HD Radio Auto Aftermarket Launch Hits High Gear

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, May 7, 2013

iBiquity Digital, the developer of HD Radio, has announced that virtually all of the new 2013 aftermarket automotive in-dash receivers with HD Radio have been officially launched with most models now available at retail. Major CE brands including Alpine, Arsenal, Clarion, Excelon, JVC, Kenwood, Pioneer and Sony are all shipping new HD Radio receivers. National retailers (Best Buy, Wal-Mart) and major online retailers (Amazon and Crutchfield) are offering a wide assortment of the new models.

COO Jeff Jury said, "The 2013 aftermarket launch features by far the largest selection of new products ever offered by our partners. It gives consumers a wide array of HD Radio receivers with diverse feature packages at a broad price range. Coupled with the broad availability of HD Radio receivers shipping in new cars, these aftermarket products offer a better radio experience to literally millions of US drivers every year."

This wide range of single and dual DIN products will offer a suite of HD Radio features including artist and title information, diverse new content on HD2 and HD3 channels, iTunes Tagging to tag, preview and purchase music on iTunes, and on select models, the new artist experience feature which delivers images such as album art to radio screens.

Additionally, some navigation units will receive real-time traffic and news information via HD Radio broadcasts. Notably, JVC models offer the full compliment of HD Radio features available including Digital Traffic, Channel Guide, Bookmark to save information, and the new Active Alerts emergency alert service, now launching in the U.S.