TORONTO – Canadian Multicultural Radio (CMR) has launched the country’s first programming using hybrid digital (HD) radio technology.
CMR, which operates as CJSA 101.3 FM in Toronto, broadcasts in 25 languages to over 20 ethnic communities. It debuted HD additional programming in Tamil on January 14 and the experimental service continues live on 101.3 FM HD2.
CRTC Commissioner Raj Shoan, pictured officially launching the programming on-air, said that HD Radio offers “interesting possibilities” for the entire Canadian radio industry and that the CRTC will consider whether the technology requires regulation as it is adopted by other broadcasters.
"On the one hand, it enables radio stations such as 101.3 FM to offer listeners new features including higher quality sound, more programming and new information such as the artist, song title or traffic information (on the screens of the radio receivers) and on the other hand, it makes better use of the radio spectrum through the use of separate channels on the same frequency”, he said in a statement.
The CRTC last summer approved CMR's request to experiment with HD Radio. In addition to the 24 hour Tamil service launch on HD2, the station says it is planning to launch Hindi and Urdu services combined on HD3 and Punjabi service on HD4.
