Commercial HD Radio Sales Begin

Politicians, business people, other VIPs – all this for digital radios?
On Monday (Jan. 5), the first big box chain starts selling the radios. Ultimate Electronics in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, begins selling the Kenwood KTC-HR 100 as part of a promotion with KZIA(FM) in that city.
The event kicks off HD Radio’s commercial introduction, which will more formally take place on Wednesday Jan. 7 during the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. (Kenwood USA already has been selling HD Radios in limited quantities to independent retailers.)
Expected to be on-hand Monday are the mayor of Cedar Rapids Mayor Paul Pate, KZIA(FM) EVP Rob Norton, CEO Ultimate Electronics Dave Workman, Kenwood USA EVP Dan Petersen, Ibiquity Digital President/CEO Robert Struble, KZIA(FM) President/GM Eliot Keller and KMRY(AM) owner Rick Sellers.
KMRY plans to convert its plant to HD Radio soon. Sellers is on the board of the Iowa Broadcasters Association.