HD Radio - Digital Multicasting Alongside Terrestrial AM and FM

After receiving a boring press release about HD Radio, I posted a blog with a slightly facetious headline that read "HD Radio Wants You to Know it's Still Here". In short, I asked for reader opinion on whether they cared about HD Radio and if so, what were they listening to. Here are some of their comments and a few more of my thoughts.

This season, Major League Baseball teams with AM flagship stations will simulcast games on FM by taking advantage of HD Radio Technology HD2/HD3 Channel capability. Several Major League Baseball teams with official AM stations are utilizing those stations’ sister FM HD2/HD3 channels to expand coverage of their clubs. Read more.

The question I often mull over about HD Radio is one of timing. With the fast growth of Internet Radio and increased competition from Podcasts, Satellite Radio, cell phone streams, and MP3 players - is HD Radio trying to stay afloat in a perfect storm of inventive technology all vying for the same users? Read more.

HD Radio came on the consumer scene about three years ago with promises of revitalizing AM and FM radio stations with a new fidelity. So far, the sales of HD Radio receivers has been less than expected and the new technology definitely has some critics and detractors. Read more.

radiosophy™ has created an entry-level HD Radio unit called the HD 100 which is basic and easy to use. For $99.95 anyone can easily start hearing the new HD Radio signals with a table-top unit that also provides alarm clock functions.

Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted additional policies and rules that will enhance the digital radio services now being rolled out to the American public. Read more.

Radiosophy has begun shipping the MultiStream™ HD Radio. Radiosophy says this product is the first transportable table-top receiver and handles multiple digital streams as well as all existing radio station signals. Read more details.

A site visitor is intrigued by HD Radio and wants to know if he can start his own HD Radio station in the same way others start AM and FM radio stations. Here's the answer plus a few things you probably didn't know about HD Radio and HD2 Radio.

What is HD Radio in a nutshell? Here's a definition to put it into perspective.

Many radio listeners are confused about HD Radio. They hear their favorite station talking about it but aren't sure if they are hearing the result of it. HD Radio makes AM and FM sound better and allows both to do more. Read what HD Radio is, and is not - in simple terms.

Clear Channel Radio says 269 of its radio stations in 66 markets are now set to air HD digital multicasts. Read more.

Cox Radio recently launched seven new HD2 (high-definition sub-channel) formats, which complement Cox Radio’s current analog (AM/FM) and HD1 radio station formats serving the Atlanta, Georgia and Tampa, Florida markets.

Clear Channel Radio reports a full 196 of its radio stations in 48 markets are set to air HD digital multicasts. The additions are part of a larger launch begun in January and you can listen to all of them online as they go live. Read more...

HD Radio technology transmits digital audio and data alongside existing AM and FM analog signals, allowing listeners with HD Radio compatible receivers to enjoy CD-quality sound and virtually eliminating the static, hiss, and pops associated with analog radio. This is a short product tour highlighting various HD Radios and tuners with descriptions and price comparisons from PriceGrabber, a comparison shopping service.

Today Clear Channel Radio announced that 200 of its radio stations will be airing HD digital radio broadcasts by the end of November. At this rate the company says it is on track to air HD digital radio broadcasts on 95% of its stations in the top 100 markets by the end of 2007. Read more.

Today, twenty-one of the nation's top radio broadcast groups and iBiquity Digital Corporation announced an historic agreement to accelerate broadcast conversion of 2,000 AM and FM stations to digital HD Radio technology. Full Story.

The HD2 Radio rollout is underway and it will literally change the way you hear AM and FM radio. This technology brings a new form of multicasting to these terrestrial bands and you will be able to receive even more channels than before with completely new formats designed to appeal to more eclectic niches. Plus HD2 radios can receive digital information regular radios can't. It means a lot more entertainment, news, and information than you've ever had before - for free. Read more.

HD Radio’s formal introduction will take place today, January 7, during the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Read more.

HD Radio technology – approved by the FCC in 2002 as the digital broadcasting system for the U.S. – works by transmitting digital audio and data alongside existing AM and FM analog signals, allowing listeners to enjoy CD-quality sound and virtually eliminating the static and hiss associated with today's analog broadcasts. Read more.

Thanks to HD Radio and technology from DigaSystem, Washington-based WAMU-FM is broadcasting its regular programming AND the John Roberts Supreme Court confirmation hearings at the same time. Slick Trick! Read how.