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Iheart giving up on HD2,3 and 4

In Orlando....

WRUM-HD2 is relaying Mega 97.1 "Musica con calle" (music with street?) LPFM
"Kalle" or "Calle" is a term meaning "street feel" or "street smarts" or, in context, what we used to call "hip".

Like all vernacular, terms like that have a short street life.

"Juan es bien calle" means Johnny is very much a street guy, he's got cred, he is hip or cool.

If I said "Q-102 es horriblemente calle" I might mean that Q-102 is terribly vulgar and common sounding. It all depends on context.
 
NYC has Alt 92.3 in HD-2 and NY's Country 94.7 in HD-2, Pride Radio for 103.5 KTU HD-2, and Channel Q in HD-3 for 92.3. Nothing on Z100 HD-2.
WLTW 106.7 HD2 carries IHeart's The Broadway Channel, perhaps because it is hosted by personalities from other IHeart stations in New York. Lite FM has promos for the stream, with no mention of the HD2.

Broadway Website
 
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As David mentioned, a lot depends on how many ancillary (HD2, 3, etc) are also being transmitted. Even the, the fact remains; HD1 channels have a much wider frequency response, lower THD and IMD, and far less signal to noise than FM analog.

Over the years I've heard similar comments from old timers who claim- 'I prefer analog over anything digital', including that music on AM stations sound better than MP3's or FM HD, and even CD's.
I submit from a technical standpoint, the opinions against anything digital boils down to a curmudgeon argument based on pure nostalgia, nothing else.
OK, if the HD is higher fidelity than the analog FM, why would a company cut out an HD2 specifically to make the HD1 sound a bit better, as has been suggested upthread? Especially when the majority of FM listening is still probably done via the analog signal.

And would the average listener buy an HD radio, or switch one on, just for that extra fidelity?
 
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If IHeart is switching them off it's probably to save money. That's my rough guess. Some HD2s get a few ratings here and there across the country, but it hasn't exactly taken off like wildfire. The economy isn't exactly taking off like wildfire lately, either. It's not like they can monetize HD2's in most cases. So it's bye-bye HD2 and HD3.
 
OK, if the HD is higher fidelity than the analog FM, why would a company cut out an HD2 specifically to make the HD1 sound a bit better, as has been suggested upthread?
The decision to increase the digital quality of an HD1 by eliminating the bits used by ancillary HD-channels is probably made at the local level. It wouldn't surprise me if iHeart has given stations the permission to make that call. Would the change be that noticeable? That likely depends on the format and whether local listeners have been nit-picky about the quality of specifically the HD1 portion.
Especially when the majority of FM listening is still probably done via the analog signal.
All HD-capable tuners switch between the digital and analog audio automatically as conditions dictate. To say most people probably listen to the primary analog audio or HD1 stream is probably fair, but there's no way of knowing whether they're hearing analog or HD-1 and for how long. The watermark/encoding for ratings is the same.
And would the average listener buy an HD radio, or switch one on, just for that extra fidelity?
The vast majority of new HD radios are sold as part of vehicle purchases. It's safe to say that few consumers will ever actively seek purchasing new radios.
 
The vast majority of new HD radios are sold as part of vehicle purchases. It's safe to say that few consumers will ever actively seek purchasing new radios.
Which is a shame, since those are the consumers most likely to explore the "stations between the stations." The average buyers of new cars are the least, especially if HD comes as part of the standard radio -- and extra especially if those new cars come with SiriusXM, which has content that HD subchannel can never match. (And yes. Sound quality. Blah blah. It sucks but mostly audiophiles are the only people who care. Cassettes and MP3s would never have caught on if all people had the sensitive ears that audiophiles delude themselves into believing the public has.
 
Which is a shame, since those are the consumers most likely to explore the "stations between the stations."
Which, I believe, was the dumbest, most cryptic on-radio promotion-ever. Just tell people what's on the channel. Don't be obtuse.
The average buyers of new cars are the least, especially if HD comes as part of the standard radio -- and extra especially if those new cars come with SiriusXM, which has content that HD subchannel can never match.
SXM is subscription. Bet a lot of the population will listen through the trial and not continue. Alternate HD channels are just there, mainly found by just searching the dial for what's on.
(And yes. Sound quality. Blah blah. It sucks but mostly audiophiles are the only people who care.
And, they are how small of percentage of media consumers?
Cassettes and MP3s would never have caught on if all people had the sensitive ears that audiophiles delude themselves into believing the public has.
Just like smartphones and smartspeakers, cassettes and MP3 were popular because of convenience. Nothing has changed other than the technology. Convenience wins every time. Why go out and buy a portable radio, when your phone does so much more?
 
