HD Radio Technology Ramping Up in Canada

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, April 8, 2014

iBiquity Digital has announced continued growth in Canada with the launch of Canadian Multicultural Radio (CMR) 101.3 FM and widespread availability of HD Radio receivers. Aftermarket auto receivers are available in Canada from Alpine, Clarion, JVC, Kenwood, Pioneer and Sony, as well as home AVR receivers from Denon, Onkyo and Yamaha. The retail channel will continue to expand as additional stations convert to digital broadcasts.

iBiquity President/CEO Robert Struble stated, "We congratulate CMR for launching HD Radio broadcasts on 101.3 in Toronto and are please with the positive listener response. CMR is using the technology to address the needs of their diverse community. With their HD2 in Tamil, HD3 in both Hindi and Urdu and HD4 in Punjabi, CMR is showing both the flexibility of HD Radio Technology and their commitment to provide the best possible programming and services to their listeners."

Struble added, "Our automotive and receiver partners welcome these advances in Canada and have expressed strong support for a unified North American broadcast standard behind HD Radio technology." Struble also feels that Canadian broadcasters and consumers will benefit from the existing economies of scale associated with the broad-based rollout of HD Radio technology in the U.S. and Mexico.

Receiver sales reflect the trend by manufacturers to standardize products for the entire North American market. Canadian listeners will be able to enjoy the benefits of HD Radio technology immediately upon the conversion of HD Radio outlets.

Automakers continue to expand the number of vehicles with built in HD Radio receivers to Canada include Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Dodge, Ford, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Ram, Scion, SRT, Subaru, Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo.