What the best HD-2 content and HD-3 content on Boston HD Radio?

[thezak]

What's the best HD-2 content and HD-3 content on Boston Hybridized Digital-analog HD Radio?... besides WERS-FM Boston 88.9MHz HD-2 Standing Room Only for example.

 

[Wimmmex]

What's the best HD-2 content and HD-3 content on Boston Hybridized Digital-analog HD Radio?... besides WERS-FM Boston 88.9MHz HD-2 Standing Room Only for example.

I guess it's a personal decision......"Standing Room Only" on WERS-HD2 is great...in small doses. ;-)

Personally, I like "The Cove" on WODS-HD3. Soft and relaxing love songs. You can leave it on all day.

It's on 103.3-HD3....or online at:

http://mix1041.cbslocal.com/wods-hd2wods-hd3/

 

[Eli Polonsky]

What's the best HD-2 content and HD-3 content on Boston Hybridized Digital-analog HD Radio?... besides WERS-FM Boston 88.9MHz HD-2 Standing Room Only for example.

I like the "Rsdio Mojo" all blues and blues-rock channel on 100.7 WZLX HD2, programmed by Carter Alan.

Also, good to hear the playlist from the old WODS "Oldies 103.3" (though unfortunately without the great DJ's it used to have) on their HD2, because it plays some of the R&B/Soul hits and pop hits not played on Classic Hits WROR.

People into Irish music have a niche on "The Irish Channel" on 96.9 WBQT HD2.

89.7 WGBH HD2, rebroadcasting WCRB, is invaluable for classical music listeners in many areas around greater Boston where the 99.5 WCRB signal transmitting from Andover does not come in well. When my mom, a lifelong classical listener, complained of poor reception of 99.5 living behind a north-blocking hill in Newton, I bought her an HD radio and she listens to it clean and clear on WGBH HD2. Possibly the only 89-year-old listening to HD radio daily in the area.

 

[thezak]

Regarding the radio, which Manufacturer's Model?...

 

[inorm99]

I like the "Rsdio Mojo" all blues and blues-rock channel on 100.7 WZLX HD2, programmed by Carter Alan.

Also, good to hear the playlist from the old WODS "Oldies 103.3" (though unfortunately without the great DJ's it used to have) on their HD2, because it plays some of the R&B/Soul hits and pop hits not played on Classic Hits WROR.

People into Irish music have a niche on "The Irish Channel" on 96.9 WBQT HD2.

89.7 WGBH HD2, rebroadcasting WCRB, is invaluable for classical music listeners in many areas around greater Boston where the 99.5 WCRB signal transmitting from Andover does not come in well. When my mom, a lifelong classical listener, complained of poor reception of 99.5 living behind a north-blocking hill in Newton, I bought her an HD radio and she listens to it clean and clear on WGBH HD2. Possibly the only 89-year-old listening to HD radio daily in the area.

Yes, I'm glad radio mojo is on WZLX HD 2. I'm still really pissed that CBS froze out Freeform BCN. I don't listen to lounge on that frequency.
Without DJ's, WBZ HD 2, is No WBCN.
I'm glad WBZ AM is carried on WBZ HD3.
I'm glad Bloomberg Boston is still on 94.5 for now, because when they go away, I won't be able to hear it reliably in 92.9 HD2 at my home in Boxborough. Despite the liners, WRCA 1330 DOES NOT cover metro west un addition to the south shore.
I like WROR HD2, The bone

 

[Eli Polonsky]

Yes, I'm glad radio mojo is on WZLX HD 2. I'm still really pissed that CBS froze out Freeform BCN. I don't listen to lounge on that frequency. Without DJ's, WBZ HD 2 is no WBCN.

"Freeform 'BCN" was the ONLY HD subchannel in the market that had a staff of paid DJ's, because as CBS is for-profit corporation, it was illegal for them to work as volunteers due to labor laws. However, with practically no promotion of HD subchannels and poor marketing of HD radios, there wasn't enough listenership to sell advertising to offset paying the DJ's, so it was a money loser and CBS shut it down. That's why practically all HD subchannels are automated programming, or simulcasts of other co-owned analog stations.

