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HD Radio in Harrisburg

D

danwxman

I recently purchased the portable Insignia HD radio from Overstock.com for a pretty good price (half of what it would have been at Best Buy). So far, the HD radio scene is pretty paltry in this area. The only clear HD stations I can receive here in midtown Harrisburg are WITF HD-1/HD-2, WRBT HD-1 and HD-2, WRVV HD-1/HD-2 and WNNK HD-1/HD-2. Hot 92's FM signal goes in and out, occasionally picking up the HD-1. WTPA is a bit better - mostly HD-1 but that does drop as well. Kiss-FM is supposedly broadcasting in HD, but all I could get is their FM stereo signal, nothing from HD. No HD from WROZ or WARM. Almost no signal whatsoever from WQXA and WMHX is only broadcasting FM stereo, it appears. Even their signal was a bit touchy (hard to receive inside the house, a bit better outside but a lot of fuzz at times).

The HD-2's are pretty dissapointing. I was hard pressed to find ANY music after 1980, I mean who is buying HD radios? I guess nobody in my age bracket (18-34). WITF HD-2 sounds like old-timey radio programs. What about NPR News or Talk? That would be a much better option. WRBT HD-2 is classic country or something. WRVV HD-2 is more classic hits. WNNK HD-2 is Urban AC? Really? Don't we already have The Touch?

I just don't understand how there is not one HD-2 channel in this area targeting young people. I'd like to see WHKF start broadcasting in HD like they claim they do and put a dance/electronic programed station on the HD-2 (perhaps like MIX-2 in Baltimore). And I'm very confused as to why Wink 104 has an R&B station on HD-2...instead, why not a Rhythmic AC to compliment the Hot AC format?
 
I half agree with you, half don't agree with you. One of the ideas of programming HD-2 and HD-3 side channels is providing formats that have been banished off the FM dial. I agree, though, that NPR news or talk would make more sense for WITF's HD-2. But I see no problem with classic country. That's cool. Where else can you hear it? And I think even young folks can appreciate a little Johnny Cash every so often. But I do agree that classic Hits on WRVV-2 and Urban AC on WNNK-2 is overkill, unless the 2's are providing rare B-side hits not heard on the main stations. A cool idea that I have is for these big stations to start leasing their side channels out to colleges that don't have or can't get a class A licenses and get some cool, fresh, programming on those side channels. There's a college station in Tampa, I believe, that couldn't acquire their own license, so they're leasing a side channel from one of the big stations down there. Now THAT'S catering to young folks. I can think of a bunch of colleges in the area stuck with super tiny part-15 signals, carrier current, cable only, internet only, etc. who would jump at the chance to lease a side channel off one of the big stations.
 
Oh I don't have a problem with classic country on WRBT. I don't like it personally, but you definitely can't hear it anywhere else on FM and it does compliment their current format.

Speaking of WRVV HD-2, I heard Michael Jackson's "Beat It", Toto "Hold the Line", Cyndi Lauper "Time After Time" and Rolling Stones "Start Me Up" recently. Certainly those are hardly B-sides.. It just sounds like a straight up classic hits (70s-80s) station. If anything WRVV's format is deeper! WNNK's HD-2 is also playing what sounds like a nationally programmed Urban AC. Again, nothing wrong with that format but don't we have that on 95.3? Rhythmic AC would be much better.

I think your idea about leasing to a college radio station sounds great. I'm surprised there aren't any good college radio stations here in Harrisburg. I'm assuming PSU HBG and HACC don't have broadcasting programs, hence why.
 
WNNK is using their HD-2 to feed "The Touch" to an FM translator on 95.3. That's why they changed 1400 to sports. It's stretching the translator rule a bit, but it's all legal.
 
I partially agree with the comments about WITF-HD2. The alternative NPR shows (Talk of the Nation, for example) are excellent; the BBC News does sound like "Old Radio". A younger model for them to follow is WAMU-HD3 (available online). I know it's a matter of cost, and WITF was cut hard (like 90%) by last year's state budget cuts. Obviously, commercial stations don't want to create ratings competition with their HD.
 
epmark said:
Obviously, commercial stations don't want to create ratings competition with their HD.
Click to expand...

Then why even bother with HD Radio? I thought the whole point was to put out some formats (on the cheap) that were ignored by commercial stations. If they're just recycling the same garbage music that's on their main signal, I have no reason to buy one of these radios. At least with my XM I have some choice.

