Radio Waves Podcast #218

Radio: April 27, 2018

If you have an HD Radio -- a special radio designed to receive and decode the special digital audio programming sent along with the regular analog radio signal -- you may have noticed that KKGO (105.1 FM) has been sending a total of four digital streams.

In addition to the regular HD1 stream that, like all HD stations, duplicates the analog programming, KKGO has long been providing an HD2 (simulcast of 1260 AM’s LA Oldies K-Surf) and and HD3 (recently changed to classic country). But for the past two weeks or so, there has been an HD4, which as of this writing is a second simulcast of the Go Country analog programming.

Station owner Saul Levine made mention recently of the fact that stations broadcasting the HD system can have more than the traditional two or three extra sub-stations. But he didn’t say much else on the subject.

Now it appears he’s got something planned. And unlike other HD4 streams I have heard, this one audio-wise sounds more than decent. Levine’s engineers must be working a bit of magic here, as the more HD streams you add, the lower the audio quality as you are splitting a finite amount of digital data.

Levine is tight-lipped about his plans. Could standards return? Big bands? Heavy metal?

Audio Magic

I had a chance to hear 1260 in HD last Friday when I attended a Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters luncheon at the Sportsman’s Lodge in Studio City. All I can say is “wow.” The station sounds phenomenal in HD, and I thought the AM sounded better than the simulcast on the FM stream mentioned above. Clean and full-fidelity. And in stereo.

Pioneers

The Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters is a group of radio and television broadcasters (or a related field) with at least ten years experience related to radio or television. I am, of course, not worthy of membership as I just write about radio, but the organization took pity on me and let me join anyway due to my 31 years writing this column.

Founded in 1966, the PPB hosts four luncheons per year celebrating and honoring member achievements. April 20 was devoted to television’s Rich Little who can impersonate almost anyone flawlessly; June 1st will honor Lonnie Anderson who among other things was one of the stars of television’s WKRP in Cincinnati, a fictitious station to which those connected to radio can relate.

Through June 30th, the PPB is waiving the initiation fee for new members, a $50 savings. If you or someone you know meets the requirements for membership, consider joining. Go to ppbwebsite.org and click on Join PPB.

The New Sound

Reader Fred Weidman found a new sound ... down under,!

“Enjoy your column always. Also miss The Sound. There is another alternative.

 

“On TuneIn radio I can listen to stations all over the world. Turns out there is “The Sound” in Auckland New Zealand, which shares the same format (same ownership??); 10 @ 10, vinyl, etc. Great DJs, with a bit of an accent, and interesting commercials. I believe you can stream it too, but TuneIn works very well.”

The TuneIn link: https://tunein.com/radio/The-Sound-938-s10999/

You can also hit the station’s website directly at www.thesound.co.nz; by the way ... it is not the same owner, but you’re right - a wonderful station.