Just try and find us now
Tomorrow, WWLS-FM, the FM side of the Sports Animal, will move to 97.9, displacing KKWD, the erstwhile Wild 97.9, which will set up shop at the vacated 104.9 spot.
Precisely why this is being done is unclear to me: both of these are 6-kw facilities with essentially identical coverage areas. KKWD is promoting the arrival of HD Radio at the new frequency, which is all very well and good, since according to Ibiquity, the 104.9 spot is already set up for HD. But this invites the question: why couldn’t Citadel add HD Radio at 97.9?
The answer, I’m guessing, has to do with adjacent-channel interference. Apparently the digital component of an HD Radio signal, while fitting within the assigned spectrum space, can leak over a channel (or two) in lower-quality receivers, which is most of them.
But I have other reservations about this entire digital-ish radio scheme. Robert Conrad heads up WCLV in Cleveland (coincidentally, at 104.9), and he’s not thrilled with it at all:
The initial appeal to the consumer was to be improved quality of sound. But, frankly, the difference between a high quality analog signal, such as WCLV’s classical music programming, and the HD signal is minimal. And with highly processed rock programming, you can’t tell any difference.
So what will be the appeal of HD? The answer is the additional programming channels on the HD2 and HD3 channels. However, there is a serious flaw. We were told back in the beginning that the HD coverage would be equal to the analog signal. Unfortunately, the industry is now finding out this is not the case, that the HD coverage is considerably less, something like 60% of the analog coverage. We’ve also found that even in a strong HD signal area, a dipole antenna is required.
We were also told that the HD would lessen interference with adjacent channel signals. That also appears not to be the case.
This is really very discouraging and is leading us to wonder why we should bother to promote HD. To do so will only disappoint, and, perhaps, antagonize a significant segment of the audience who finds that the system doesn’t deliver.
No Oklahoma City station is using the HD2/HD3 channels for alternate programming, so far as I know. (Clear Channel’s Tulsa FMs are.)
And if you thought HD in radio meant the same thing as HD in television, think again:
“Quite honestly, it doesn’t stand for anything,” said Peter Ferrera, president and CEO of the HD Digital Radio Alliance. “The concept was somewhat of a steal from HD television, where viewers know it means better quality.”
I will, of course, keep one preset for the Sports Animal: on AM, at 640.
Rocket Jones »
26 October 2006 · 8:47 pm
It’s all in the name
From Dustbury: And if you thought HD in radio meant the same thing as HD in television, think again: “Quite honestly, it doesn’t stand for anything,” said Peter Ferrera, president and CEO of the HD Digital Radio Alliance. “The concept…