Frequently Asked Questions
General FAQ
What is KBIA?
Where are KBIA's offices?
Can I hear KBIA outside of mid-Missouri?
How can I get in touch with KBIA?
How can I find out more about a program or piece of music I heard on KBIA?
What affiliation does KBIA have with MU?What is KBIA's relationship to NPR?
How do I donate money to KBIA?
HD Radio FAQ
What is HD Radio?
Are there really "three KBIAs"?
What else does HD Radio have to offer?
Will I have to buy a new receiver?
Can you recommend a new receiver?
Is there a subscription fee?
Who else is going digital?
General FAQ
What is KBIA?
KBIA is a University of Missouri-licensed public radio station broadcasting out of Columbia, Missouri. KBIA has been a National Public Radio member station since joining the mid-Missouri airwaves on May 1, 1972, and also carries programming from Public Radio International, American Public Media, and other national and local sources. | Top
Where are KBIA's offices?
KBIA is located at 215 Lee Hills Hall on the campus of The University of Missouri at Columbia in Columbia, MO, 65211. Our mailing address is 217 Lee Hills Hall, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211. | Top
Can I hear KBIA outside of mid-Missouri?
KBIA has a repeater station, KKTR, at 89.7 FM, broadcasting from the campus of Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, and covering all of Kirksville and most of Adair County. KBIA also is carried on KAUD 90.5 FM in Mexico, Missouri and surrounding Audrain County. The KBIA 91.3 FM signal broadcasts from the KOMU-TV tower, located six miles south of Columbia. The primary signal radius of KBIA is about 60 miles; KBIA's digital-only side channels are available in a somewhat more concentrated area. All three KBIA channels are available worldwide in live streaming audio. | Top
How can I get in touch with KBIA?
On our contact page you will find e-mail links for each of our personnel. For general queries, you can reach KBIA by calling 573-882-3431 or 800-292-9136. | Top
How can I find out more about a program or piece of music I heard on KBIA?
Using the date and time you were listening as reference, you can follow the links from our broadcast schedule to our local classical music playlists or our national network-programs' Web sites. Many of our programs are available on-demand as podcasts. If you are in need of further assistance, then please call us at 882-9136 or 800-292-9136 or email kbia@kbia.org. | Top
What affiliation does KBIA have with MU? The KBIA broadcast license and facilities are held by the University of Missouri. KBIA is, however, funded primarily through the support of listeners and corporate underwriters. | Top
What is KBIA's relationship to NPR?
KBIA is not owned by NPR. KBIA is a member station of NPR, meaning that we pay fees to broadcast shows that NPR distributes. KBIA also pays fees to broadcast programs from Public Radio International, American Public Media, and other distributors. KBIA, in turn, asks listeners for financial support to defray these program costs. Listeners nationwide donate money directly to their local public-radio stations, and not to NPR or other program distributors. | Top
How do I donate money to KBIA?
You can donate through KBIA's secure pledge page. We encourage you to use it, whether you are a new or renewing member, and to view the pledge incentives available there. You are also free to e-mail, call or write us so we can send you a pledge form. Listeners like you make KBIA's programming possible. Thank you! | Top
HD Radio FAQ
KBIA is broadcasting in digital and we're offering you three program streams at 91.3 FM in mid-Missouri and 90.5 in Mexico, Mo.
What is HD Radio?
HD Radio is "High Definition Radio," the new standard for radio broadcasting. With the approval of the Federal Communications Commission and the support of most of the radio industry, a company called iBiquity has developed IBOC (In-Band On-Channel) Digital Audio Broadcasting technology. IBOC practically eliminates the noise and interference responsible for the static, hiss, pops, and fades that compromise today's analog radio reception. | Top
Are there really "three KBIAs"?
Yes! In the spring of '05, NPR launched a multicasting project, known as Tomorrow Radio, designed to split each station's digital bandwidth into two or more audio streams. Having received FCC approval to offer Tomorrow Radio, KBIA started providing a digital simulcast of our current analog signal on HD-1, plus another two channels, called KBIA2 and KBIA3, that offer an entirely separate, complementary program services. News (HD-1) and classical music (HD-2), as well as Adult Contemporary (HD-3). It's here, thanks to KBIA and KBIA2 and KBIA3! Click through for streaming audio links in our top menu player and our multicast program schedules! | Top
What are some other benefits of HD Radio technology?
The new digital audio-compression technology allows radio stations to deliver wireless data services. This data, known as PAD (Program Associated Data) or PSD (Program Service Data), is on our broadcast now. | Top
Will I have to buy a new radio receiver?
In order to take advantage of the benefits of digital, you will need a digital receiver. HD Radio receivers allow you to receive a digital broadcast of KBIA at 91.3 FM. How does this work? IBOC technology makes use of the existing radio band (In-Band) by adding digital carriers to KBIA's analog signal, allowing us to transmit digitally on our existing channel assignment (On-Channel). KBIA is transmitting in the "Hybrid Mode" - a simultaneous analog and digital signal at 91.3 FM. Your current radio will continue to receive the analog 91.3 FM, allowing for a smooth transition to a digital world. | Top
How can I get an HD Radio receiver?
We routinely offer HD Radios as a premium option for donating to KBIA. Contact us if you have questions.| Top
Will I have to pay a monthly subscription fee for HD Radio?
No. Unlike the only other providers of "digital radio" - the satellite radio companies Sirius and XM, which act like a cable service, charging consumers at least $10 per month - stations such as KBIA continue to provide their programming at no monthly cost to the listener. | Top
Was KBIA the first to take the digital plunge?
KBIA was among the more than 80 stations that received a construction grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in the spring of 2004, and KBIA was mid-Missouri's first radio station to "go digital," at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3, 2005! On February 28, 2006, KBIA became the first radio station in Missouri, and one of the first 18 public radio stations in America, to multicast. Our third channel appeared at 91.3 FM on November 26, 2007. Be listening for more information about further progress with program service data and multicasting, and more recommendations for later-generation digital receivers. Stay tuned! | Top