Everything on 100.7 HD3 "The Lounge", and much more variety from that era, can be heard in the Boston area on 740 AM and 101.3 FM WJIB.

WBZ-FM HD2 is also "no WBCN" not only because there are no DJ's, but also because the music doesn't reflect the whole spectrum of WBCN as a rock station that began in 1968 like the "Freeform 'BCN" channel did. The "WBCN Rock of Boston" HD2 channel is supposed to be a continuation of what WBCN 104.1 was doing when it went off of analog in 2009, a "modern alt-rock" format with a few hard rock classics sprinkled in.

 

[nowradioguy]

"Freeform 'BCN" was the ONLY HD sub-channel in the market that had a staff of paid DJ's, because as CBS is a for-profit corporation, it was illegal for them to work as volunteers due to labor laws. However, with practically no promotion of HD sub-channels and poor marketing of HD radios, there wasn't enough listenership to sell advertising to offset paying the DJ's, so it was a money loser and CBS shut it down. That's why practically all HD sub-channels are automated programming, or simulcasts of other co-owned analog stations.

So, refresh my memory on all these "stations between the stations" that were supposed to really overwhelm us with their innovative and alternative content. HD is either ahead of its time, or an idea that may never get its time in the spotlight.

 

[nowradioguy]

Also, good to hear the playlist from the old WODS "Oldies 103.3" (though unfortunately without the great DJ's it used to have) on their HD2, because it plays some of the R&B/Soul hits and pop hits not played on Classic Hits WROR.

I've tried listening to this via stream; it's not at all like the "Oldies 103" I remember from its heyday of 15 or more years ago.

And, without jocks, 103.3-HD2, as well as KFRC-HD2 (a much better offering, BTW), lacks the "intimacy" - I think they should also have included "immediacy" - of live AM radio that "connects" with the listeners, something brought up on Dan Rea's Tuesday program with Halper and Iovino (sp?).

 

[Wimmmex]

So, refresh my memory on all these "stations between the stations" that were supposed to really overwhelm us...

No, not at all. Just fill in some gaps. A few niche formats you can't get elsewhere.

 

[Eli Polonsky]

HD is either ahead of its time, or an idea that may never get its time in the spotlight.

I think HD subchannels are like the "new Millennium" version of what AM Stereo was like to the industry in the '80s/'90s. A possible platform for new types of music programming that they don't really want to develop at least partially because they could compete (or draw from) their established cash cow major analog FM stations.

 

[Eli Polonsky]

I've tried listening to this via stream; it's not at all like the "Oldies 103" I remember from its heyday of 15 or more years ago.

And, without jocks, 103.3-HD2, as well as KFRC-HD2 (a much better offering, BTW), lacks the "intimacy" - I think they should also have included "immediacy" - of live AM radio that "connects" with the listeners, something brought up on Dan Rea's Tuesday program with Halper and Iovino (sp?).

It's not the playlist from "Oldies 103's" heyday when it played Oldies from the '50s, '60s, and '70s 15+ years ago. It's more like the playlist at the end of the WODS "Classic Hits" of the late '60s, '70s, '80s format just before it was flipped to "Amp" CHR in 2012.

They don't have live DJ's for the reasons I posted above.

 

[Eli Polonsky]

So, refresh my memory on all these "stations between the stations" that were supposed to really overwhelm us with their innovative and alternative content .

There WAS some good variety on HD subchannels in the area in the mid-2000's, unfortunately none except "WBCN Free Form Rock" were developed beyond automated jukeboxes.

These are all GONE, and with the marketing and promotion of HD radio, very few people knew they existed!

