WHAT IS HD RADIO BROADCASTING?
HD Radio™ Technology upgrades broadcast radio from analog to digital. Broadcasters that upgrade to HD Radio Technology can provide consumers listening with HD Radio enabled receivers many benefits that improve their listening experience: CD-like digital audio quality and useful data services such as real-time traffic, iTunes Tagging and Artist Experience are just a few examples. Today, there are more than 2,100 stations serving local markets across the country with HD Radio Broadcast Technology. In addition to the upgrades to the original primary channel – the HD1 – HD Radio Technology enables broadcasters to create extra FM channels on the radio dial. We call these HD2/HD3 channels and today more than 1,400 HD2/HD3 channels are available in radio markets across the country, thereby providing consumers more diverse listening options than ever.
HD2/HD3 channels are found adjacent to a radio station’s traditional location on the dial. These channels provide a wide range of new, diverse content and often provide expanded coverage of the content played on the primary HD1 channel. For example, if a consumer traditionally enjoys listening to classic rock on 101.1 FM (the HD1), with HD Radio Technology there can be a second rock channel – perhaps deep cuts from a great album – on the HD2 channel and additional creative programming on the HD3.
With HD Radio Technology, stations have many ways to reach listeners with exciting new services and additional useful content via HD2/HD3 channels. Whether that is by broadcasting three related music genre on each HD Radio channel, by mixing talk radio with music, placing sports on the FM dial, by providing in-language channels, or numerous other possibilities, HD Radio Technology is a major upgrade to the traditional analog radio listening experience.
Approved by the Federal Communications Commission as the only system for digital AM and FM broadcasting in the United States; HD Radio Technology is developed and licensed by iBiquity Digital Corporation and supported by the leaders of the broadcasting, consumer electronics and automotive industries.
HD Radio broadcasts are available subscription free. Only an HD Radio enabled receiver is required and there are many choices. To review available HD Radio enabled receivers, please visit our consumer oriented web site, www.hdradio.com and click on “Buyer’s Guide.”
HD Radio™ Technology is available or has been announced to be available on 28 different brands of new vehicles (Acura, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, Hyundai, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Porsche, Ram, Rolls Royce, Scion, SRT, Subaru, Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo) These announcements represent 148 different vehicles with HD Radio Technology, a total of 74 which will come with HD Radio Technology as a standard feature during 2012.
To upgrade your current car radio, look for HD Radio products from Alpine, Kenwood, Pioneer, JVC, Sony, Clarion, and Jensen. New Personal Navigation Devices from Garmin now feature real-time traffic delivered through HD Radio broadcasts. These Garmin products feature HD Digital Traffic. Portable HD Radio receivers are available from Audiovox, Zune HD, Insignia, Gigaware, Cydle, and Mighty Red. For the home, you can select from many options, including Yamaha, Denon, Marantz, Sony, Insignia, Polk, Sherwood, Gigaware, Sangean, and Onkyo. Prices for HD Radio products begin at $49 and are available from major national retailers such as Best Buy, Walmart, RadioShack and Sears. Numerous regional/local retailers including 6th Avenue Electronics, hhgregg, Ultimate Electronics, and CarToys carry HD Radio products. Online sources include www.crutchfield.com, www.amazon.com, and www.bestbuy.com.
HD Radio technology features:
