HD Radio - Why?

I found and bought an HD Radio (that's High Definition) at either Goodwill or Salvation Army the other day. After doing some research on it, I thought it might be a pretty good idea. It's similar to the digital TV idea, with one exception.

How it works: It's just like regular FM radio, but if an HD receiver has a strong enough signal, it goes from standard FM to sub-channels. Then, like digital TV, you have more stations to choose from and (possibly) listen to. There is also enhanced data that some non-HD receivers also receive – station name, song, & artist. Some of the HD radios I looked at on line had small displays that allowed an album cover to be displayed. Great marketing idea.

So, I looked at all the HD stations available on FM and came to one conclusion: beyond the jazz and blues that I like to listen to (88.7 HD-2 and 91.1) there's not much of anything worth listening to.

I can pick up 98.5 HD-3 or 102.5 HD-2 and listen to WBEN 930 AM on crystal clear FM.

Why?

I don't want to listen to it. I don't like Rush Limbaugh or any of the conservative talking heads that they showcase. So, if I'm not going to listen to them on AM, why would I want to listen to them on FM? Other than the fact that the same company that owns 930 AM owns 102.5 and 98.5, I can't think of one reason to retransmit that station as many times as they do.

I don't watch sports so ESPN Radio on 98.5 HD-2 isn't going on my radio.

Nor is any of the religious music or broadcasting that is available.

And honestly, I don't like NPR that much. I think it is an acronym for News Poorly Read. Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting actually shows them to have a conservative bias in spite of their occasional “liberal” (alleged) reporting.

So, why all these sub-channels? What I'd like is some alternative & independent news and programming. I was digging around on the Internet and found a Low-Power FM start-up in Rochester that has a pretty interesting line-up of programming planned: Democracy Now!, CounterSpin, Black Agenda Report (I wish I had Glen Ford's wit and analysis), Alternative Radio with David Barsamian,  Free Speech Radio News, and other programming that isn't available on any other station in the Buffalo region. Then there's the local political shows and music programs. I'd love to be a guest or programmer on a socialist news program, giving news and views from a socialist perspective.

There's the LowPower FM station in Jamestown, but you have to be in Jamestown to hear it or have a really good data plan for your Internet in order to stream it.

So why doesn't WBFO put that type of programming on HD-3? Or on WNED HD-3? People might actually listen to it and donate during the various fund raisers. I know of plenty of people that have basically turned off their radios because the music on every station is all play listed and the news is all the same no matter what station is reporting it.

And the news talk shows are quite plain, predictable, and dry..

Give us something else and maybe we'll listen?