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6/9/10 - DCRTV hears that Baltimore rocker 98 Rock, WIYY, has put the signal of its Hearst sister news talker WBAL, 1090 AM, on the digital HD Radio HD4 channel of its 97.9 FM signal. Along with the already established digital 98 Rock main signal on its HD1, Classic 98 Rock on the HD2, and Indie 97.9 on the HD3.....
5/14/10 -
American University's news talk WAMU hikes the power of its digital HD Radio signal from 170-watts to 680-watts, which should improve the reception somewhat for Bluegrass Country on 88.5's HD2 and the station's additional news talk stream on 88.5's HD3. That new digital power level is just 4 percent of the power of the station's main analog signal. According to wamu.org: "The increased digital signal will improve coverage in areas where dropouts of HD Radio signal had occurred previously, increase penetration into buildings where listeners had to carefully locate radios and antennas for dropout free reception, and extend the distance over which the HD Radio signal can be received".....4/5/09 - Citadel is now relaying news talk WMAL, 630 AM, on the FM digital "HD Radio" HD2 subchannel of sister hot adult contemporary WRQX, 107.3 FM.....
11/20/08 - Some HD Radio digital additions for CBS's urban contemporary WPGC. On 95.5 FM's HD2 we now get Crank, a sort of free-form hip-hop channel. "It is almost wholly programmed with artists from the DMV," we're told. (Ah, "DMV" refers to DC, MD, and VA - not where you get your auto tags renewed.) And, on 95.5's HD3 there's a relay of 1580 AM's new "Big Talker" talk format.....
11/2/08 - Some local digital HD Radio news for the 10 or so folks actually listening to it. It seems that rocker DC101 has dropped its carriage of eclectic rock erockster from its HD2 channel. It's now offering nothing but its main signal in digital. Over at classic rock WTGB, the Globe, the alt rock HD2 is back to a separate classic rock stream of tunes. Also, when we checked on Sunday, Hot 99.5's contemporary hit HD2, which had been missing the past few days, was back - broadcasting silence. Also missing for the past few days - all-news WTOP's iChannel rock stream on 103.5's HD2 and the traffic and weather stream on HD3. Rush out right now and buy an HD Radio so you can hear what you aren't missing.....
10/23/08 - I just did a band scan of available digital HD Radio channels at my location in Reston VA. In a second floor, east-facing room using a rabbit ears antenna. And I find a number of stations that used to offer HD Radio signals are no longer offering them, or they're unreceivable at my location. These include 90.1, 95.5, 98.7, 100.3, 102.3, 105.9, and 106.7. Only six stations that I can receive offer one or two additional channels, in addition to their main signal. Here's the line-up:
88.5 WAMU HD1 - main news talk signal
88.5 WAMU HD2 - Bluegrass Country
88.5 WAMU HD3 - additional news talk
90.9 WETA HD1 - main classical signal
93.9 WKYS HD1 - main urban signal
94.7 WTGB HD1 - main classic rock signal
94.7 WTGB HD2 - alt rock
96.3 WHUR HD1 - main adult urban signal
96.3 WHUR HD2 - WHUR World
97.1 WASH HD1 - main adult contemporary signal
97.1 WASH HD2 - smooth jazz
99.5 WIHT HD1 - main contemporary signal
99.5 WIHT HD2 - additional contemporary stream
101.1 WWDC HD1 - main rock signal
101.1 WWDC HD2 - erockster alt rock
103.5 WTOP HD1 - main news signal
103.5 WTOP HD2 - iChannel alt rock
103.5 WTOP HD3 - traffic/weather
107.3 WRQX HD1 - main hot adult contemporary signal
That's it folks. Yes, I do love 94.7's alt rock, 101.1's erockster, and 88.5's second news talk channel, but there still isn't much to listen to on HD Radio at my location in the DC area. Still can't get any of the Baltimore HD Radio signals, including WIYY's cool classic and alt rock channels, at my location.....
9/23/08 - CBS has put alternative rock back on 94.7's HD2. The WTGB digital subchannel had been running Rolling Stones tunes 24/7 for the past few weeks. The main 94.7 signal recently got tweaked from alt-ish rock back to classic rock.....
9/17/08 - Bonneville has signed a deal with WorldBand Media to provide "customized ethnic programming" on the digital HD Radio HD2 subchannel of WTOP's 103.5 FM frequency. Replacing the indie rock iChannel service. The South Asian programming will be aimed at the 200,000-ish residents of the DC area who trace their heritage to India and neighboring nations. No word on the start date. The WTOP traffic and weather service on 103.5's HD3 will continue.....
9/2/08 - It appears that CBS's classic rock 94.7, the Globe, has transformed its digital HD2 classic rock stream into an all-Rolling Stones channel. A WTGB suit tells us that the station will be featuring the music of the classic rock band "for the near term"....