92.9 WBOS HD2, first a very eclectic AAA playlist, then "Local 92.9", an outlet for all local Boston/New England rock.
93.7 WMKK HD2: "Star 93.7", classic disco and dance R&B.
94.5 WJMN HD2: "Old School Hip-Hop" from the late '70s, '80s, early '90s.
96.1 WSRS HD2: "Pride Radio", aimed at the LGBT community
100.7 WZLX HD2: "Deep Tracks and Lost Classics", deep AOR tracks mainly from the late '60s and '70s.
102.5 WKLB HD2: "Classic Country", from before country became just twangy pop.
104.1 WBCN HD3 first, then 100.7 WZLX HD3: "WBCN Free Form Rock". Great eclectic rock-based mix from the '60s to then-present.
105.7 WROR HD2: "Nothing But The '70s", "lost" '70s pop/rock hits.
106.7 WMJX HD2: "Smooth Jazz"
107.3 WAAF HD2: All LIVE rock, all from live in-concert albums.

 

[raccoonradio]

WBQT's Irish 96.9 is still around and got some exposure for awhile on 1330 and 106.1 before the format change to Bloomberg. At one time there were links on websites to Star 93.7, Irish 96.9, WKLB's Classic Country etc. however those links probably disappeared because streaming online costs money, correct? They may show up on TuneIn I think.

I have a $50 "tabletop" (can be portable with batteries) Insignia radio and sometimes will, for example, listen to WRKO via WEEI-FM's HD2, or something else... My car doesn't have HD radio but when I've rented sometimes it comes equipped with HD. When in Pittsburgh I'd cruise the dial and note things like the various oldies, sports, news, etc available. In some cases they get an HD4.
I don't know how accurate this is (found online) but to give you an idea--note btw that Pitt. as a lot of stations on the same frequencies as us!:

WLTJ 92.1
Q92.9
Adult Contemporary — 80s, 90s, 2K, & Today!

92.9-2
WLTJ-HD2
R&B

92.9-3
WLTJ-HD3
Rock

92.9-4
92.9 HD4
Adult Contemporary

93.7-1
93.7 The Fan
Sports

93.7-2
News Radio 1020 AM
News/Talk

93.7-3
KDKA HD3
News/Talk

94.5-1
94.5 3WS
Oldies

94.5-2
FM HD2 | WWSW
Real Oldies
Oldies

96.9-1
Bob FM
Adult Contemporary

96.9-2
Bob's B-Sides
Rock

96.9-3
FM HD3 | WRRK
Adult Contemporary

96.9-4
WRRK HD4
World/Variety

 

[thezak]

a) Listings at https://hdradio.com/stations could include WebLinks for listening to HD-2 broadcasts and HD-3 broadcasts online!

b) A well designed infographic of the Boston Radio Dial would make it easier for radio listeners!

c) Listings/a well designed table/a well designed chart of Boston Radio Dial early Sunday morning public services programming and other public service programming would make it easier for radio listeners to learn about public services programming of interest.

d) Listings/a well designed table/a well designed chart of less well known programming around the Boston Radio Dial would make it easier for radio listeners, for example WBZ-AM NewsRadio 1030's Reporters Roundup http://boston.cbslocal.com/audio/wbz-newsradio-1030-reporters-roundup/

e) Boston Broadcasters' Stations' marketing practices' priorities can be improved. Informed radio buffs' contributions can give greater attention to how a well designed infographic of the Boston Radio Dial might be designed.

 

[nowradioguy]

There WAS some good variety on HD subchannels in the area in the mid-2000's, unfortunately none except "WBCN Free Form Rock" were developed beyond automated jukeboxes.

These are all GONE, and with the marketing and promotion of HD radio, very few people knew they existed!

