Current HD Radio Offerings

HD Radio is an exciting technology that allows radio stations to broadcast digitally in CD-like sound. Even better, it also enables stations to “multicast” additional channels on a single frequency. This means more options for listeners with HD-capable radios, and more options for stations to explore new and innovative content.

Minnesota Public Radio is now broadcasting all three of our services—MPR News, YourClassical MPR and The Current®—on HD Radio in several communities throughout the state. In the Twin Cities, we’re also multicasting Classical 24®, BBC News and More, music exploring Prince’s musical legacy on Purple Current, and a music service that’s an eclectic mix of acoustic, Americana, and roots music: Radio Heartland®.

  • Twin Cities

    • Radio Frequency: KNOW 91.1

    • HD1: KNOW 91.1

    • HD2: Radio Heartland

    • HD3: BBC News and More

  • Twin Cities

    • Radio Frequency: KSJN 99.5

    • HD1: KSJN 99.5

    • HD2: Classical 24

  • Twin Cities

    • Radio Frequency: KCMP 89.3

    • HD1: KCMP 89.3

    • HD2: Carbon Sound

  • Appleton

    • Radio Frequency: KNCM 91.3

    • HD1: KNCM 91.3

  • Appleton

    • Radio Frequency: KRSU 88.5

    • HD1: KRSU 88.5

  • Austin

  • Bemidji

    • Radio Frequency: KCRB 88.5

    • HD1: KCRB 88.5

  • Bemidji

    • Radio Frequency: KNBJ 91.3

    • HD1: KNBJ 91.3

  • Duluth/Superior

    • Radio Frequency: WSCN 100.5

    • HD1: WSCN 100.5

    • HD2: The Current

  • Duluth/Superior

    • Radio Frequency: WSCD 92.9

    • HD1: WSCD 92.9

  • Ely

  • Fargo/Moorhead

    • Radio Frequency: KCCD 90.3

    • HD1: KCCD 90.3

  • Fargo/Moorhead

    • Radio Frequency: KCCM 91.1

    • HD1: KCCM 91.1

  • Grand Rapids

    • Radio Frequency: KGRP 89.7

    • HD1: KGRP 89.7

    • HD2: The Current

  • Grand Marais

    • Radio Frequency: WLSN 89.7

    • HD1: WLSN 89.7

  • Grand Marais

    • Radio Frequency: WMLS 88.7

    • HD1: WMLS 88.7

  • Hinckley

    • Radio Frequency: WGRH 88.5

    • HD1: WGRH 88.5

  • International Falls

  • Rochester

  • Rochester

    • Radio Frequency: KLSE 90.7

    • HD1: KLSE 90.7

  • Rochester

    • Radio Frequency: KMSE 88.7

    • HD1: KMSE 88.7

  • Roseau/Warroad

  • Sioux Falls

    • Radio Frequency: KRSD 88.1

    • HD1: KRSD 88.1

  • St. Cloud

    • Radio Frequency: KNSR 88.9

    • HD1: KNSR 88.9

    • HD2: The Current

  • St. Cloud

    • Radio Frequency: KSJR 90.1

    • HD1: KSJR 90.1

  • St. Peter

    • Radio Frequency: KGAC 91.5

    • HD1: KGAC 91.5

    • HD2: The Current

  • St. Peter

  • Thief River Falls

    • Radio Frequency: KNTN 102.7

    • HD1: KNTN 102.7

  • Thief River Falls

    • Radio Frequency: KQMN 91.5

    • HD1: KQMN 91.5

  • Worthington

  • Worthington

    • Radio Frequency: KRSW 89.3

    • HD1: KRSW 89.3

Programming on additional HD Radio channels is still evolving and is subject to change.

Extending the reach of The Current in HD to new audiences in Minnesota

The Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund support the start-up costs to make The Current, MPR’s acclaimed music station, available to more than 350,000 new listeners in Stearns, Pope, Todd, Morrison, Benton, Sherburne, Wright, Meeker and Kandiyohi Counties on digital radio. The Current will provide Central Minnesota listeners with the best new music alongside the music that inspired it, from local to legendary, indie to influential, new to nostalgic, including a heavy emphasis on Minnesota-based musicians, composers and musical groups.

Frequently asked questions

  1. What is HD Radio®?

    HD Radio® has a clear signal—generally free of static or interference, regardless of the presence of tall buildings or other obstacles—and sounds like a CD.

    Additionally, multicasting gives us the option of having up to three channels per frequency. Each channel has the potential to broadcast completely different content.

  2. Why is Minnesota Public Radio investing in HD Radio technology?

    Minnesota Public Radio constantly seeks to improve its service to listeners and is updating its technology offerings in order to do so. HD Radios allow listeners to enjoy broadcasts with the highest quality sound and without static or interference in areas of marginal signal quality.