Terrestrial radio is digging it's own grave with the way they pretty much ignore programming. Saturating a market with a bunch of stations that cater to 3 or 4 formats doesn't seem to be good for business.
 
HD Radio, like AM stereo, has missed its opportunity to matter.

In 2010, instead of wasting resources toward HD, stations should be more concerned about apps for I Phones, Droid, etc.

More and more listening is headed in this direction and radio in Central P-A needs to wake up to this fact before the bus leaves the station on this too.
 
"But I see no problem with classic country. That's cool. Where else can you hear it? And I think even young folks can appreciate a little Johnny Cash every so often."

Try WIOO Country Gold 97.9FM/1000AM in the Carlisle/Harrisburg area, WEEO Country Gold 93.9FM/1480AM in the Shippensburg-Chambersburg area, WHVR, 1280AM in the Hanover-York-Gettysburg area, and WWSM, 1510AM in the Lebanon-Lancaster area. Is that enough Classic Country for you?

This is the big problem with HD Radio, the poor coverage and interference issues not withstanding. I'll leave those issues to the guys on the HD Radio board. (it makes an interesting read) All of the major formats are adequately covered by traditional radio...even niche musical interests like Jazz, Smooth Jazz, Classical and Alternative music (try WXPN and various college stations) are well represented. So who has the incentive to spend $$$ on an expensive HD-equipped radio? They are not available AT ALL at stores like Walmart and Target where most normal people shop. Best option for HD: Shut it off, curtail the interference and save the electricity!
 
Seltzer said:
HD Radio, like AM stereo, has missed its opportunity to matter.

In 2010, instead of wasting resources toward HD, stations should be more concerned about apps for I Phones, Droid, etc.

More and more listening is headed in this direction and radio in Central P-A needs to wake up to this fact before the bus leaves the station on this too.
Click to expand...

THIS. You say you don't work in Radio Seltzer but you're pretty spot on with everything you post.

My new deck has the option to scan for HD channels and I can't even be bothered to learn how to do it because what passes for HD in this area is a joke. It COULD have been a great opportunity to really hit the ball out of the park with multi dimensional programming but the same idiots who are tanking our companies to begin with can't really be trusted to take the bull by horns and blaze a new trail now can they?

And like someone else said before me, even the stations that do have it are just recycling the same old crap you can hear on the current airwaves anyway. It's a circle jerk of epic proportions and it's a damn shame. We have the talent out here to make this work, i've seen it. Even the jocks you're paying peanuts to would brighten at the idea of programming some niche shows to make HD Radio more appealing, but no, it's the same old game on a "brand new" signal. Terrestrial radio is scared shitless of Satellite and they damn well should be. They're too stupid to survive innovation.

Let's not devote some resources to Droid and IPhone apps, let's schedule another hardware bar bikini contest and throw out beer coasters, that'll really spread the word. It's a sad commentary on how the old guard is not only burying us but making it impossible for any new blood to save us.

/rant off.
 
I grew up really loving radio and always wanted to be a jock (never happened). I hate to see the medium being destroyed, but that's what happens to any industry when all the independent voices are gone. It all seems like a big stale corporate strategy instead of a dedication to what made radio great in the first place. Sure, it's about making money, and always was. But it seems like the Clear Channels of the world don't want to give listeners a reason to listen.

Really, why in the world would anyone in Central PA want a HD radio? There doesn't seem to be a benefit of owning one. Even though my satellite radio service isn't perfect (I think the XM-Sirius merger ruined some of the stations and took away some great on air talent), at the very least it gives access to music that commercial radio won't even consider playing. Good enough for the VW commercial, but not good enough for the radio. It makes no sense!
 
I turn on my HD radio a week later and it looks like Kiss-FM is now broadcasting in HD (though it's difficult to receive a steady reception here in midtown Harrisburg). The format on their HD-2 is Active Rock. Sounds exactly like 105.7 The X. So lame. What a disappointment HD radio is in this town. At least their HD-2 format has jocks and a somewhat decent presentation (albeit voicetracked of course).
 
Overall HD coverage sucks. There are few radios to listen with. If you add a generic music channel or simulcast a sister station on an HD2 or 3 channel you only have to pay the minimum rights fees to Ibiquity. Something like $1000 per year. If you start selling ads directly on those channels Ibiquity starts getting a percentage of the sales. Something like 3-5%, in that range. What clients would want to pay to advertise on those channels in today's economy? What "results" would they get using sales lingo?
 
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