92.9 WBOS HD2, first a very eclectic AAA playlist, then "Local 92.9", an outlet for all local Boston/New England rock.
93.7 WMKK HD2: "Star 93.7", classic disco and dance R&B.
94.5 WJMN HD2: "Old School Hip-Hop" from the late '70s, '80s, early '90s.
96.1 WSRS HD2: "Pride Radio", aimed at the LGBT community
100.7 WZLX HD2: "Deep Tracks and Lost Classics", deep AOR tracks mainly from the late '60s and '70s.
102.5 WKLB HD2: "Classic Country", from before country became just twangy pop.
104.1 WBCN HD3 first, then 100.7 WZLX HD3: "WBCN Free Form Rock". Great eclectic rock-based mix from the '60s to then-present.
105.7 WROR HD2: "Nothing But The '70s", "lost" '70s pop/rock hits.
106.7 WMJX HD2: "Smooth Jazz"
107.3 WAAF HD2: All LIVE rock, all from live in-concert albums.

Eli,

Only because I've always loved radio did I know about - and even briefly tuned in to - many of the channels you listed here during the years my wife's car had HD. And, yes, some, not all, are also streamed. Again, those of us who love radio are in the minority, and we keep up as best we can, thanks in no small part to boards like this one and the other one. But the "general public" is almost totally in the dark about a lot of what is offered over the air. Another poster on this thread strongly suggested that better marketing on the part of station owners, and perhaps even a print and/or outdoor media campaign could certainly give the public a greater awareness of these "stations between the stations". Who knows? Awareness might actually increase, people might start listening, air time could be sold, live talent could be employed. (Sorry, I'm getting carried away here.)

 

[Eli Polonsky]

Another poster on this thread strongly suggested that better marketing on the part of station owners, and perhaps even a print and/or outdoor media campaign could certainly give the public a greater awareness of these "stations between the stations". Who knows? Awareness might actually increase, people might start listening, air time could be sold, live talent could be employed. (Sorry, I'm getting carried away here.)

It would be essential that the RECEIVERS would have to be marketed better as well, and not just in a few new cars.

No walk-in stores carry HD radios anymore, and when they did, most clerks at the chain stores thought they were some sort of satellite radios. Online sites that carry them new are now few and far between, and average listeners aren't going to seek them out used on eBay. People can hear most of them online, but they're competing with thousands of stations on the internet.

Not much use in promoting something people don't have the equipment to hear.

 

[Wimmmex]

It would be essential that the RECEIVERS would have to be marketed better as well, and not just in a few new cars.

No walk-in stores carry HD radios anymore

Not much use in promoting something people don't have the equipment to hear.

Well, they did market some radios in walk-in stores...and they realized NO ONE was walking into stores and buying radios of ANY kind. (When was the last time people went to look for a table-top radio...clock radio or a receiver for their stereo system?)

Cars are where all the new radios are in peoples lives. iBiquity doubled-down and concentrated on getting them into cars.

This way, people had access to HD without having to consciously thinking about it.

 

[nowradioguy]

Well, they did market some radios in walk-in stores...and they realized NO ONE was walking into stores and buying radios of ANY kind. (When was the last time people went to look for a table-top radio...clock radio or a receiver for their stereo system?)

Cars are where all the new radios are in peoples lives. iBiquity doubled-down and concentrated on getting them into cars.

This way, people had access to HD without having to consciously thinking about it.

Eli brings up a good point re availability of HD receivers. Stores like Best Buy and custom auto "radio" shops do feature after-market auto audio gear, but it's mostly for better audio, not necessarily RF diversity. Even satellite is hard to come by from makers like Pioneer, Alpine, et al; you have to buy an add-on from Sirius XM. Even radios with built-in satellite don't automatically give you HD on AM/FM. That radio in my wife's 2012 Beetle was a rare beauty; it had it all (AM, FM, HD on both bands, satellite), including decent sound.

Mobile devices are killing the desktop/laptop computers, Windows, MS Office, and even car radios, since you can plug in your precious mobile device and stream your favorite "station" or channel. Yeah, if you have unlimited data. WTF is going to happen when more people do this, and the mobile infrastructure can't handle it?

Technology bites.

 

[raccoonradio]

I walked into a Best Buy and got that $50 "tabletop" model

 

[nowradioguy]

I walked into a Best Buy and got that $50 "tabletop" model

Roughly, where are you, and how is it working out for you?