HD Radio Arrives in Puerto Rico

QUICNY, IL-May 10, 2005-With the installation of a Broadcast Electronics FMi 31 HD Radio™ transmitter in April, WPRM(FM) became the first station in Puerto Rico to air HD Radio.

 

The station is owned by UNO Radio Group and has the ear of more than 800,000 listeners a week in the San Juan market, according to the Fall 2004 Arbitron report. This is the first reported HD Radio installation in the region, raising speculation that WPRM(FM) could spark interest in HD Radio in the Caribbean and throughout Latin America.

Previously, Broadcast Electronics supplied HD Radio equipment to stations in Mexico.

"UNO Radio's adoption of HD Radio technology positions the technology for widespread adoption outside the continental U.S.," said Scott Stull, Vice President of Broadcast Business Development for iBiquity Digital Corporation, the sole developer and licensor of HD Radio in the U.S.

A longtime Broadcast Electronics customer, UNO Radio Group is known as one of the foremost early adopters in the area, according to John Schneider, Broadcast Electronics' Sales Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean. "They've embraced digital technology early on, which is one reason why they've been able to take a lead position in the fiercely competitive San Juan market," he said.

WPRM(FM), which is known locally as the Salsoul Network, is a 25kW Tropical format station licensed to 98.5MHz and is the first of 12 sister stations to implement the U.S. digital technology. "We want to make HD Radio an immediate success in Puerto Rico, and so far, it has been warmly received here," said Luis Soto, President of UNO Radio Group.

The station converted to HD Radio using a Broadcast Electronics FMi 31 HD Radio transmitter with HD Radio signal generator and an FXi 60 digital FM exciter into a separate antenna. 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 and CD-quality sound. Unlike other digital broadcasting technologies, HD Radio works within the existing analog spectrum, allowing unused spectrum to be preserved for future needs. 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 include: multicasting (multiple channels broadcast on a single FM frequency), real-time traffic and weather services, scrolling text on the receiver display, and surround sound. More than 2,500 radio stations in the U.S. are in the process of converting to the HD Radio system and more than 300 HD Radio broadcasters are currently on the air.

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.

Contact:

Kim Winking
Phone: (217) 224-9600
Fax: (217) 224-9607
kwinking@bdcast.com

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