Beginning Aug. 1, Clear Channel Satellite will offer Ku band service, enabling stations to receive their programming using Pro1 and Pro4 XDS receivers, but with a much smaller satellite dish.
Clear Channel Satellite President/GM Mike Hagans said the new Ku band service positions the company to distribute audio networks for retail and is cost-effective for radio networks that do not have space for a big C band dish. Ku band is also a good replacement for networks currently using legacy SCPC gear, added Hagans.
“Radio networks have to invest a lot of capital when building an earth station at their facility. By simply backhauling the audio content to our X-Digital Hub, it eliminates that major expense while increasing their margins,” said Clear Channel Satellite Sales Manager Monty Dent.
The X-Digital satellite receivers allow for live broadcasts, store and forward, copy split/spot insertion — localized advertising, live audio record/playback (time-shifting) and addressability.
Clear Channel Satellite’s primary uplink network is located near Denver, Colo.