HD Radio in NYC Thread

[Barry]

I realize HD radio remains a niche topic, as there are still few HD radio owners and even less that use them.
But it appears there are a few radio geeks on this board that do have some interest in it. So I am suggesting that this could be the place to discuss local HD broadcasts, from time to time.

Today WWPR 105.1 apparently ditched their HD2, which had been a mess. HD radio.com stopped listing it a few days ago. It had been broadcasting mostly open carrier since last July, shortly after One Caribbean Radio leased the channel. It apparently did not take long for OCR to have financial problems, and to stop supplying programming to the HD2.
This may be a setback for attempts to lease HD channels to outside organizations.
My guess is that Clear Channel will eventually revive WWPR's HD2, as their other stations in New York all have them. Any suggestions what programming they should put on there? Most of their HD2's rebroadcast channels from IHeartRadio.

 

[pjc1961]

WWPR could put "Mia" (or something similar) back on the HD2 as that was on there before or one of the iHeart RnB-based feeds.
It could also open up a spot for a WOR rebroadcast (although demographically speaking, WOR on FM-HD would be a better "fit" with WLTW or WAXQ).

Just checked the http://streaming.intacs.com/clients/onecaribbeanradio/pcchrome.php stream to see if it was running (its been intermittent/sporadic over the last year or so). It's still up and running ads, too. Oddly enough I caught it at just the right time to hear the announcement: "One Caribbean Radio WWPR 105.1 HD2 New York". Go figure...

The main website for One Caribbean Radio is unavailable.
Their Facebook page was last updated on 2/2/13: https://www.facebook.com/OneCaribbeanRadio

 

[BruceS8852]

I have owned HD radios since 2006 and must say that I am disappointed that the programming has not been fully developed. Back in 2006 when WCBS-FM was hijacked I was able to hear oldies on 101.1 HD2. I also enjoyed deep tracks on 104.3 HD2 and Classic Lite on 106.7 HD2, both of which are now gone. The only HD2 station that is of interest to me today is smooth jazz on 102.7 HD2. Since there is now country on 94.7 FM, I suggest that another format be brought to 106.7 HD2. I must tip my hat to WFUV who has developed good programming on the alternate side at 90.7 HD3.

Likely most HD2 and HD3 stations can be heard on internet radio thus there is no need to purchase an HD radio.

Just my two cents on a Saturday morning.

Bruce

 

[Barry]

Since there is now country on 94.7 FM, I suggest that another format be brought to 106.7 HD2.

WLTW 106.7 HD2, New York Country still serves a purpose, even with Nash FM now on the air. It reaches quite a few places with solid clear audio that Nash does not. Examples include lower Fairfield and southeastern Nassau counties and parts of New York City. Nash sounds weak in many of those areas.
106.7 HD2 has a very wide ranging signal, because it is one of 3 or 4 local HD2's that are using relatively high power.
IMHO, the DJs on the Country Road channel from IHeartRadio, which is rebroadcast on 106.7 HD2 are quite good, as is the audio and the choice of songs. And naturally 105.1 HD2 is now available for a new format, without needing to remove NY Country.

 

[nd2023]

1 Caribbean Radio probably never noticed a loss of HD listeners since their listeners must have come from the stream. No one has the HD radios. People would find it easier to get Caribbean programming from the many pirate stations

 

[benale]

I am one of the few with an HD radio. I would love to hear something that is not on the main signals...like Standards, 50's 60's oldies, Classic Country, All Comedy, Deep Tracks..or on a Clear Channel station, maybe a relay of KFI out of LA or some other outstanding talk station.

 

[Jeffrey]

I have owned HD radios since 2006 and must say that I am disappointed that the programming has not been fully developed. Back in 2006 when WCBS-FM was hijacked I was able to hear oldies on 101.1 HD2. I also enjoyed deep tracks on 104.3 HD2 and Classic Lite on 106.7 HD2, both of which are now gone. The only HD2 station that is of interest to me today is smooth jazz on 102.7 HD2. Since there is now country on 94.7 FM, I suggest that another format be brought to 106.7 HD2. I must tip my hat to WFUV who has developed good programming on the alternate side at 90.7 HD3.

