Broadcast Electronics-equipped WLDR 101.9 FM announced in a press conference it is the first radio station in northern Michigan to broadcast in HD Radio. Manufacturers, listeners and local media gathered at the Chamber of Commerce in Traverse City to welcome this hometown Country station to a fraternity of more than 1,800 HD Radio stations across the country, the majority of which are located in large markets.
WLDR FM is one of the early adopters of HD Radio in the small- to mid-market tier serving a modest population of less than 150,000.
WLDR began transmitting HD Radio along with two additional multicast channels and iTunes tagging after months of preparation and a new transmission facility equipped with BE’s FMi 1405 HD Radio transmitter into an ERI antenna system.
WLDR FM is broadcasting a new Fox sports channel and another smooth jazz format on HD2 and HD3, respectively, in addition to the main country format broadcasting on HD1. Other text services also being considered for Messagecasting through the system are song title and artist name, weather forecasts, traffic updates, sports scores, and advertiser phone numbers or web addresses.
