HD Radio adds 17 markets

The HD Digital Radio Alliance announced that member companies are launching HD2 channels in another seventeen markets, bringing to 85 the number of markets where Alliance members are broadcasting HD2 signals. HD2 is a second channel that lies beneath your standard programming, essentially doubling the amount of content available to you a a listener. New formats being added to HD2 include “Jazz & Blues,” “Standards and Slow Jams” and “Dance.”

The seventeen markets rolling out new HD2 channels are (the # is the rank location): 66 Grand Rapids, Mich.; 67 Fresno, Calif.; 68 Wilkes Barre, Pa.; 69 Allentown, Pa.; 71 Knoxville, Tenn.; 72 Omaha, Neb.; 73 Akron, Ohio; 74 Wilmington, Del.; 75 Sarasota, Fla.;
77 Monterey-Salinas-Santa Cruz, Calif.; 78 Syracuse, N.Y.; 79 Harrisburg, Pa.; 81 Stockton, Calif.; 82 Bakersfield, Calif.; 83 Baton Rouge, La.; 84 Toldeo, Ohio; and 85 Little Rock, Ark.

The new channels launched on January 31.

Last month, Alliance members committed $250 million in advertising time for 2007 to promote HD Radio services, retailers, and other initiatives.

Read [Radio Ink]