The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum » HD Radio

tvguy · September 8, 2015 9:52 pm

CING-FM, 95.3 is now broadcasting in IBOC HD. HD-1 is 95.3 programming and HD-2 is AM640 Toronto. The HD signal is excellent in Toronto.

Peter the K · September 8, 2015 11:55 pm

Does anyone actually sell IBOC HD receivers?

Leslieville Bill · September 9, 2015 8:12 am

^ If anyone does, it would be https://www.radioworld.ca/ .

tvguy · September 9, 2015 9:46 am

A couple of clarifications. 105.9 - TheRegion FM (Markham) has 4 HD channels. CJSA Toronto 101.3 MHz has 4 HD channels. Many major car makers have HD included as standard equipment, so there is a significant and growing base of HD in-car radios in S. Ontario today. Radios are now being sold via
www.myhdradio.ca
Several other broadcasters are moving to implement IBOC HD in Southern Ontario. Stay tuned.
I would expect that Best Buy might extend their "Insignia" brand of HD radios into Canada. Their radios are inexpensive and work very well. Particularly in Lower Mainland BC and on parts of Vancouver Island.

radiokid · September 9, 2015 7:35 pm

Walmart in Canada is selling after market HD radios for cars. IBOC HD has more possiblity of taking flight in Canada IF broadcasters offer different content on the HD stations and promote it. The US has done a fairly good job at this and it's been slowly growing in a lot of markets. The system Canada tried before was not implemented well. Offering the same content on your digital offering as your analog is not going to get people excited or willing to shell out money for a different radio. You have to provide content that differs for anyone even to consider the option.

Car manufacturers putting in HD will help as well.

RadioActive · September 30, 2015 10:53 pm

AM640's website now offers this about how to get its signal in HD, complete with instructional video:

AM640 In HD

Last edited by RadioActive (September 30, 2015 10:59 pm)

Radiowiz · October 1, 2015 2:01 am

^Just Corus? No other radio company?

radiokid · October 1, 2015 3:07 pm

If your car doesn't have an HD radio already... Walmart even sells the aftermarket car radios with HD built in. Reasonably priced too.

I think it's just a matter of time before everyone starts doing HD as car manufactures put HD in by default. I think this is why CORUS jumped on it along with the few others. What needs to happen is unique content vs just rebroadcasting. It's the only way HD will get any traction in Canada. The US does have some HD signals with unique content being rated and showing some good numbers in some markets. No one will spend money to get the same content they get now. If they don't get the content different from their FM and AM's... it will be DAB 2.0

Last edited by radiokid (October 1, 2015 3:12 pm)

October 2, 2015 5:05 pm

Radiowiz wrote:
^Just Corus? No other radio company?

Somebody has to be first.

680News already has an app for the iWatch. Now, who has an iWatch? Likely about the same percentage of people that have an HD Radio. That hasn't stopped 680News from promoting their app. So why not Corus and their HD Radio?

I say good on both of them for it.

ig · October 2, 2015 8:57 pm

I picked up a radio a few months ago from these guys and it's great scanning up and down the dial. 640's backup STL is on Q107's 2nd SCMO channel so you can get a clean feed pretty much anywhere you can get Q.

http://www.metrosonix.com/

Here's one for $25 if money is tight.. http://www.ebay.ca/itm/FM-SCA-Radio-SCMO-Radio-Portable-Sca-Radio-Subcarrier-Radio-Sideband-Radio-/181328179769?ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:CA:3160 Have one of these also, works like a charm. Not as sensitive for outlying signals, but in the GTA works great.

ig · October 3, 2015 10:25 am

I wonder if we will get CHML. On a Q sub channel soon.

Corus continues to be a very curious company.

Interesting move introducing 640 listeners to 95.3.

Jody Thornton · October 3, 2015 9:22 pm

So does IBOC AM boroadcasts sound like web streams? What is their sound quality like? I assume it goes through their processing first right?

Peter the K · October 4, 2015 4:12 pm

ig wrote:
I wonder if we will get CHML. On a Q sub channel soon.

Corus continues to be a very curious company.

Interesting move introducing 640 listeners to 95.3.

Does Ibiquity charge their licence fees based on the audience size? That might be the reason to go with the Burlington frequency.

But be that as it may, at least they're on the air with it thus cracking the chicken and egg situation. Now what they really need to do is get radios out there. How about partnering with a retailer like BestBuy to get the word out and get radios out the door?

