HD Digital Radio Alliance Endorses Beasley Broadcast Group's HD2 Programming At Philadelphia's 92.5 XTU-HD2 & WRDW's
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, January 20, 2006 – The HD Digital Radio Alliance, a joint initiative of leading radio broadcasters that is accelerating the rollout of HD digital radio, announced the initial markets that broadcast HD2 multicast programming under the Alliance's format-selection program and endorsed Beasley Broadcast Group’s HD2 programming in Philadelphia.
Since September 2005, Beasley has been airing new, unique programming at “92.5 XTU’s” (WXTU-FM) sister country music station, XTU-HD2 and a new dance music station at and “Wired 96.5’s” (WRDW-FM) sister station, 96.5 – HD2. Both stations are available to listeners for free and broadcast in crystal clear, CD-quality sound with made possible by HD Radio™ technology.
HD Radio™ enables AM and FM radio stations to broadcast their programs digitally, providing listeners with radically improved audio quality, better signal reception, song and artist information, as well as the ability to choose between multiple programming options on the same FM frequency. In addition to the new programming launched on the HD2 stations, the regular programming at “92.5 XTU” (WXTU) and “Wired 96.5” (WRDW) is also being broadcast in HD digital radio.
Commenting on the announcement, Beasley’s President and Chief Operating Officer, Bruce Beasley, stated, “Beasley Broadcast Group has been an industry leader in implementing the new HD Radio technology and has already converted almost 50% of its 41 stations to broadcast in HD Radio with plans to have approximately 70% of its station group converted by the end of this year. In addition, we are already multicasting ‘side channels’ at five radio stations in three markets.
“We are delighted to be offering Philadelphia listeners more subscription-free listening choices with incredible digital audio. HD Radio eliminates the static, hiss, pop and fades associated with analog signals, so for listeners, FM-band broadcasts have digital CD-like quality and AM-band broadcasts sound like FM.”
Beasley was the first in the industry to broadcast a public HD Radio multicast demonstration on a commercial FM station and was first to broadcast an HD Radio signal and introduce multicast channels in both Philadelphia and Miami.
The commercial-free music channel, programmed internally by the 92.5 XTU staff, features the next generation of country music artists including Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Gretchen Wilson, Big-n-Rich and eclectic groups like Sixwire, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Cowboy Crush, and Ryan Shuppe & The Rubberband.
The commercial-free music channel at 96.5 – HD2 showcases the best new dance music on the planet, including Tiesto, Juliet, Deep Dish, Chemical Brothers, 4 Strings, and dance remixes of the hottest Top 40 records.
Both new stations, which require no subscription fees, offer non-stop music in pristine, crystal clear sound 24 hours per day, and can be accessed with any HD Radio receiver by setting the tuner to “92.5 – HD2” or “96.5 – HD2.”
HD digital radio receivers are currently manufactured by more than fifteen companies, including Audio Design Associates, Kenwood, Alpine, Panasonic, Boston Acoustics, Polk, Day Sequerra, Radiosophy, Delphi, Rotel, DICE, Sanyo, Eclipse (Fujitsu), Yamaha, JVC and Visteon.
HD digital radio receivers are currently available from ABC Warehouse, Audio Adviser, Bjorn's, Boston Acoustics, Car Toys, Crutchfield, Great Indoors (a unit of Sears Roebuck & Co.), Harvey's, J & R Music, Listen Up, Magnolia Audio Video, One Call, Ovation AV, Radiosophy and Tweeter. Links to online retailers selling HD digital radios are at http://www.hdradio.com.
About the HD Digital Radio Alliance
The HD Digital Radio Alliance is a joint initiative of leading radio broadcasters to accelerate the successful rollout of HD digital radio. Current members include major radio groups and independent station owners: ABC Radio (in Los Angeles and Minneapolis), Beasley Broadcast Group, Bonneville International, CBS Radio, Citadel Broadcasting, Clear Channel Radio, Cumulus, Emmis Communications, Entercom, Greater Media, and Susquehanna and independent owner Jerry Lee with WBEB Philadelphia. For more information on HD digital radio, visit http://www.hdradio.com.
About Beasley Broadcast Group
Founded in 1961, Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. is a radio broadcasting company that owns or operates 41 stations (26 FM and 15 AM) located in ten large- and mid-size markets in the United States. In addition to WXTU-FM and WRDW-FM 96.5 in the Philadelphia market, Beasley also owns WTMR-AM 800 and WWDB-AM 860.
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this release that are “forward-looking statements” are based upon current expectations and assumptions, and involve certain risks and uncertainties within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words or expressions such as “intends”, “expects,” “expected,” “anticipates” or variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Key risks are described in the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Readers should note that these statements are subject to change and to inherent risks and uncertainties and may be impacted by several factors, including: economic and regulatory changes, the loss of key personnel, a downturn in the performance of our large-market radio stations, the Company’s substantial debt levels, and changes in the radio broadcast industry generally. The Company’s actual performance and results could differ materially because of these factors and other factors discussed in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition” of our SEC filings, including but not limited to annual reports on Form 10-K or quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, copies of which can be obtained from the SEC, www.sec.gov, or our website, www.bbgi.com. These statements do not include the potential impact of any acquisitions or dispositions announced or completed after January 20, 2006. All information in this release is as of January 20, 2006, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update the information contained herein to actual results or changes to the Company’s expectations.
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