    In addition, HD radio technology will allow Minnesota Public Radio to broadcast multiple programs over the same frequency. For listeners, that will mean more options for music, entertainment and news programming from Minnesota Public Radio.

    Minnesota Public Radio is constantly looking for opportunities to create meaningful, engaging public service programming for our audiences. HD Radio® multicasting provides us the opportunity to experiment, expand and diversify our offerings to our listeners, particularly as we offer new content such as The Current’s Local Current™ and provide the BBC News and More and Radio Heartland.®

  3. How does HD Radio fit into MPR’s overall mission?

    The mission of Minnesota Public Radio regionally and American Public Media nationally is to enrich the mind and nourish the spirit, thereby enhancing the lives and expanding the perspectives of our audiences, and assisting them in strengthening their communities.

    By providing another vehicle for delivering quality programming, HD Radio increases our ability to expand and diversify our offerings to our listeners. It is also a unique opportunity to explore new and innovative content, test new ideas and gather feedback from listeners.

  4. What new content will be offered in the Twin Cities?

    MPR views HD Radio as an opportunity and place to experiment with new programming and broadcast special projects, as we are always reviewing and exploring new programming ideas.

    Each of our three services—Classical Minnesota Public Radio, News & Information and The Current—multicast in the Twin Cities metropolitan area with the following programs: > Classical 24® is a nationally syndicated, 24-hour, seven-day-a-week live-hosted classical music service produced by American Public Media and distributed by Public Radio International. > BBC News and More is the BBC World Service, an international news service and additional programming. The BBC World Service is the world’s leading international broadcaster, attracting global audiences of at least 150 million listeners each week. It aims to be the best known and most respected voice in international radio broadcasting. Its values of accuracy, impartiality, objectivity, trust and internationalism are respected globally. The BBC World Service marks its 75th anniversary this year. > Additional programming on BBC News and More will include popular regional and national programming during overnight hours heard on KNOW 91.1 FM earlier in the day. > Radio Heartland® is a Web—and HD Radio—service featuring acoustic and Americana music played throughout the day. The programming is unpretentious and fun, with songs by coffeehouse songwriters, jazz divas, Zydeco accordionists, Cajun fiddlers, Broadway stars, movie stars, ukulele virtuosos, big bands, string bands, cowboys and cornballs. > Local Current™ is a service featuring all Minnesota music, all the time. Enjoy your favorite Minnesota artists 24/7, from emerging bands to the local legends who inspired them. Local Current is also streamed online.

  5. How were the decisions made about content?

    First, we look at expanding and enhancing our current offerings on our three services: Classical, News and The Current. Next, we ask staff for their insights and then weigh our options against available resources and a modest budget.

  6. Will HD Radio require any additional personnel to operate?

    We are hoping to achieve credible channel content without committing a lot of additional time or money on an ongoing basis. The challenge is in creating original content, which has already been done in Europe.

  7. How is digital transition funded?

    The majority of funding for MPR’s HD Radio conversion efforts has come from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which is a nonprofit organization established by the United States Congress in 1967 to distribute funding to public broadcasting entities in the U.S. The CPB has awarded MPR 38 individual HD Radio conversion grants since 2003; in 2007, the State of Minnesota appropriated $2 million toward the project.

  8. When did Minnesota Public Radio’s new multicast channels first become available?

    December 1, 2007 is the official launch date.

  9. How far-reaching will the HD Radio signal be?

    HD Radio should have the same listening area as the analog services.

  10. How can listeners access Minnesota Public Radio’s HD services?

    Listeners will need a radio capable of picking up the digital radio signal. As stations across the country add HD broadcast capability, HD-ready receivers are becoming more available and increasingly affordable. HD radios are available at publicradiomarket.org where a portion of your order will also support Minnesota Public Radio. HD radio receivers for your home and car are sold at Best Buy, Target, Radio Shack, The Sharper Image and Wal-Mart.

  11. Can I pick up non-digital (analog) stations on my HD Radio receiver?

    Yes! HD Radio receivers are capable of picking up signals from analog radio stations. Analog radios, however, cannot pick up HD Radio signals.

  12. Which other Minnesota Public Radio stations are capable of offering HD Radio to listeners?

    See above

  13. When will HD Radio be available in other parts of the state?

    Work continues on offering HD Radio service for Minnesota Public Radio stations around the state of Minnesota.

  14. When did Minnesota Public Radio start broadcasting in HD Radio?

    In June 2005, KSJN 99.5 FM became the first of Minnesota Public Radio’s stations to broadcast in hybrid digital (HD) sound.