More than 35 radio groups in 40 U.S. markets plan to convert their plants to in-band terrestrial digital radio this year, most of them by the end of February.
“We exceeded all of our expectations,” said Ibiquity’s Bob Struble at the CES show in Las Vegas.
Ibiquity Digital Corp. and the groups reached agreements on which stations received waivers from the technology licensing fees and also on which specific stations would convert this year.
Struble said Ibiquity was pleasantly surprised that not only large groups plan to go “HD” this year, but so do stations in mid-sized and smaller markets.
In a big splash at CES, Ibiquity revealed that broadcast groups and stations in 40 markets, spanning 26 states and 20 formats, will begin broadcasting using its HD Radio technology on AM and FM stations in early 2003.
Markets include New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Philadelphia, Houston, Boston, Detroit, Atlanta, Miami, Seattle, Baltimore, Tampa-St. Petersburg, Cleveland, Cincinnati, San Jose, Milwaukee, Middlesex-Somerset-Union, N.J., New Orleans, Raleigh, West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, Monmouth-Ocean, N.J., Louisville, Richmond, Birmingham, Greenville-Spartanburg S.C., Syracuse, Ft. Wayne Ind., Roanoke-Lynchburg, Morristown N.J., Jackson Miss., Charleston W.Va., Morgantown W.Va., Cedar Rapids and Lafayette, Ind.
Four unranked markets will also have HD Radio services: Forest and Raymond, Va.; Price, Utah; and White Oak, Ga.
35 Groups, 40 Markets Will Have HD Radio in Coming Weeks
35 Groups, 40 Markets Will Have HD Radio in Coming Weeks