7/9/08 - I hate to praise the evil rotten corporate bastards at Clear Channel, or the empty company suits who run DC's generic-sounding rocker DC101, but WWDC-FM's HD2 channel is absolutely magnificent, brilliant, and fantastic. If you're looking for adventurous progressive-ish rock, mixed with other cool genres in a fuckingly cool and imaginative way, with no commercials, then erockster is for you. It makes CBS Radio's the Globe 94.7 sound like a deflated beach ball slumping in the window of a dullish beach supplies store managed by Dan Mason. If you love really "out there" alt rock on the electronic and psychedelic fringe, and love to be sonically surprised, like I do, erockster alone is worth the several hundred bucks for an HD Radio. But why do that? You can listen for free on the erockster's website. Wow.....
5/6/08 - DCRTV plops erockster.com on its digital radio HD2 subchannel. Lots of indie rock, plus Brit pop, dance, and more. We heard Cut Copy, Nirvana, Weezer, White Stripes, Bjork, and Bloc Party. More at dc101.com.....
2/10/08 - In the DC Post, Marc Fisher looks at the slim-pickings on HD Radio in DC. Apart from WHUR and WAMU, most stations offer little more than canned-sounding, under-promoted alternatives on their additional broadcast digital channels. "It's still an evolving technology," says Dan DeVany, general manager of WETA (90.9 FM), the public classical music station, which has no extra HD channel. "I'd like to see more of those (receiver) units sold before we'd plan anything".....
12/20/07 - DCRTV told you a few months back that CBS was planning to replace the alternative rock on 94.7's HD2 channel with classic rock and oldies, a la shades of the old WARW. And it looks like that's happened. The main 94.7 signal still carries the alt rockish sounds of The Globe, WTGB, which replaced WARW back in February.....
8/20/07 - HD Radio Sales Growth "Disappointing" - A study by influential Bridge Ratings sends out warning signals for HD Radio. Growth of the free broadcast digital service developed by Columbia MD's iBiquity is described as "the most disappointing highlight of (a recent) study" because interest has yet to "gain traction" in terms of sales growth. "Consumer awareness of HD Radio continues to grow impressively, but consumer interest in owning or listening to HD Radio continues to decline." Only 7 percent in July expressed that they are "very interested" in owning an HD Radio, down from 9 percent in January, according to Bridge. While HD Radio is free of subscription fees, receivers can costs upwards of $300.....
7/16/07 - Current HD Radio Offerings In DC and Baltimore:
FM
88.5 WAMU HD1 main news/talk signal
88.5 WAMU HD2 alternative rock WTMD
88.5 WAMU HD3 bluegrass "Bluegrass Country"
90.1 WCSP HD1 main news/talk signal
90.9 WETA HD1 main classical signal
93.1 WPOC HD1 main country signal
93.1 WPOC HD2 future country
93.3 WFLS HD1 main country signal
93.3 WFLS HD2 classic country
94.7 WTGB HD1 main alternative rock signal
94.7 WTGB HD2 alternative rock "The Jam"
95.5 WPGC HD1 main urban contemporary signal
95.5 WPGC HD2 gospel
95.9 WWIN HD1 main adult urban contemporary signal
96.3 WHUR HD1 main urban adult contemporary signal
96.3 WHUR HD2 urban adult contemporary "WHUR World"
97.1 WASH HD1 main adult contemporary signal
97.1 WASH HD2 easy listening
97.1 WASH HD3 talk WWRC
97.9 WIYY HD1 main rock signal
97.9 WIYY HD2 classic rock
97.9 WIYY HD3 alternative rock
98.7 WMZQ HD1 main country signal
98.7 WMZQ HD2 classic country
98.7 WMZQ HD3 talk WTNT
99.5 WIHT HD1 main contemporary hit signal
99.5 WIHT HD2 new contemporary hits
99.9 WFRE HD1 main country signal
99.9 WFRE HD2 rockin' country
101.1 WWDC HD1 main rock signal
101.1 WWDC HD2 alternative rock
102.3 WMMJ HD1 main urban adult contemporary signal
102.7 WQSR HD1 main classic hits signal
102.7 WQSR HD2 sports talk
103.5 WTOP HD1 main news signal
103.5 WTOP HD2 unsigned rock "iChannel"
104.3 WSMJ HD1 main smooth jazz signal
104.3 WSMJ HD2 womens talk
105.7 WHFS HD1 main talk signal
105.7 WHFS HD2 alternative rock
105.9 WJZW HD1 main smooth jazz signal
105.9 WJZW HD2 smooth jazz "Sunday Brunch"
106.5 WWMX HD1 main hot adult contemporary signal
106.5 WWMX HD2 contemporary hit
106.7 WJFK HD1 main talk signal
107.3 WRQX HD1 main hot adult contemporary signal
AM
570 WTNT HD1 main talk signal
600 WCAO HD1 main gospel signal
630 WMAL HD1 main news talk signal
980 WTEM HD1 main sports talk signal
1500 WTWP HD1 main news talk signal
6/29/07 - Citadel news talker WMAL (630 AM) fired up its new HD Radio transmitter today at about 2 PM. Coming in loud and oh so clear in digital here at the DCRTV World HQ just off the Dulles Toll Road in Wild West Fairfax.....
