New Searchable Database: Digital Radio Stations in the United States
Digital radio in the U.S. has not been a success (not evern close) at least at this point. Only 14% of radio stations around the U.S. broadcast their signal both in analog and digital formats. Better sound (that's what they say) but it also gives that station the chance to provide additional programming on digital only channels. Of course, you need to have a radio that can receive the digital channels.***
The Investigative Reporting Workshop at American University in DC takes an in-depth look at digital radio and you can find it here.
As the report clearly points out, not that many people are listening to digital radio.
Digital radio draws only about 650,000 of 239 million weekly radio listeners – about three-tenths of 1 percent – according to a report by Bridge Ratings released in December.
In case you're wondering, satellite radio from Sirius XM had 18,944,199 subscribers at the end of Q1, 2010.
The Investigative Reporting Workshop piece is a a must read for anyone interested in the broadcasting industry and/or broadcasting history. The report also contains sections on formats being used, history, and what they future might hold for digital radio.
Finally, the report is home to two reference resources, one interactive timeline and one searchable database.
1) Interactive Timeline
It begins in 1920 with the launch of KDKA in Pittsburgh and concludes in on March 1, 2010 when of the 14,000+ stations licensed in the U.S. 2,073 are licensed to broadcast digitally. While the focus is squarely on digital radio other related facts are included. For example, in 1988 CD sales passed vinyl lp's for the first time. Kudos for providing a list of all of your sources.
Search by street address of Zip Code. A results page includes entries for each station that provides:
+ Call Letters, the hyperlink takes you to a coverage map of the station
+ Market (Under a Different Tab)
+ Frequency
+ Primary Format (HD 1 and FM)
+ Digital Only Programming (HD 2, HD 3, HD 4) and the Format Each One Provides
+ Ownership of Station
* While most don't hear the digital-only stations being broadcast, a number of digital-only stations stream this programming over the Internet. Now, with smartphones it's quite easy (assuming you have access to a cellular connection) to listen to these streaming stations in the car, at the beach, or while biking to work. Plus, you can listen to any station, anywhere in the world, assuming that they stream their programming.
Here are a few examples:
Chicago, IL WTMX-2 Webcasts The All 80s Channel
Chicago, IL WXRT-3 Webcasts Last.Fm Discover
Los Angeles, CA KBIG-2 Webcasts Pride Radio
New York, NY WFUV-3 Webcasts The Alternate Side
Philadelphia WMMR-2 Webcasts MMR Archives (Recorded Concerts)
Washington DC: WAMU-2 Webcasts Bluegrass
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