HD Digital Radio Alliance Names Next 17 Markets for HD2 Multicasts

HD Digital Radio Alliance Names Next 17 Markets for HD2 Multicasts

New Formats in This Round Include Jazz & Blues, Standards and Slow Jams and Dance

Brings Total to 85 Markets; Reach Now Tops 80% of U.S. Population

ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- The HD Digital Radio Alliance, a joint initiative of leading radio broadcasters to accelerate consumer adoption of HD Digital Radio, today announced the next 17 markets to choose HD2 programming formats. Set to be live by January 31, 2007, these 17 bring the total number of markets choosing HD2 programming to 85 and mark the fourth wave in the 12-month-old rollout. All of the 85 markets are in the top 100; all of the HD2 multicasts continue to be commercial-free and there is no subscription fee.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051206/NYTU034 )

New formats being selected in this round include Jazz & Blues, Standards and Slow Jams and Dance. Many of these formats are entirely new and will be heard for the first time in this rollout. Individual radio companies will announce which stations in these markets have selected which formats.

"With the addition of these 17 markets we have successfully launched HD Radio in 85 markets in just one year. That means there are now more than 600 new radio stations on the air with HD2 programming that is unique, diverse and local to each market. That is a huge benefit and value for the consumer that buys an HD Radio," said Peter Ferrara, president and CEO of the HD Digital Radio Alliance.

Broadcasting in crystal-clear, CD-like sound quality, HD Digital Radio provides listeners with an ever-expanding variety of listening choices around the dial.

The next 17 markets to roll out HD2 multicast programming are:

Rank Location Rank Location
66 Grand Rapids, Mich. 78 Syracuse, N.Y.
67 Fresno, Calif. 79 Harrisburg, Pa.
68 Wilkes Barre, Pa. 81 Stockton, Calif.
69 Allentown, Pa. 82 Bakersfield, Calif.
71 Knoxville, Tenn. 83 Baton Rouge, La.
72 Omaha, Neb. 84 Toldeo, Ohio
73 Akron, Ohio 85 Little Rock, Ark.
74 Wilmington, Del.
75 Sarasota, Fla.
77 Monterey-Salinas-Santa Cruz, Calif.

Last month, the HD Digital Radio Alliance announced it will increase its advertising budget supporting HD Radio to $250 million for 2007. The additional dollars will allow member companies to continue promoting HD Radio, retailers, manufacturers and partners with free airtime.

HD Digital Radio receivers are currently available from hundreds of retailers with thousands of store locations nationwide and online, including ABC Warehouse, Amazon.com, Circuit City, Crutchfield, Great Indoors (a unit of Sears Roebuck & Co.), J & R Music, RadioShack, and Tweeter.

HD Digital Radio receivers are currently manufactured by more than 18 companies, including Accurian (a RadioShack brand), Alpine, Audio Design Associates, Boston Acoustics, Cambridge SoundWorks, Day Sequerra, Delphi, DICE, Eclipse (Fujitsu), JVC, Kenwood, Niles, Panasonic, Polk, Radiosophy, Rotel, Sangean, Sanyo, Yamaha and Visteon.

Links to online retailers selling HD digital radios, information about available HD radio receivers, an up-to-the-minute national HD radio station guide and more can be found at www.hdradio.com.

About the HD Digital Radio Alliance

The HD Digital Radio Alliance is a joint initiative of leading radio broadcasters to accelerate the successful rollout of HD digital radio. Current members include major radio groups and independent station owners: ABC Radio (in Los Angeles and Minneapolis), Beasley Broadcast Group, Bonneville International, CBS Radio, Citadel Broadcasting, Clear Channel Radio, Cumulus, Emmis Communications, Entercom, Greater Media and independent owner Jerry Lee with WBEB Philadelphia. For more information on HD digital radio, visit www.hdradio.com.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051206/NYTU034
Source: HD Digital Radio Alliance

CONTACT: Scott Cianciulli, cianciulli@braincomm.com or Michelle
Radvansky, radvansky@braincomm.com, of Brainerd Communicators, Inc., for the
HD Digital Radio Alliance, +1-212-986-6667

Web site: http://www.hdradio.com/

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