Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – WBGO, a public radio station broadcasting from Newark, NJ, received a $50,000 digital conversion grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).  As part of its effort to assist the nation's local public radio stations make the transition to digital radio, CPB has distributed over $2 million in digital conversion grants.

Digital radio technology allows for a better experience for radio listeners.   It enhances the scope and quality of services that local public radio stations can offer to its communities.  Digital radio makes way for “multi-casting” which is the broadcasting of multiple streams of programming from the same transmitter.  It also provides a richer quality of sound, makes radio reception more interference resistant and eliminates many imperfections of analog radio transmission and reception.

Unlike television transition, digital conversion for radio stations is not mandated by law.  However, in order to provide its listeners better quality, WBGO has taken steps to upgrade their radio equipment.  With the help of the $50,000 grant, WBGO will expand its programming scope and add two new "multi-cast” channels, HD2 and HD3, in order to reach a greater, more diverse audience.

"WBGO provides such a great service to the northern New Jersey and metropolitan New York communities," Payne stated.  "As the only jazz music station serving the northern Jersey and metropolitan New York area, it's known for its amazing community-focused music programming.  WBGO also provides valued locally-produced newscasts and traffic reports.  This digital conversion grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting will help WBGO give its listeners a better listening experience."

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