Formats include rock, urban, ethnic, country, classical, news/talk and more.

Broadcaster groups and stations include: iBiquity Digital's founder Infinity Broadcasting, as well as Clear Channel Radio, Cox Radio, Inc., Entercom Communications Corp., Radio One Inc., Hispanic Broadcasting Corp., Susquehanna Radio Corp., Bonneville International Corp., Greater Media, Spanish Broadcasting System, Beasley Broadcast Group, Journal Broadcast Group, Buckley Broadcasting, Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc., Chicago Public Radio, Cleveland Classical Radio, WCGA-AM, Cram Communications, Inc., Crawford Broadcasting Company, Crystal Boynton Beach, Inc., Eastern Utah Broadcasting, Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Company, Federated Media, Fenix Broadcasting Corp., Gee Communications, Inc., Hunter Broadcast Group, Kaspar Broadcasting, KZIA, Inc., Multicultural Radio Broadcasting Group, New World Broadcasting, OneCom, Inc., Perception Media Group, Inc., Renaissance Radio, Inc., Richardson Broadcasting Company, Sellers Broadcasting-KMRY, South Sound Broadcasting, Spanish Media Broadcasting, WWNO-FM - University of New Orleans, University of South Florida, W&B Broadcasting, Inc., West Virginia Radio Corp., WRHC Management Corp., WOLF Radio, Inc., Wood Broadcasting Company, Inc. and WWOZ, Inc..  

"Entercom has long been a supporter of the development of HD Radio.  We are pleased to be among the first to adopt this new technology that will enhance the clarity, delivery and listening experience of our local programming"  said David Field, president and CEO of Entercom.  "With this initial conversion of stations in leading markets like Boston and Seattle and the others which will follow, Entercom expects to continue to contribute to the growth of local AM/FM radio by offering this improved and innovative delivery choice for our local listeners."  

Richard Marschner, executive vice president and general manager, Cleveland Classical Radio stated, "Classical music delivered digitally leveraging HD Radio technology will create a complete listening experience for our faithful local listeners.  In addition to the enhanced sound quality and compositions and artist information displayed on new HD Radio receivers, the ability to offer continued
enhancements such as on-demand audio and advanced data services at the push of a button offers endless opportunities for what radio broadcasters can offer listeners as the technology evolves."

iBiquity Digital's HD Radio™ technology transforms today's radio experience by allowing AM/FM broadcasters to transmit, seamlessly, digital quality audio as well as integrated wireless data alongside today's analog-based broadcasts. HD Radio digital receivers, such as those being developed by Kenwood USA, Visteon, Alpine, Delphi, Harman Kardon, JVC, Sanyo and others, will enable consumers to receive these signals with improved audio fidelity that matches existing CD quality. HD Radio technology will also allow for the development of additional on-demand interactive audio and wireless data services, including traffic reports, weather alerts, breaking news, sports highlights, market updates, radio program information and much more.

McHenry Tichenor, president and CEO, Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation stated, "As the largest Spanish language radio broadcasting company in the U.S., Hispanic Broadcasting is dedicated to offering premier services to millions of our listeners.  The conversion to digital broadcasting using HD Radio technology will revolutionize the way Latino communities from the beaches of Miami to the neighborhoods of LA will experience the rhythms and beats of their local radio.  We at Hispanic Broadcasting have eagerly awaited HD Radio and look forward to bringing our listeners a host of new services that go beyond the traditional audio experience that radio offers today."
 
 "Broadcasters across the U.S. have embraced HD Radio technology as the next generation of radio.  HD Radio technology will change the way consumers experience local AM/FM and will enable new offerings to transform radio into the
world of digital entertainment and all it has to offer," said Robert J. Struble, president and CEO, iBiquity Digital Corporation.  "We couldn't be more pleased with the initial rollout of HD Radio throughout all of our partners' industries including broadcasting and consumer electronics, and this is only the beginning".

About iBiquity Digital Corporation
iBiquity Digital is the sole developer and licenser of HD Radio technology in the U.S., which will transform today's analog radio to digital, enabling radically upgraded sound and new wireless data services.  The company's investors include 15 of the nation's top radio broadcasters, including ABC, Clear Channel and Viacom; leading financial institutions, such as J.P. Morgan Partners, Pequot Capital and J&W Seligman; and strategic partners Ford Motor Company, Harris, Texas Instruments and Visteon.  iBiquity Digital is a privately held company with operations in Columbia, MD, Detroit, MI, Redwood City, CA and Warren, NJ.  For more information please visit: //www.ibiquity.com


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CONTACTS:
Scott Frank
Alexander Ogilvy
202-557-0836 (office)
240-305-5891 (mobile)

Laura Taylor
iBiquity Digital Corporation
410-872-1555 (office)
202-368-8666 (mobile)

[borghe]

Here are the Milwaukee local stations that are covered by the companies listed:

FM
94.5 WKTI
95.7 WRIT
97.3 WLTQ
99.1 WMYX
100.7 WKKV
103.7 WXXS
106.1 WMIL

AM
560 WIND
620 WTMJ
920 WOKY
1130 WISN
1250 WEMP

[sp44again]

Does anybody have XM radio or Sirius? I was looking into that til I saw this.

[Tom Snyder]

XM and Sirius are not as much about the sound quality as they are about the PROGRAMMING quality. There are some mainstream formats that are duplicates of the standard pablum FM radio fare, but there are also some formats that play music you won't hear on Milwaukee radio in a  Million years.