Radio Adds ‘High Def’ Channels

By ANGEL RIGGS World Staff Writer

Listeners with special receivers can tune in to secondary broadcasts.

Several Tulsa radio stations have added commercial-free, high- definition channels to their broadcasts, arming themselves in the battle between terrestrial and satellite radio.

Clear Channel Radio’s KTBT (92.1 FM), KQLL (106.1 FM), and KIZS (101.5 FM) each has added a separate high-definition 2, or HD2.

That means that in addition to the station’s regular broadcast, listeners with special receivers can tune in to secondary channels that feature commercial-free music specific to each station’s format.

This spring, Clear Channel’s KMOD (97.5 FM) is scheduled to launch its HD2 channel.

“High definition gives us the ability to have side channels on our main channel,” said Don Cristi, programming vice president for Clear Channel Radio’s MidAmerica region. “The bandwidth is much larger, so we can create sub-channels on our main channel.”

High definition broadcasts aren’t new to Tulsa, Cristi said. In fact, his company has offered HD broadcasts since 2004. Tulsa is one of 28 markets nationwide in which Clear Channel is offering HD2 channels.

Unlike satellite radio subscribers, listeners can tune in to the new HD2 channels for free, as long as they have a high-definition radio receiver.

The receivers can cost a few hundred dollars for an in-home setup. However, they’ll soon come standard in cars, Cristi said.

“You’ll have AM, FM and HD along with your basic equipment in most vehicles beginning with the production of 2007 vehicles,” he said.

HD radio not only provides space for extra channels but also provides better quality sound. Essentially, it upgrades each broadcast, especially by removing the static that’s long been associated with AM radio.

“One of the real competitive disadvantages for AM is the signal isn’t as crisp and clean as FM,” Cristi said. “With high definition, they’ll be running on an even platform. Eventually, it’s going to put AM radio back in the music business.”

Most of the music broadcast on the new stations comes from listener suggestions, Cristi said.

“They’ll say, ‘Boy, it would be nice if you guys could offer more of this or more of that,’ ” Cristi said. “But KMOD has been on the air for over 30 years, and we can’t possibly play all of the music we’ve touched on in those 30 years on the primary channel. But we can on the secondary channel.”

For example, on KQLL’s secondary channel, the format concentrates on songs from the 1950s and ’60s that don’t get played as often on the station’s regular channel.

“I think what we’re trying to say is that we still offer these channels for free and they will have local content, and especially for audiophiles who really love music pure and clean, they’ll have CD quality and an eclectic format,” Cristi said.

“This will definitely be a free option for pay satellite or subscription services.”

Clear Channel’s AM frequencies, KAKC (1300 AM) and KTBZ (1430 AM), will also launch HD2 channels this spring.

Angel Riggs 581-8413

angel.riggs@tulsaworld.com