Likely most HD2 and HD3 stations can be heard on internet radio thus there is no need to purchase an HD radio.

Just my two cents on a Saturday morning.

Bruce

It is beyond me that there is no dance station on HD2 in NYC. Infact alot of formats are missing that could be on HD. The smooth jazz on 102.7 HD2 is quite good actually. I find the music even better than CD101.9 when it was around.
It's too bad they don't spend some money on HD. Such a waste really.

 

[Barry]

I am one of the few with an HD radio. I would love to hear something that is not on the main signals...like Standards, 50's 60's oldies, Classic Country, All Comedy, Deep Tracks..or on a Clear Channel station, maybe a relay of KFI out of LA or some other outstanding talk station.

These seem to be decent suggestions. WVIP 93.5 did run the Music of Your Life network for a few months on HD2. MOYL plays standards and other tunes from past decades. But probably only a handful of people were even aware of this broadcast on WVIP. And of course Deep Tracks was offered on WAXQ HD2, which eventually dropped it in favor of alternative rock.
And Jeffrey's post above calling for a dance music HD2 also makes sense to me. There seems to be enough interest in dance that an HD channel could be devoted to it. Clear Channel actually has quite a few channels on IHeartRadio programming various flavors of the genre. They just put a rebroadcast of Evolution, the EDM channel from IHeartRadio on the HD2 of KIIS, their hugely popular CHR in L.A.

 

[Ai4i]

I wish I lived in NYC for the digital non-comms:
The Jazz Bee, WWFM, WFUV-2&3, Q2.

 

[Barry]

I have seen posts from time to time suggesting that an HD channel be devoted to traffic and weather.
Clear Channel could easily set this up (perhaps as an HD3) on one of their NYC stations, as they have a channel on IHeartRadio that loops a few brief local news items, weather, and traffic.

CC News Weather and Traffic Updates for New York: http://www.iheart.com/#/live/Traffic-Weather-and-News-6109/

 

[Hardrocker9]

I agree with most of you, but anyway this is my HD wish list. Hot 97 HD 2 return to classic hip-hop, 100.3 HD2 Club phusion or Evolution, 103.5 HD 2 (same visa versa for 100.3) 104.3 HD 2 to return to Rock Nation. Now that I have a HD radio in my car I mostly tune into K-rock and Q 104 HD2 but I find them repeating or playing the same songs often.

 

[Theater of My Mind]

Commercial broadcasters should really be using their HD channels for one of these purposes:
• A) Monetize it
• B) Failing that, at least get some self-promotional or strategic value out of it

Most if not all of the commercial broadcasters in NYC are doing neither. As we all know, "A" is a problem. You can't make money selling ads on an HD2 channel right now since the ratings are zero, and you can't use an HD2 channel to feed a translator in NYC because there are no frequencies available for translators. That basically leaves you with leasing out the channel, or running infomercials.

However from a PR or strategic angle with WWPR CC could:
• Simulcast WOR.
• Use it to promote iHeartRadio. Maybe do a format of the week to promote the variety of choices on that service.
• Put continuous traffic and weather from Total Traffic on it in a loop. This might actually have a shot at blunting the ratings of 1010 WINS and 880 WCBS, even if just by a bit. And it could give people one less reason to keep their Sirius/XM subscription for their all-traffic & weather element, and come back to terrestrial. Plus it probably wouldn’t cost them much, they’d just need to double up someone’s workload at TTN which is CC's specialty, haha.
• Use it to offer value-added content to the main format, especially if it's part of a big promotion like Clear Channel’s Taylor Swift campaign was. They could run interviews, full-length concerts, etc in a repeating loop instead of trying to treat the HD2 like a regular radio station.

