This recent announcement by Entercom Radio that it would add five stations in Kansas City compatible with the new HD Radio format is, I suppose, good news. The five music channels -- yours to enjoy if you go out and buy an HD Radio receiver -- include two formats (classical and smooth jazz) that Entercom used to carry on its FM stations in Kansas City, but dropped because their sales staff, who are programmed to sell rock and talk, couldn't make it work. (The classical station was especially galling, as it was pulling down a 4 share at the time it was turned into a pop-rock station , which would barely muster a 2 share.)
So, yes, the formats will be back and will sound better than ever. But what's this about "offering more local choices"? No. What it's offering is a local broadcast alternative to XM and Sirius, satellite radio services that already broadcast in high-fidelity stereo all sorts of music formats (dozens, not just a handful), commercial-free always (Entercom only promises that "the new programming will debut commercial-free") to devices you have to go out and buy (though I have seen satellite radio receivers as giveaways to those who sign subscription deals).
"Local" used to mean some of the programming was local. News, say. Or a remote from a local vendor (I always liked those; not sure why but those never felt like advertising, and as a kid I liked to drop in on remotes for the prizes). But that's not in the cards here, I suspect. It won't fit the business model. That will make "local radio" even more like "local cable TV" or "local shopping center" -- so-called municipal franchises propped up entirely by national chains. Eh.
ENTERCOM KANSAS CITY ANNOUNCES ROLLOUT OF HD DIGITAL RADIO CHANNELS
LIVE
ROCK, SMOOTH JAZZ, CLASSICAL, DEEP TRACKS AND COMEDY FORMATS LAUNCHING
AS PART OF INDUSTRY-WIDE HD RADIO NEW CHANNEL ROLLOUT
Kansas City, Kansas – April 25, 2006 – Entercom Communications
Corp. (NYSE:ETM), which owns and operates over 100 radio stations
across the country including Kansas City’s KQRC, WDAF, KUDL, KYYS and
KRBZ today announced that it will provide new and unique entertainment
choices to listeners in HD Digital Radio. Entercom will be launching
five new stations featuring live rock, smooth jazz, classical, deep
tracks and comedy. In addition, other local broadcasters will be adding
a substantial number of additional new channels for listeners.
THE DIVERSE, NEW PROGRAMMING IS DESIGNED TO OFFER MORE LOCAL
CHOICES AND ENHANCE CONSUMERS’ RADIO LISTENING EXPERIENCES IN THE HOME,
CAR OR WORK. THE NEW PROGRAMMING WILL DEBUT COMMERCIAL-FREE.
ENTERCOM KANSAS CITY VP/MARKET MANAGER, CINDY SCHLOSS, SAID, “HD
RADIO IS THE LATEST INNOVATION BY A MEDIUM THAT HAS ALWAYS PIONEERED
GREAT FREE ENTERTAINMENT AND INFORMATIVE PROGRAMMING. ENTERCOM KANSAS
CITY HAS CHOSEN FORMATS TO PROVIDE OUR LISTENERS WITH FORMAT CHOICES
THAT WERE MADE WITH SELECTION AND DIVERSITY IN MIND.”
TECHNOLOGY APPROVED BY FEDERAL REGULATORS IN 2002 SHARPLY IMPROVES
SOUND QUALITY AND ALLOWS FM STATIONS TO EXPAND PROGRAMMING WITH EXTRA
FREE CHANNELS. TO LISTEN TO THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY, LISTENERS WILL NEED TO
PURCHASE AN HD RADIO RECEIVER EQUIPPED TO RECEIVE MULTICASTS. THE NEW
CHANNELS DO NOT REQUIRE ANY SUBSCRIPTION OR ADDITIONAL FEE BEYOND THE
PURCHASE OF THE NEW HD-READY RECEIVER, WHICH CAN BE PURCHASED AT
WWW.HDRADIO.COM.
ENTERCOM IS A MEMBER OF THE HD DIGITAL RADIO ALLIANCE, A JOINT
INITIATIVE OF LEADING RADIO BROADCASTERS FOCUSED ON ACCELERATING THE
SUCCESSFUL ROLLOUT OF HD DIGITAL RADIO.
ENTERCOM COMMUNICATIONS CORP. (NYSE:ETM) IS ONE OF THE NATION'S
FIVE LARGEST RADIO BROADCASTERS, WITH OPERATIONS IN BOSTON, SEATTLE,
DENVER, SACRAMENTO, PORTLAND, KANSAS CITY, INDIANAPOLIS, MILWAUKEE, NEW
ORLEANS, NORFOLK, BUFFALO, MEMPHIS, PROVIDENCE, GREENSBORO, ROCHESTER,
GREENVILLE/SPARTANBURG, MADISON, WICHITA, WILKES - BARRE/SCRANTON AND
GAINESVILLE-OCALA.