Selfishly, I'd love to have one of those small insignia HD table radios. (it still gets AM and can run on 4xAA batteries.) My portable grundig is finally showing signs of wanting to be retired but I'm not planning a trip to NY any time soon.

arc23 · October 6, 2015 9:31 am

is the CN Tower and its FM combiner even capable HD FM broadcasting?

or can HD FM only transmit from First Canadian Place [BMO]?

tvguy · October 6, 2015 11:02 am

FCP is probably easier to achieve for stations located there. Because most stations use their own antennas, which are nearly all directional. Most of the stations at the CN Tower go into the Master FM antenna. This may require some combiner reconfiguration. There is usually some change to the power of stations going HD. The complexity may be replacement of transmitters or modifications to existing transmitters. CN Tower's electrical system should be able to handle that. There may be some RF issues with Industry Canada at both places - Safety Code 6, which might necessitate some main channel power decreases in order to comply with Safety Code 6 - when the Ibiquity transmission equipment is added. I would assume therefore FCP will be the first site where stations upgrade.

tvguy · October 6, 2015 5:45 pm

Talk Radio AM640 and 95.3 Fresh Radio Now Offered on HD Radio
Corus Entertainment first multi-market radio operator to launch HD Radio
(October 5, 2015 – Toronto, Ontario) Corus Entertainment Inc. is pleased to announce it is the first multi-market radio operator to offer HD Radio in Canada. Listeners with access to HD Radio technology can tune into the digital signal of Toronto’s Talk Radio AM640 (CFMJ AM)found under Hamilton’s 95.3 Fresh Radio (CING FM), the first of Corus Radio stations to roll out with this service.
“Corus is excited to offer our audiences another listening option,” says Mario Cecchini, Executive Vice President, President, Corus Radio and Corus Média. “HD Radio represents an additional outlet in making our content more available and represents a new touch point for us as we work toward launching additional HD stations in our other Corus markets over the next few months.
Given the strength of 95.3 Fresh Radio’s signal, listeners can experience Talk Radio AM 640 in clear HD Radio format by selecting the sub channel 95.3 HD2.
“The morning and afternoon drive day parts continue to remain strong listener segments. As car manufacturers increasingly upgrade their dashboards with HD Radio capabilities, this will offer our Corus Radio listeners clear and interference-free signals,” says Mario Cecchini.
To find out more about HD Radio on Talk Radio AM640, visit www.640toronto.com/hd.
About HD Radio
HD Radio stations broadcast a digital signal over traditional radio frequencies and allow for up to three additional stations of new local content to be accessed on the same channel. Listeners with HD Radio receive greater access to programming with a higher quality sound, devoid of static or signal issues, and new information such as the artist, song title or traffic information.
95.3 Fresh Radio and Talk Radio AM640 are owned by Corus Entertainment Inc., a Canadian-based integrated media and content company that creates, broadcasts, licenses and delivers content across a variety of platforms for audiences around the world. The company’s portfolio of multimedia offerings encompasses specialty television and radio with additional assets in pay television, television broadcasting, children’s book publishing, children’s animation, animation software, and technology and media services. Corus’ brands include ABC Spark, Cartoon Network (Canada), CMT (Canada), Disney Channel (Canada), HBO Canada, Nickelodeon (Canada), OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network (Canada), TELETOON, Treehouse, W Network, YTV, Historia, La chaîne Disney, Séries+, TÉLÉTOON as well as Nelvana, Kids Can Press, Toon Boom and 39 radio stations including CKNW AM 980, Rock 101, Country 105, 630 CHED, Fresh Radio, JUMP! 106.9, Q107 and 102.1 the Edge. A publicly traded company, Corus is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (CJR.B). Experience Corus on the web atwww.corusent.com.
-30-

For more information, please contact:

Christina Mastruzzo
Project Manager, Communications
Corus Entertainment
416.479.6129
christina.mastruzzo@corusent.com

RadioActive · February 4, 2016 9:42 pm

Corus has now added CHML to its HD feed - for the handful of people who can actually receive it.

Corus Entertainment Inc. is pleased to announce it has launched another HD Radio station in Canada. Listeners with access to HD Radio technology can now tune into the digital signal of Hamilton’s AM900 CHML (CHML AM), in addition to Talk Radio AM640 (CFMJ AM), found under Hamilton’s 95.3 Fresh Radio (CING FM).

“We are excited to add AM900 CHML to our current list of HD Radio stations,” says Mario Cecchini, Executive Vice President, President, Corus Radio and Corus Média. “We strive to offer accessible content across multiple platforms, and as the first multi-market radio operator to offer HD Radio in Canada, we look forward to expanding into this format in the upcoming months.”

Given the strength of 95.3 Fresh Radio’s signal, listeners can experience AM900 CHML in clear HD Radio format by selecting the sub channel 95.3 HD3.

“Corus Radio is committed to delivering dynamic and locally-driven content that moves with its audiences. As the widespread availability of HD Radio receivers shows continued growth, we’ve recognized this platform as another touch point we can leverage to reach our listeners,” says Mario Cecchini.

Radiowiz · February 5, 2016 5:01 am

It's not just Corus.
Durham radio inc has now chosen to give Wave 94.7 (Hamilton) a new life through HD radio.
(instead of just being an internet station as it became when Hamilton's 94.7 FM went country.)
Wave FM HD2 info: http://www.wave.fm/pages/the-wave-on-94-7-fm-hd-2

Last edited by Radiowiz (February 5, 2016 8:54 am)

WPE9HAY · February 5, 2016 12:02 pm

Now that 94.7 has HD, Buffalo's WNED-94.5, which used to be listenable on the car radio in Toronto is mush. OK so it is a US Station...