NEW YORK – The American radio industry has created what it calls an “unprecedented” alliance to speed up the rollout of digital radio.
Some of the top U.S. radio companies have formed an alliance to coordinate the rollout of HD digital radio (including coordinating the formats on new multicast channels known as HD2), secure automotive design wins and lower receiver prices, and jointly market HD digital radio, in partnership with receiver manufacturers and retailers.
The charter members are Bonneville International, Citadel Broadcasting, Clear Channel Radio, Cumulus, Emmis Communications, Entercom, Greater Media, and Infinity Broadcasting, though membership is open to all U.S.-based radio companies.
Member companies will devote more than US$200 million in commercial inventory on their own stations in 2006 to promote HD digital radio and the new HD2 multicast channels. They have agreed to coordinate the use of all multicast HD2 channels to create the greatest diversity of formats. HD2 channels will be locally programmed in each market and initially commercial-free. No subscription is required to hear HD digital radio broadcasts.
Nearly 600 radio stations in the U.S. are already broadcasting their primary programming signal in HD digital quality, more than 15 manufacturers are creating digital receivers, and several nationwide retailers are selling the units.
The alliance, to be called the HD Digital Radio Alliance, has appointed 30-year radio-industry veteran Peter Ferrara as CEO.
Among his previous executive positions, Ferrara was a senior vice president of Clear Channel Communications, COO of both U.S. Radio and Granum Communications, executive vice president of the National Radio Broadcasters Association, and a board member of the National Association of Broadcasters.
