Trip to Bavaria
Join WBAA's Greg Kostraba for an exclusive trip to Bavaria, that includes the cities of Munich, Innsbruck, Nuremberg, and Oberammergau
August 7-14, 2010

Click for more information about this trip

Live at the Met
The Metropolitan Opera's "Live in HD" series is an initiative of New York's Metropolitan Opera to broadcast live performances in high definition video to select movie theaters and other venues across the U.S. and other parts of the world.

WBAA is teamed up with Eastside 9 Theater for the third season. This audience-expanding effort by the Met brings live opera to the big screen.

The Metropolitan Opera is celebrating its 125th anniversary and is one of the world's leading opera companies since its inception in 1883. Originally housed on Broadway at 39th Street, the Met moved to its current home at Lincoln Center in 1966.

Metropolitan Opera: Live in High Definition can be seen at the Eastside 9 Theater in Lafayette. Great Performances at the Met can be seen on your local PBS station and the Metropolitan Opera radio broadcast can be heard on WBAA FM 101.3 Saturday afternoons.

WBAA has some complimentary tickets for the HD Live screenings. Listen to AM 920 and FM 101.3 for your chance to win your complimentary tickets.

October 10, 2009 - Tosca
Wed 10/28/09 at 6:30pm - Tosca encore

October 24, 2009 - Aida
Wed 11/11/09 at 6:30pm - Aida encore

November 7, 2009 - Turandot
Wed 11/18/09 at 6:30pm - Turandot encore

December 19, 2009 - Les Contes d'Hoffmann
Wed 1/6/10 at 6:30pm - Les Contes d'Hoffmann encore

January 9, 2010 - Der Rosenkavalier
Wed 1/27/10 at 6:30pm - Der Rosenkavalier encore

January 16, 2010 - Carmen
Wed 2/3/10 at 6:30pm - Carmen encore

February 6, 2010 - Simon Boccanegra
Wed 2/24/10 at 6:30pm - Simon Boccanegra encore

March 27, 2010 - Hamlet
Wed 4/14/10 at 6:30pm - Hamlet encore

May 1, 2010 - Armida
Wed 5/19/10 at 6:30pm - Armida encore

HD Radio Technology

What is HD Radio?

HD Radio is a new technology that enables radio stations to broadcast their programs digitally, providing listeners with improved audio quality and reception. You need a special receiver. Currently there are a few models available. More are expected in the future. The entire radio industry is moving to HD Radio, and WBAA-AM is in the vanguard of stations in this area making the transition.

Benefits of HD Radio:

* Static-free CD-quality sound
* Unlike satellite radio, HD Radio Technology does not require a special subscription (though we encourage you to contribute to WBAA so we can provide this service)
* Easy transition: With your new HD Radio set, you can continue listening to other stations still broadcasting in analog, as well as to AM920 with HD Radio Technology.

How can you get AM920 on an HD Radio receiver?

To hear an HD radio broadcast of AM920 you'll need a new HD Radio receiver tuned to AM920. AM920 started broadcasting with HD Radio Technology experimentally on September 30, 2008.

The NPR Shop has a nice selection of HD Radios.
http://shop.npr.org

Here's a list of where you can purchase HD radio receivers. http://hdradio.com/buyers_guide.php

Thanks to iBiquity Digital Corporation, the sole developer of HD Radio technology. For more info, see www.ibiquity.com.

WBAA-FM Begins Antenna Upgrade for Increased Power

The week of June 29th, contractors working with Dybedock & Associates from Kankakee, Illinois arrived at the WBAA-FM Transmitter site to begin upgrades to the stations' antenna, (see article below.) Weather permitted the work to be performed on Thursday and Friday. Climbers removed the antenna from the 400' tower and brought it to the ground. Modifications were made to the antenna, and then it was reassembled higher on the tower. WBAA-FM was 'off-the-air' during this time but listeners were able to listen on-line at wbaa.org.

Click on each photo for a larger image

WBAA-FM Granted Construction Permit for Higher Power

WBAA-FM has been granted a construction permit by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to increase its power from 5,000 watts to 14,000 watts. We will begin construction of the increased power facility as well as moving to HD Radio Technology on FM later this year.

The power increase will allow WBAA Radio to increase its audience area.  General manager Tim Singleton says “It will increase the size of the coverage area a few miles but, more importantly, it will increase the strength and quality of the signal in Tippecanoe County.”

Another radio station moving its transmitter led WBAA to seek an increase in power.  “When the FM station went on the air in 1993, 5,000 watts was the maximum power we could get because of a station on the same frequency in Richmond, Indiana” Singleton said.  “Last winter we found out the station in Richmond moved its transmitter” allowing us to petition the FCC for an increase in power.

WBAA-FM will also be able to broadcast using HD Radio Technology in addition to its conventional FM signal.  WBAA received grant funds from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to pay for approximately 50% of the additional HD Radio conversion costs.   The increase in power for the FM will increase the costs of the transmitter.  Station funds from listeners have been allocated to make the conversion to HD Radio technology and increase power.

Converting WBAA FM to digital will allow the possibility of more programming.  Singleton says “For FM, digital will allow us to add one or two channels to the main channel.  The main channel will carry the current FM programming, but the addition of HD Technology will allow us to add additional programming on the supplemental channels.  As with digital TV, you can get more channels and programming.  We have not yet determined what programming we will add to the supplementary FM channels . Unlike TV, you will not need to buy a new receiver unless you want to listen to the supplementary channels on FM or the high-fidelity signal on AM.”

WBAA PROGRAM NOTES

The Fall 2009 issue of WBAA's Program Notes is available in PDF format.

View the PDF File.