KTRU programming to be available via KPFT HD2 radio broadcasts

Rice University and the Pacifica Foundation announced today that they have reached agreement for Rice’s student-run radio station, KTRU, to broadcast on KPFT’s 90.1-HD2 FM channel. The broadcasts are expected to begin at 9:01 a.m. Feb. 14.

KTRU currently broadcasts on 91.7 FM and online at ktru.org. Rice reached agreement to sell the frequency, broadcast tower and license to the University of Houston last year for use by Houston public radio station KUHF. The sale is before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for approval.

HD radio technology, developed by iBiquity Digital, enables AM and FM radio stations to broadcast their programs digitally, which produces cleaner sound for the listener. It also allows a station to offer multiple channels to the public without obtaining a new FCC license. Listeners must have an HD radio receiver to access the programming, but no subscription is required.

The agreement with Pacifica allows KTRU to continue to broadcast on air in addition to the Internet. ”We are pleased that we have reached an agreement with KPFT and Rice for the use of the KPFT HD2 channel that will allow us to bring our unique and locally focused programming to the greater Houston community,” said KTRU station manager Joey Yang, a Rice junior.

KTRU staff worked with KPFT general manager Duane Bradley and Rice officials to explore the possibility of using an HD channel. The discussions resulted in a seven-year lease of the KPFT 90.1 HD2 channel by Rice for use by KTRU.

”The initiative by students involved with KTRU to work with us to develop this HD radio opportunity reflects their enterprise and passion,” Rice President David Leebron said. ”This innovative agreement allows our students to continue to serve the Houston community over the airwaves and online, just as they continue to bring music and musicians to the Rice campus.”

Leebron said a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the 91.7 tower and license will be used to support this development. KTRU’s student managers also have been invited to submit plans for further improving the station’s programming and HD radio and online presence.

”KTRU is also adding new and exciting music we haven’t traditionally played before, with a renewed emphasis on our incredible local music scene,” Yang said.

Yang said the KTRU staff will promote the HD2 channel on both 91.7 and 90.1 HD2 and have plans to give away HD radio receivers. No date has been set for turning 91.7 over to KUHF.

”We think that this agreement is an important step for KTRU,” Yang said. ”We will continue to work on mobile applications, such as our current iPhone app, as well as other innovations to continue to provide Houston and the world with unique, innovative programming from the students at Rice University.”

Information about HD radio receivers is available at http://www.ktru.org and http://www.hdradio.com/what_is_hd_digital_radio.php.

KTRU has established an e-mail address for questions and comments from the public concerning HD radio: HDRadio@ktru.org.

To make sure that HD radio receivers are more widely available, iBiquity is working with car manufacturers to have HD Radio receivers included as standard or optional equipment. Currently 17 different manufacturers make HD radio technology available to new car buyers.

”More and more stations have upgraded to HD radio broadcasting, bringing higher quality digital audio to consumers,” said iBiquity’s CEO Bob Struble. He said there are more than 2,100 HD radio stations in operation with more than 1,300 new HD2/HD3 channels.

”Kudos to KTRU, Rice University and KPFT/Pacifica for working together to bring KTRU’s programming to the public via HD radio technology,” Struble said.

”The eclectic offerings of KTRU emanating from 90.1 FM HD2 will bring KPFT’s current audience a greatly expanded palette from which to choose,” Bradley said. ”This is certainly in line with our mission at Pacifica to give voice to the widest variety of community expressions. KPFT has been committed to dynamic programming since the radio station went live in 1970, and this new partnership with Rice University ensures that fans of KTRU have the greatest access possible to its innovative sounds.”

Contacts:

Joey Yang, KTRU station manager, 614-423-9264 or j.yang@KTRU.org

Duane Bradley, KPFT general manager, 713-526-4000 x310, dbradley@kpft.org

Ernesto Aguilar, KPFT program director, 713-526-4000 x308, ernesto@kpft.org

B.J. Almond, news director, Rice University, 713-419-9980 or balmond@rice.edu