Which, I believe, was the dumbest, most cryptic on-radio promotion-ever. Just tell people what's on the channel. Don't be obtuse.
As I mentioned before, that campaign was one of the principle reasons why I recommended to HBC that we drop out of the HD Alliance. I was our group's delegate to the Alliance, and was not well liked by the chairpeople as I was skeptical of the campaign and did not like the collusion-like decisions on "who got to do which formats" on HD.
SXM is subscription. Bet a lot of the population will listen through the trial and not continue. Alternate HD channels are just there, mainly found by just searching the dial for what's on.
And even for my .75 Century hearing, the audio is dreadful. But this year I called to cancel all our cars, and went through 4 distinct "we have a special package" levels and two different people. By continuing to say, I just want to cancel, I reduced the annual fee by about 75%. If they try to increase me next year, I will cancel. There are a few channels I can't get via local radio (my cars do not stream easily and there are many dropout areas where I live) such as the BBC and classic country, but I think I will survive without my daily dose of Randy Travis and Mary Chapin Carpinter.
And, they are how small of percentage of media consumers?
Not enough to create a profitable service target.
Just like smartphones and smartspeakers, cassettes and MP3 were popular because of convenience. Nothing has changed other than the technology. Convenience wins every time. Why go out and buy a portable radio, when your phone does so much more?
And the most common thing people said in research projects early on in the smartphone era: "I can't / won't carry two devices in my pocket / purse... that is too much to deal with."
 
Im disappointed that Iheart is reducing their hd sub channels on stations across America. Here in Atlanta 94.9 shut down HD 2 and 3 so the Breeze and The Lake formats are gone from over the air radio. 96.1 ditched a BIN simulcast and Beat simulcast but at least still offers a different format on 96.1 HD2. Many Atlanta stations only offer HD1 like 95.5, 100.5, 101.5, 104.1 105.3. Even in the surround markets many of HD sub channels on Iheart radio stations have gone away. I know this impacts very few people but airing iheart radio app stations on HD sub channels is going away. Salem, Cox, Urban One, Audacy and EMF are using most sub channel options in the market. Not sure what Cumulus in the new year will do with 99x on 99.7 HD2 with the format now on 100.5 but it would help expand past the 100.5 signal limitations but 98.9 would be a waste of a translator so we will see.
I’m not seeing that in the Los Angeles market
 
It's true, iHeart has eliminated some HD stations, such as removing The Breeze from all markets except Las Vegas, which has KSNE-HD2 as its flagship station.

But I think most large markets have BIN on an HD subchannel. And most iHeart spoken word stations that are on AM have an HD subchannel as well so they can be heard on FM.

In NYC, BIN is on WWPR-HD3. WOR is on WAXQ-HD2.

In Los Angeles, BIN is on KRRL-HD2, KFI is on KOST-HD2.

In Boston, WBZ is on WXKS-FM-HD2, WXKS is on WXKS-FM-HD3, WRKO is on WZLX-HD2. But I don't think BIN is on an HD subchannel in Boston.
 
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"Kalle" or "Calle" is a term meaning "street feel" or "street smarts" or, in context, what we used to call "hip".

Like all vernacular, terms like that have a short street life.

"Juan es bien calle" means Johnny is very much a street guy, he's got cred, he is hip or cool.

If I said "Q-102 es horriblemente calle" I might mean that Q-102 is terribly vulgar and common sounding. It all depends on context.
Here in the AZ southwest over half the older street names begin with "Calle" (ki-YAY).
 
It's true, iHeart has eliminated some HD stations, such as removing The Breeze from all markets except Las Vegas, which has KSNE-HD2 as its flagship station.

But I think most large markets have BIN on an HD subchannel. And most iHeart spoken word stations that are on AM have an HD subchannel as well so they can be heard on FM.

In NYC, BIN is on WWPR-HD3. WOR is on WAXQ-HD2.

In Los Angeles, BIN is on KRRL-HD2, KFI is on KOST-HD2.

In Boston, WBZ is on WXKS-FM-HD2, WXKS is on WXKS-FM-HD3, WRKO is on WZLX-HD2. But I don't think BIN is on an HD subchannel in Boston.
But Atlanta has the highest percentage of black people in major markets and yet Iheart pulled Black Information Network from an HD sub channel of 96.1 fm. Its still on AM 640 but am is mostly dead
 
But Atlanta has the highest percentage of black people in major markets and yet Iheart pulled Black Information Network from an HD sub channel of 96.1 FM. Its still on AM 640 but am is mostly dead
Not more than Memphis or Jackson.
 
Not more than Memphis or Jackson.
Memphis, a PPM market, is almost 50% Black. In fact, the usual top four are all Black-oriented. However, in the most recent survey, 104.5 the River did break ahead of two of the usual top four.

AFAIK, Detroit (between 20-25% Black) has never had BIN on an HD2 despite there being an in-market AM running BIN. Conversely, iHeart in Grand Rapids/Muskegon has three spoken word AM's and all of them are on FM (either simulcasting on analog/HD1 FM (WOOD) or on an HD2 (WKBZ [on WOOD-HD2] and WTKG [on WMAX-HD2])
 
Those are not major or top 50. Memphis is 51. According to Neilson Atlanta has 1.8 million blacks which is the highest overall number 12+ outside of NYC which has 3 times the population.
What matters is the percentage of an ethnic group´of the local population. Because each market has a different total population, the only basis for comparison of any subset is based on percentage, not total persons.

And Memphis at 51 is well within the range of the lower population PPM markets. At 1.45 million, Memphis is quite comparable with the 1.5 million of New Orleans or 1.55 of Oklahoma City, #50 and #49.

Also, when looking at markets, Nielsen's MSA is not the same as the Census MSA. One, the Census Metropolitan Statistical Area, is based on commerce. The Nielsen Metro Survey Area is primarily based on radio listening, and the two can be quite different.
 
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