6/28/07 - Clear Channel's adult contemporary WASH (97.1 FM) is now relaying the lefty talk signal of sister WWRC (1260 AM) on its third HD Radio digital channel. That's good news for many in DC's western suburbs, who can't get Progressive Talk 1260's signal after dark. WASH continues to offer a nostalgic music stream on its second HD channel.....
6/21/07 - DCRTV notes that CBS talker WJFK-FM (106.7) is now running its main signal in digital HD Radio. We hear that an HD2 subchannel channel is in the works, but no launch date has been set. DCRTV has suggested a 1970s/1980s oldies channel programmed by afternoon man and "top 40" WPGC/WLS veteran Don Geronimo, but we have no idea if that's actually being considered.....
5/14/07 - Some of your friendly webmaster's ideas for some cool new HD2 digital channels. All I ask is that if any of my ideas are used, the owners of the radio stations made a big fat donation to DCRTV. I've focused on DC stations. Will do some Baltimore ones later.....
89.3 WPFW HD2 - "PFW's Just Jazz" - hardcore jazz 24/7
90.1 WCSP HD2 - "BBC World Service" - non-comm news from the Brits
90.9 WETA HD2 - "Viva La Voce" - a rebirth of WGMS's opera service
93.9 WKYS HD2 - "Disco 939" - classic disco and current dance music
94.7 WTGB HD2 - "Cerphe's Up" - rock tunes programmed by Don Cerphe Colwell
95.5 WPGC HD2 - "Jammin' Oldies" - classic soul from the '60s and '70s
99.5 WIHT HD2 - "The Lavender Lounge" - gay talk and music
100.3 WBIG HD2 - "The Deep End" - deep cuts classic rock, like the Sunday show
101.1 WWDC HD2 - "Elliot Radio" - "best of" Elliot bits, shows from his cast of characters
102.3 WMMJ HD2 - "Motown Moments" - nothing but the sounds of Motown Records
103.5 WTOP HD2 - "WTOP Traffic" - non-stop traffic and transit reports
106.7 WJFK HD2 - "Don Geronimo's Musicradio" - classic top 40 from the "radio god"
107.3 WRQX HD2 - "Q107 Retro Pop" - New Wave classics from the 1980s
4/18/07 - Bonneville, which is in the midst of a "gigantic rebuild" of all-newser WTOP's "Glass Enclosed Nerve Center," plans to soon unveil some additional HD Radio offerings. Including a rock music service called "iChannel," which will feature "unsigned bands from all over the country." That will be heard via WTOP's DC-based 103.5 digital signal, along with the existing HD channel featuring the adult hits of "George," which was banished from the regular radio frequency of 104.1 earlier this month. Also, look for a like country music service featuring unsigned bands debuting on the digital signal of Bonneville's Warrenton-based 107.7, which carries Washington Post Radio.....
4/11/07 - So, so your trusty webmaster finally got his hands on a digital HD Radio. Here's what I got at my condo in Reston VA with the radio's supplied portable antennas. I couldn't receive any HD Radio signals on AM, although the radio did seem to indicate that it was trying to receive digital signals on WTEM/980 and WTWP/1500, but it couldn't lock in. I did receive the following HD Radio FM signals at my location. While I could receive WIYY's Baltimore analog signal on 97.9, the digital versions didn't make it to my Northern Virginia location.....
88.5 WAMU HD1 main news/talk signal
88.5 WAMU HD2 alternative rock WTMD
88.5 WAMU HD3 bluegrass "Bluegrass Country"
90.1 WCSP HD1 main news/talk signal
90.9 WETA HD1 main classical signal
94.7 WTGB HD1 main alt rock signal
94.7 WTGB HD2 alt rock "The Jam"
95.5 WPGC HD1 main urban contemporary signal
95.5 WPGC HD2 gospel
96.3 WHUR HD1 main urban adult contemporary signal
96.3 WHUR HD2 urban adult contemporary "WHUR World"
97.1 WASH HD1 main adult contemporary signal
97.1 WASH HD2 easy listening
98.7 WMZQ HD1 main country signal
98.7 WMZQ HD2 classic country
99.5 WIHT HD1 main contemporary hit signal
99.5 WIHT HD2 new contemporary hits
101.1 WWDC HD1 main rock signal
101.1 WWDC HD2 alternative rock
102.3 WMMJ HD1 main urban adult contemporary signal
103.5 WTOP HD1 main news signal
103.5 WTOP HD2 adult hits "George"
105.9 WJZW HD1 main smooth jazz signal
105.9 WJZW HD2 smooth jazz "Sunday Brunch"
107.3 WRQX HD1 main hot adult contemporary signal
As you can see above, there's not a lot of new stuff available if you've got an HD Radio. Most digital signals are merely a relay of the station's main analog signal. Also, don't expect to receive digital signals of more distant stations. Here in Northern Virginia, I can receive a half dozen Baltimore analog FM signals. But absolutely none of their digital variations. If you've got an HD Radio, let me know what your reception is like. E-mail me, Dave Hughes, at dcrtv@dcrtv.com.....
