WKSU ADDS FOURTH HD RADIO CHANNEL
WKSU HD-4 BROADCASTS ALL-NEWS FORMAT FROM FIVE TOWERS
Tuesday June 8, 2010

WKSU has added a new HD Radio channel to station broadcasts. WKSU HD-4 offers listeners a full day's worth of news and information and joins WKSU HD-1 (the general on-air programming mix), WKSU HD-2: Folk Alley and WKSU HD-3: The Classical Channel.

The station is the first public radio station and only the second radio station in the U.S. to adopt new technology that allows four content streams to be aired simultaneously. The HD Radio digital signals are in addition to WKSU's traditional analog broadcasts. The station began transmitting an HD Radio signal in 2004. WKSU is now broadcasting four HD Radio channels over 89.7 WKSU, 89.3 WKRW (Wooster), 91.5 WKRJ (New Philadelphia), 89.1 WKSV (Thompson) and 90.7 WNRK (Norwalk).

Because it uses digital technology, HD Radio allows multiple streams of content to be broadcast from a single radio frequency, much as many terrestrial TV stations now air multiple channels digitally. WKSU began by testing a digital version of the on-air broadcasts. As technology improved and more listeners purchased the digital radios and receivers needed to hear the signal, WKSU grew its offerings by adding HD-2 and HD-3 - both reflecting the station's legacy music programming. On HD-2, folk music fans can enjoy Folk Alley, the 24-hour folk stream available online at FolkAlley.com. Classical music lovers can take advantage of an all-day symphonic sound on HD-3 (which can also be streamed online – along with the News Channel – at WKSU.org).

The additional channel, WKSU HD-4, is devoted to news and information programming from WKSU, NPR, the BBC and other public radio sources. The News Channel complements WKSU's Saturday line-up of entertainment shows, Fresh Air with Terry Gross and the station's award-winning broadcasts of NPR’s All Things Considered and Morning Edition with BBC World Service overnight, The Tavis Smiley Show and Studio 360. The schedule also includes programs not available on the radio in the Cleveland market, such as To the Point, Here & Now, On Point and To the Best of Our Knowledge. See the full schedule at www.wksu.org/programs/schedule/wksu-news/.

Unlike satellite radio, the expanded choice provided by HD Radio has only an initial equipment cost. HD Radios are now a factory-installed option in many cars, including models from BMW, Ford, Hyundai, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Mercury, Mini, Scion and Volvo. Like other entertainment technologies, prices for HD Radios have dropped as more people seek out units. A range of products is available at Amazon.com, Crutchfield.com and in most Best Buy and Radio Shack stores. The latest version of the Microsoft Zune is also equipped with an HD Radio receiver. Find more online at WKSU.org/hd.

WKSU broadcasts NPR & Classical Music at 89.7 FM, and is a service of Kent State University. WKSU programming is also heard on WKRW 89.3 FM in Wooster, WKRJ 91.5 FM in Dover/New Philadelphia, WKSV 89.1 FM in Thompson, WNRK 90.7 in Norwalk, W298BA 107.5 FM in Boardman, and W239AZ 95.7 FM in Ashland. The station broadcasts four HD Radio channels – adding WKSU-2 Folk Alley, WKSU-3 The Classical Channel and WKSU-4 The News Channel to the analog broadcast schedule. The Classical Channel can also be heard in Cleveland at 107.3 HD-3. The WKSU website is www.wksu.org.

PR10.06 ### 6/8/10

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