From Broadcast Electronics: Broadcast Electronics Brings HD RadioTM Technology to Bogotá, Columbia

Quincy, IL USA − With the installation of Broadcast Electronics' HD Radio transmission equipment last month, TROPICANA 102.9 FM became the first station in Colombia to transmit using HD Radio technology. 

The installation is part of a test granted under temporary authorization by the broadcast governing agency in Colombia, and was conducted in the country capital of Bogota, population nine million. The station is owned by Caracol Radio Network, one of the main radio networks in Colombia with more than 130 AM and FM stations, and the Broadcast Electronics equipment is represented by Jaime Sorzano, owner of Broadcast Equipment and Parts in Colombia.

This is the first reported HD Radio installation in Colombia, raising speculation that it could spark further interest in HD Radio broadcasting in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Neighboring stations in Brazil, Jamaica, and Mexico are broadcasting HD Radio technology using BE transmission equipment, as are stations in Europe and Pacific Asia. More than 1,700 stations in the U.S. are broadcasting digital HD Radio technology, benefiting the worldwide market with established receivers and broadcast technology.

A longtime Broadcast Electronics customer, Caracol Radio Network is known as one of the foremost early adopters in the area, according to Raul Hun, Broadcast Electronics' Sales Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean. "By testing HD Radio, Caracol is once again taking a lead position in the fiercely competitive Colombia market," he said.

"We are pleased that a group of the stature of Caracol has chosen to become a leader with HD Radio technology in their country.  Combined with the strong activities in Brazil, Mexico and elsewhere, iBiquity's HD Radio technology is becoming the clear choice for Latin America," said Jeff Jury, Chief Operating Officer with iBiquity Digital Corporation, the developer and licensor of HD Radio technology.

The station converted to HD Radio technology using a Broadcast Electronics FXi 250 digital FM exciter and FSi 10 HD Radio exporter into an existing BE FM 20S solid-state transmitter. HD Radio technology transmits digital audio and data alongside existing AM and FM analog signals, allowing listeners with HD Radio receivers to enjoy crystal-clear reception, data services, and new channels through multicasting.  Unlike other digital broadcasting technologies, HD Radio technology works within the existing analog spectrum, without taking up additional frequency. Through this approach, HD Radio technology enables AM and FM radio stations throughout the world to transition to digital broadcasting in a seamless, non-disruptive manner. The technology also provides a platform for advanced interactive features that includes: multicasting (multiple channels broadcast on a single FM frequency), real-time traffic and weather services and scrolling text on the receiver display.  

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About Broadcast Electronics (www.bdcast.com)

Broadcast Electronics (BE) is the premier provider of mission-critical solutions for over-the-air and Internet radio. BE products encompass program generation, audio and data management, inter-facility transport, and analog and digital transmission. For more than four decades, BE pioneering developments have set industry standards for innovation and reliability, while providing broadcasters with new options for operational productivity and income generation. BE is headquartered in Quincy, Illinois, and is represented worldwide by a network of local representatives.  

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