iBiquity Digital Corporation

iBiquity Digital Corporation operates as the exclusive developer and licensor of HD Radio technology, the only method approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for upgrading AM/FM radio broadcasting from analog to digital in the United States. The company was formed in 2000 through a merger between USA Digital Radio and Lucent Digital Radio, combining their respective advancements in transmitter and receiver technologies to establish a unified digital radio standard. In October 2015, iBiquity was acquired by DTS, Inc. for approximately $172 million, integrating its HD Radio technology into DTS's portfolio of high-definition audio solutions.

The core of iBiquity's business is the licensing of its intellectual property, HD Radio, to a wide array of partners. Its client base includes radio broadcasters, leading automotive manufacturers, consumer electronics producers, and semiconductor companies. The company's revenue is generated through these licensing agreements, a model centered on recurring revenue streams. iBiquity has established a significant presence in the North American automotive market, with its technology being a standard feature in many vehicles.

HD Radio technology enables terrestrial radio broadcasters to transmit a digital signal alongside their traditional analog broadcast. This service is provided to listeners for free, without a subscription. The technology offers several benefits to the end-user, including improved, crystal-clear sound quality for both AM and FM bands, a reduction in static and interference, and the elimination of signal fades. A key feature is multicasting, which allows a single station to broadcast multiple channels of content (HD2/HD3) on the same frequency. Additionally, the technology supports the transmission of digital data services, enabling the display of information such as song titles, artist names, traffic updates, and weather alerts on the receiver's screen.

Keywords: HD Radio, digital broadcasting, AM/FM digital radio, IBOC, in-band on-channel, radio technology, audio broadcasting, multicasting, digital signal, automotive audio, broadcast technology, intellectual property licensing, consumer electronics audio, DTS, Xperi, digital radio conversion, data services, terrestrial radio, improved audio quality