HD radio Sub channels in So Cali

[socamex26]

I notice that 92.3 HD2, 99.1 HD2 102.7 HD2, and 103.5 HD2 have been down for quite some time. Is Clear Channel giving up on those sub channels? I'm glad they still have 104.3 HD Pride radio still up and running. ;D

 

[wdb2003]

Maybe still down from the windstorms in LA last week. I moved to Monrovia and half the city is without power mainly Arcadia. Or just the usual maintenance of the HD signals. Remember Mt. Wilson gets snow and ice.

 

[ajc_trw]

I notice that 92.3 HD2, 99.1 HD2 102.7 HD2, and 103.5 HD2 have been down for quite some time. Is Clear Channel giving up on those sub channels? I'm glad they still have 104.3 HD Pride radio still up and running. ;D

With the 2s out do the main channels sound better? ???

 

[RockTheGlobe]

Maybe still down from the windstorms in LA last week. I moved to Monrovia and half the city is without power mainly Arcadia. Or just the usual maintenance of the HD signals. Remember Mt. Wilson gets snow and ice.

Speaks volumes. If the people actually working at radio stations cared as much about HD Radio as their bosses claim they do, the HD side-channels would've been up and running again within hours. HD side-channels (and sometimes the HD signals entirely) have been known to go down for several days at a time with no one noticing. KNX's main signal went off the air due to the windstorms, and you can bet there were some frantic phone calls to the engineers to get that back up ASAP.

 

[ChannelFlipper]

Maybe still down from the windstorms in LA last week. I moved to Monrovia and half the city is without power mainly Arcadia. Or just the usual maintenance of the HD signals. Remember Mt. Wilson gets snow and ice.

Speaks volumes. If the people actually working at radio stations cared as much about HD Radio as their bosses claim they do, the HD side-channels would've been up and running again within hours. HD side-channels (and sometimes the HD signals entirely) have been known to go down for several days at a time with no one noticing. KNX's main signal went off the air due to the windstorms, and you can bet there were some frantic phone calls to the engineers to get that back up ASAP.

How much extra money does it cost to run these sub-channels? If I ran a station and couldn't lease them out, I'd shut them down if they cost me anything more than side change. The platform still is not viable and what I said two years ago is still true today - the next person I meet who has an bought an HD radio will be the first. A few new cars do have them, but I've not heard or witnessed anyone actually using them.

 

[wdb2003]

92.3, 98.7, 104.3, 102.7, and 103.5 HD 2's you can hear on the Iheartradio app. The Beat, Pride Radio etc... I not sure if 98.7 RockNation is on there. None of them are locally produce anymore just Clear Channels Format Labs . I know KHHT first HD 2 format Mega was produce inhouse years ago. KTWV Smooth Jazz format on its HD 2 is local. My new car didnt come with a HD tuner and Im not in a rush to get it either.

 

[RockTheGlobe]

How much extra money does it cost to run these sub-channels? If I ran a station and couldn't lease them out, I'd shut them down if they cost me anything more than side change. The platform still is not viable and what I said two years ago is still true today - the next person I meet who has an bought an HD radio will be the first. A few new cars do have them, but I've not heard or witnessed anyone actually using them.

There's a licensing fee to iBiquity for the HD technology -- I don't know exactly how much it is, I've heard it can be as much as $50K, but that's another thorn in my side where HD Radio is concerned. No other broadcast technology in the U.S. requires payment to a private company for someone to use the technology. Plus there's the usual costs of electricity for the transmitter and upkeep, but an engineer or an accountant would be better suited to give you specific numbers on how much the physical costs of broadcast and maintenance are.

I actually do have an HD Radio in my car... bought an aftermarket receiver and had it installed a few years ago. I figured that if I wanted to properly mock it and its shortcomings, I ought to experience it for myself. I will admit that when it works, it is fairly cool -- but the "when it works" portion is what makes it frustrating and easy to make fun of. Plus, with so much bandwidth devoted to the HD1, the side-channels sometimes sound like low-bitrate MP3s.

 

[RockTheGlobe]

92.3, 98.7, 104.3, 102.7, and 103.5 HD 2's you can hear on the Iheartradio app. The Beat, Pride Radio etc... I not sure if 98.7 RockNation is on there. None of them are locally produce anymore just Clear Channels Format Labs . I know KHHT first HD 2 format Mega was produce inhouse years ago. KTWV Smooth Jazz format on its HD 2 is local. My new car didnt come with a HD tuner and Im not in a rush to get it either.

Locally, CBS and now-Cumulus seems to be some of the few that actually program some of their HD2 channels -- but there aren't many. KROQ-HD2 is their own in-house Rock of the '80s, while KAMP-HD2 is running a feed of sister station KSCF (Sophie @103.7)/San Diego. Some of the other CBS FMs run the AM stations on HD side-channels. KLOS-HD2 is also an interesting mix of '70s-'90s rock.

 

[wdb2003]

I actually liked listening to Sophie when I had HD radio. It reminds me of KYSR old format.

 

[kogi19]

There's a licensing fee to iBiquity for the HD technology -- I don't know exactly how much it is, I've heard it can be as much as $50K

iBiquity was charging $25,000 per year, but they have a "special" until the end of the year, where it's only $11,000 (full payment up front). This discount have been active for several months. Wonder what the stations that paid full price a year ago feel about this sale?

Also, take a look at what companies are investors in iBiquity. That is very telling of the whole HD situation.