Clear Channel to Launch Ku-band Service in August

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[Satellite TODAY 07-28-11] Clear Channel Satellite will launch a Ku-band service on Aug. 1 that enables radio stations to receive their programming using a much smaller satellite dish, the broadcaster announced July 27.

Clear Channel Satellite President and General Manager Mike Hagans said the new Ku-band service positions the company to distribute audio networks for retail and is cost-effective for radio networks that do not have space for a big C-band dish.

“Ku-band is also a good replacement for networks currently using legacy SCPC gear. Radio networks have to invest a lot of capital when building an earth station at their facility. By simply backhauling the audio content to our X-Digital Hub, it eliminates that major expense while increasing their margins,” Hagans said in a statement.

Clear Channel’s X-Digital satellite receivers are designed to provide live broadcasts, store and forward, copy split/spot insertion of localized advertising, live audio record, playback time-shifting and addressability. The broadcaster will support the satellite service from its primary uplink network located near Denver, Colo.