I don't think putting a format like EDM/Dance would make sense to Clear Channel because the few listeners it would attract would just come from their own Z-100 and/or 'KTU audience. Same with any other format that competes with formats that Clear Channel already has on FM in the market. And carrying an out-of-market talk station like KFI is out because of clearance conflicts with the syndicated shows.

 

[Barry]

I checked out WKTU HD2, a simulcast of Clear Channel's Pride Radio. Though I am not knowledgeable about the genre, it sounds to me that now at least 2/3 of what they are playing could be considered dance, or at least dance/pop. It certainly seems to be more dance oriented than WKTU on the primary frequency.
Perhaps someone who is into dance music could listen to this HD2 for a while, and render a more informed opinion of whether this could be considered a dance leaning channel.

 

[TonySantiago]

I checked out WKTU HD2, a simulcast of Clear Channel's Pride Radio. Though I am not knowledgeable about the genre, it sounds to me that now at least 2/3 of what they are playing could be considered dance, or at least dance/pop. It certainly seems to be more dance oriented than WKTU on the primary frequency.
Perhaps someone who is into dance music could listen to this HD2 for a while, and render a more informed opinion of whether this could be considered a dance leaning channel.

Who...me? lol

Pride Radio reminds me of what 'KTU sounded like from 1996 - 2006. It's definitely a step up from what standard 'KTU is offering though the station leans more on recurrents and older material from gay-friendly artists that are non-dance such as Cyndi Lauper.

I just took a look at the iHeart offerings. While EDM is riding big now, you really couldn't put a full time station like Evolution or Club Phusion as the dance music offering. The dance music crowd here is VERY diverse. To lean strong on one aspect would alienate the audience. Add to the fact that you have those "casual" listeners, that would think of dance as what 92.3 Now and other similar CHR's do, that would be totally overwhelmed with a full blown EDM style station.

It's gotta be somewhere in the middle. YES, present EDM but present club material, house, local talent, vocals, etc. It can sound similar to what Pulse 87 did but steps up.

Just a thought.

 

[TonySantiago]

I don't think putting a format like EDM/Dance would make sense to Clear Channel because the few listeners it would attract would just come from their own Z-100 and/or 'KTU audience. Same with any other format that competes with formats that Clear Channel already has on FM in the market. And carrying an out-of-market talk station like KFI is out because of clearance conflicts with the syndicated shows.

Actually, if CC REALLY saw it from this perspective, the audience at best for a dance/EDM station are listening to 92.3 Now. Z-100 as a CHR isn't that dance intensive and that's BECAUSE of 'KTU.

 

[Jeffrey]

I checked out WKTU HD2, a simulcast of Clear Channel's Pride Radio. Though I am not knowledgeable about the genre, it sounds to me that now at least 2/3 of what they are playing could be considered dance, or at least dance/pop. It certainly seems to be more dance oriented than WKTU on the primary frequency.
Perhaps someone who is into dance music could listen to this HD2 for a while, and render a more informed opinion of whether this could be considered a dance leaning channel.

Who...me? lol

Pride Radio reminds me of what 'KTU sounded like from 1996 - 2006. It's definitely a step up from what standard 'KTU is offering though the station leans more on recurrents and older material from gay-friendly artists that are non-dance such as Cyndi Lauper.

I just took a look at the iHeart offerings. While EDM is riding big now, you really couldn't put a full time station like Evolution or Club Phusion as the dance music offering. The dance music crowd here is VERY diverse. To lean strong on one aspect would alienate the audience. Add to the fact that you have those "casual" listeners, that would think of dance as what 92.3 Now and other similar CHR's do, that would be totally overwhelmed with a full blown EDM style station.

It's gotta be somewhere in the middle. YES, present EDM but present club material, house, local talent, vocals, etc. It can sound similar to what Pulse 87 did but steps up.

Just a thought.

Pulse 87 is a fantastic example of what a New York dance station should sound like...After sampling Evolution in Boston I just don't see it as something that would work in New York. I don't claim to know about the Boston market but I don't see Evolution doing to well there either unless they tweak a bit. They're also up against a poor signal.

 

[Barry]

Jeffrey, I believe you are contradicting yourself. You recently started a thread on this board calling for an EDM station. Evolution is devoted to EDM.
Now you are posting that an EDM station would not work in New York.
Clear Channel does have a more pop oriented dance channel on IHeartRadio called Spin Cycle. It is described on its web page as "Mixing and Remixing the Hits..." It seems highly unlikely they would put it on an HD2 in New York, as it could be considered a bit of competition with their WKTU.

 

[TonySantiago]

Jeffrey, I believe you are contradicting yourself. You recently started a thread on this board calling for an EDM station. Evolution is devoted to EDM.
Now you are posting that an EDM station would not work in New York.
Clear Channel does have a more pop oriented dance channel on IHeartRadio called Spin Cycle. It is described on its web page as "Mixing and Remixing the Hits..." It seems highly unlikely they would put it on an HD2 in New York, as it could be considered a bit of competition with their WKTU.

Basically.....what is needed is 92.3 Now (the pop-dance aspect) MEETS Pulse 87 MEETS Evolution. Portions of each of those stations equally. THAT will do it.

 

[Jeffrey]

Jeffrey, I believe you are contradicting yourself. You recently started a thread on this board calling for an EDM station. Evolution is devoted to EDM.
Now you are posting that an EDM station would not work in New York.
Clear Channel does have a more pop oriented dance channel on IHeartRadio called Spin Cycle. It is described on its web page as "Mixing and Remixing the Hits..." It seems highly unlikely they would put it on an HD2 in New York, as it could be considered a bit of competition with their WKTU.

Basically.....what is needed is 92.3 Now (the pop-dance aspect) MEETS Pulse 87 MEETS Evolution. Portions of each of those stations equally. THAT will do it.

thank you Tony for clarifying. Evolution-Boston is not necessarily devoted to EDM. There is alot of trance and very heavy dance on the station. It has no commercial appeal. I NEVER said an EDM station would NOT work in New York. I said a station like Pulse 87 would. Pulse 87 and Evolution are very different stations. Pulse is devoted to dance/EDM/CHR. That is the kind of dance station that would have the most commercial appeal. Infact when the station was on the air in New York it did and also had quite a following despite it's poor signal and odd location on the dial. I believe at one point they pulled in a 1.2

 

[TonySantiago]

Actually, if CC REALLY saw it from this perspective, the audience at best for a dance/EDM station are listening to 92.3 Now.

To look at it from another angle, might this mean that CBS would find it counterproductive to try a Dance format on an HD subchannel in New York (like the ones that it has in Chicago, Houston, D.C., and San Francisco)?

OOOOHHHHHHH....I just made some posts on FB and on the other board. ;D I'll share here

What CBS Radio REALLY NEEDS to do is make 92.3 Now (on standard FM) that dance/CHR/EDM station. Here is the logic....


1) Z-100 has been around forever (okay...30 years) and they have never been knocked off the Top 40 pedestal. They're the "heritage".

2) 92.3 Now is VIRTUALLY there with dance in a sense. The sound is more dance friendly leaning.

3) You already have the remixers there (Jay Dabhi, David S, Yonny, Suraci, Lil Cee, Spanky, Beatbreaker, Toro) that are WELL CAPABLE of getting edgier with dance music. If anything, loosen the reign on them and LOOK OUT!!!

4) No one has to lose their jobs. It's not a radical change of format. All you do is just add more dance branded product alongside what 92.3 Now is already doing on the pop/dance side to things and BOOM!!!

Keep the on-air staff because they're PERFECT for this.