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iHeart and HD

Discussion pertaining to Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Muskegon, Battle Creek, Big Rapids, and Michiana
ppr7997
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iHeart and HD

Post by ppr7997 » Mon Oct 31, 2022 1:24 pm

Noticing in the past couple months that all the iHeart stations in GR have dropped their HD2 channels but the main channels still have an HD signal. Any news on if they plan to return to HD2 signals any time soon? I enjoyed the smooth jazz 105.7 HD2 and the Nashville HD2 off B-93.



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MWmetalhead
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Re: iHeart and HD

Post by MWmetalhead » Mon Oct 31, 2022 2:17 pm

They've been doing this all around the country, but this is the first instance of which I'm aware in a non-PPM market.

I suspect they want to push that traffic to the iHM app, where the listening can actually be monetized.



ftballfan
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Re: iHeart and HD

Post by ftballfan » Tue Nov 01, 2022 7:20 pm

I was in Louisville at the end of September and a couple of the iHeart FM's there still had HD2's on as of then (95.7 WQMF, 97.5 WAMZ, 100.5 WSDF; WSDF has K-Love and Air1 on HD2 and HD3 respectively). Also, WOOD and WMAX still have HD2 feeds (however, both simulcast talk AMs with no analog FM presence).

Speaking of HD, Townsquare has fired up HD on 97.9 WGRD and 107.7 WRKR within the last few weeks. Neither have HD2's as of now, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Magic 104.9 end up simulcast on 97.9 HD2 and 1660/95.5 the Touch end up simulcast on 107.7 HD2



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Re: iHeart and HD

Post by format this » Tue Nov 01, 2022 7:32 pm

ftballfan wrote:I was in Louisville at the end of September and a couple of the iHeart FM's there still had HD2's on as of then (95.7 WQMF, 97.5 WAMZ, 100.5 WSDF; WSDF has K-Love and Air1 on HD2 and HD3 respectively). Also, WOOD and WMAX still have HD2 feeds (however, both simulcast talk AMs with no analog FM presence).

Speaking of HD, Townsquare has fired up HD on 97.9 WGRD and 107.7 WRKR within the last few weeks. Neither have HD2's as of now, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Magic 104.9 end up simulcast on 97.9 HD2 and 1660/95.5 the Touch end up simulcast on 107.7 HD2
That’s a big no-go for the Touch on RKR’s HD-2. The Touch is owned by Midwest.


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jaywmi
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Re: iHeart and HD

Post by jaywmi » Wed Nov 02, 2022 8:07 am

I have also noticed it off for several months now in both the Grand Rapids and the Muskegon area markets.

In a way, I'm glad they turned off the Muskegon ones - 107.9's HD2 was non-stop "KISS Radio" with an endless loop of maybe 30 classic rock songs with some KISS interspersed (perhaps it was just originally a special), and 101.7's HD2 was "May the Fourth Be With You Radio" (Star Wars) that started on May 4, 2020 and never stopped until recently. What's the point? They were better off dead, anyway.
MWmetalhead wrote:
Mon Oct 31, 2022 2:17 pm
They've been doing this all around the country, but this is the first instance of which I'm aware in a non-PPM market.

I suspect they want to push that traffic to the iHM app, where the listening can actually be monetized.



ftballfan
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Re: iHeart and HD

Post by ftballfan » Wed Nov 02, 2022 9:47 pm

format this wrote:
Tue Nov 01, 2022 7:32 pm
ftballfan wrote:I was in Louisville at the end of September and a couple of the iHeart FM's there still had HD2's on as of then (95.7 WQMF, 97.5 WAMZ, 100.5 WSDF; WSDF has K-Love and Air1 on HD2 and HD3 respectively). Also, WOOD and WMAX still have HD2 feeds (however, both simulcast talk AMs with no analog FM presence).

Speaking of HD, Townsquare has fired up HD on 97.9 WGRD and 107.7 WRKR within the last few weeks. Neither have HD2's as of now, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Magic 104.9 end up simulcast on 97.9 HD2 and 1660/95.5 the Touch end up simulcast on 107.7 HD2
That’s a big no-go for the Touch on RKR’s HD-2. The Touch is owned by Midwest.


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D'oh! I was thinking 1660 was owned by Townsquare (since they do own Magic 104.9 in GR), However, 1360 WKMI is owned by Townsquare, so they could go on 107.7 HD2 in the future.



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Re: iHeart and HD

Post by format this » Thu Nov 03, 2022 1:00 am

ftballfan wrote:
format this wrote:
Tue Nov 01, 2022 7:32 pm
ftballfan wrote:I was in Louisville at the end of September and a couple of the iHeart FM's there still had HD2's on as of then (95.7 WQMF, 97.5 WAMZ, 100.5 WSDF; WSDF has K-Love and Air1 on HD2 and HD3 respectively). Also, WOOD and WMAX still have HD2 feeds (however, both simulcast talk AMs with no analog FM presence).

Speaking of HD, Townsquare has fired up HD on 97.9 WGRD and 107.7 WRKR within the last few weeks. Neither have HD2's as of now, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Magic 104.9 end up simulcast on 97.9 HD2 and 1660/95.5 the Touch end up simulcast on 107.7 HD2
That’s a big no-go for the Touch on RKR’s HD-2. The Touch is owned by Midwest.


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D'oh! I was thinking 1660 was owned by Townsquare (since they do own Magic 104.9 in GR), However, 1360 WKMI is owned by Townsquare, so they could go on 107.7 HD2 in the future.
The Touch format that is on 1660/95.5 was on the 1560 stick in Portage (since 1997, I believe). That frequency was shut down by Midwest in late 2020.


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zackeast
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Re: iHeart and HD

Post by zackeast » Mon Nov 28, 2022 7:59 am

Probably saving a massive amount of money in royalty costs by shutting them off. It's cheaper to run them on the apps, by far.



Deleted User 15905

Re: iHeart and HD

Post by Deleted User 15905 » Mon Nov 28, 2022 8:29 am

The commercial load is getting large on the IHeart app. All of the IHeart original stations (like IHeart 80’s) and playlists used to be free or very minimal commercials, now they all have at least 5-10 minutes of commercials an hour. I have deleted the IHeart app because of commercials. I tried Audacy but once you download the app it freezes up and is a total piece of garbage. Now, I’m using some lesser popular radio apps and have zero problems. As far as this HD Radio thing goes, it’s in its last days for HD Radio. It’s the format no one asked for and no one cares about.



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