After a rollout that stretches back more than a decade, HD Radio is finally gaining a foothold with consumers, with the bottom line being more programming choices for Jacksonville listeners.
Forty percent of the cars sold in 2016 came with HD Radios and more than 200 models from all major automakers now offer the feature as either standard or optional, according to insideradio.com.
In 2014, HD Radio had reached nearly 25 million units in use, according to iBiquity Digital Corporation.
While many may think of HD Radio for its improved sound quality, it also means more variety with 25 HD Radio channels in Jacksonville, according to hdradio.com.
"The roll-out of numerous HD Radio enabled cars throughout 2016 and into 2017 mark the continued growth in consumer demand for digital radio services across North America," said Jeff Jury, general manager, HD Radio and automotive, DTS, Inc.
WJCT still occasionally receives calls from listeners that miss classical music, not realizing that WJCT HD2 at 89.9-2 FM on the HD Radio dial plays classical music 24 hours a day.
On WJCT HD3 at 89.9-3 FM listeners with HD Radio receivers will find the Relax station that features easy listening music hits from a wide variety of musicians from the likes of Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley.
Moving up the dial, there’s a lot more choice, such as Hip Hop and Urban on 96.9-2 HD FM, while 101.5-2 HD FM offers oldies and 102.9-2 HD FM offers country music.
Sports radio is also finally on FM, at 107.3-2 HD FM and religious programming can be found at 107.3-3 HD FM. Listeners with HD Radio are also finding better sound quality from AM stations that have added HD Radio.
For listeners that don’t have a HD Radio yet, some stations, including WJCT, offer apps that stream the channels that are unique to HD Radio.
Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org, 904-358-6349 or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.
