Last modified: Monday, July 21, 2008
WFIU 103.7 FM is first Bloomington radio station with multiple channels on HD Radio
FOR IMMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2008
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- WFIU 103.7 FM, Bloomington's NPR affiliate public radio station, is the first in Bloomington to take advantage of the "multicasting" capabilities of HD Radio Technology.
WFIU began digitally broadcasting CD-quality sound on its main channel in May 2005. Now, the station is offering an additional channel -- WFIU HD-2 -- to essentially double the programming already heard on the 103.7 FM signal.
With HD Radio, stations can create additional digital radio channels on a single FM frequency. In order to receive WFIU HD-2, listeners will need an HD Radio receiver capable of accepting an HD signal. The content on WFIU HD-2 is also available for streaming online at https://wfiu.org.
The two channels complement one other: When one carries talk, the other carries music. If listeners are happy with the original signal, then the regular WFIU signal will continue to work just fine -- but the potential of listening to new programs might encourage listeners to try an HD Radio.
The new, second digital channel allows WFIU to bring more information and music programs to the WFIU program lineup. The WFIU HD-2 schedule includes news and talk programs not previously heard in the Bloomington market, such as "The Diane Rehm Show," "Talk of the Nation," "World Have Your Say," "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me," "Whad'ya Know" and many more. Additionally, some popular programs broadcast on the station's original broadcast signal are aired at a different time slot on HD-2.
For various technical reasons and FCC restrictions, the second audio channel is not currently available at any of WFIU's translator communities, Columbus, French Lick/West Baden, Greensburg, Kokomo, or Terre Haute, something WFIU hopes will change.
HD Radios are available online as well as at several local electronics merchants. WFIU has several HD Radio models on display at the station. Listeners are welcome to drop by the station during normal business hours and inspect them. More information about HD Radio is also available on the WFIU Web site at https://wfiu.org.
WFIU's conversion to digital radio was funded in part by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and the many listeners who joined Sandy and Fred Churchill in establishing the WFIU Future Fund, whose investment made it possible to bring this new technology to WFIU Public Radio.
Interviews and HD Radio demonstrations are available with Christina Kuzmych, station manager, WFIU-FM. For more information, please contact Scott Witzke, marketing director, at 812-855-0198 or scwitzke@indiana.edu.
