The Digital Dial Expands: Pattison Media Drives HD Radio Growth in Winnipeg

The digital radio landscape in Manitoba is growing rapidly. Over the last few months, Pattison Media has significantly upgraded its local broadcast capabilities, bringing crystal-clear digital sound and more choices to Winnipeg and Selkirk drivers.

If you’ve bought a vehicle in the last several years, you might already have access to a completely free, upgraded audio experience right on your dashboard without even realizing it.

Here is how the local digital lineup is expanding and how you can tune in today.

Winnipeg’s Growing HD Radio Lineup

While Pattison Media pioneered its early digital offerings in Vancouver, moving alternative rock legacy station 102.7 The PEAK to an HD sub-channel in July 2022 followed by HD1 on 93.7 JR Country. Winnipeg’s history with the technology actually goes back a year earlier.

The city’s very first taste of digital broadcasting arrived on September 21, 2021, when CKJS officially launched its new 92.7 FM signal, making it the first station in Manitoba to broadcast in HD Radio.

Now, the city is experiencing a major secondary wave of digital growth:

• February 11, 2026: Pattison officially added its third corporate HD station when QX104 Country (CFQX-FM)turned on its brand-new digital transmitter serving Winnipeg and Selkirk.
• May 26, 2026: The digital expansion continued as Pattison added HD Radio capabilities to ALT 94.3 (CHNW-FM). The station is currently in its mandatory 21-day Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) technical testing phase, which runs through June 17th.

While other local stations like Energy 106 and Power 97 have previously secured technical approvals for digital broadcasting, they have not yet turned on HD signals. 

How HD Radio Works (And What It Means in Your Car)

HD Radio is not satellite radio, and it is not internet streaming. It is the digital broadcast of your favorite local FM frequencies over the air.

Instead of replacing the analog signal, HD Radio technology allows a radio station to compress a digital signal and piggyback it on the exact same frequency they’ve always used. Because it’s a broadcast signal, it is 100% free for life and uses absolutely zero cellular data.

When you tune your car stereo to an HD-equipped station like 104.1 or 94.3, your receiver automatically locks onto the digital feed. The in-car experience upgrades instantly in three major ways:

• Superior Audio Quality: Digital signals eliminate the background hiss, static, and signal fading typical of traditional analog radio. FM sound quality is instantly elevated to crisp, near-CD quality with deep bass and distinct stereo separation.
• Enhanced Dashboard Data: Your car screen comes alive with real-time metadata. Depending on your vehicle’s display, you will see song titles, artist names, full-colour album art, station logos, and instant traffic or weather updates.
• The “Multicast” Channels: One frequency can now hold multiple stations. While HD1 carries the primary station you know and love, broadcasters can use HD2 or HD3 to air completely separate, sub-channeled radio formats on the exact same dial position. (Note: For the time being, Pattison will not have HD2 or HD3 sub-channels active).

How to Tune In Today

If your vehicle is equipped with an HD Radio receiver, listening is seamless.

Simply tune your dial to 94.3 FM or 104.1 FM. Your radio will play the traditional analog station for a brief second before the “HD” logo illuminates on your dashboard, indicating the receiver has locked onto the digital signal.

To learn more about the ongoing technical upgrades, visit the dedicated digital broadcasting sections online at ALT 94.3or QX104 Country.

Bringing Media Leadership Back to Winnipeg

Today, by adopting HD technology, Winnipeg is punching well above its weight class, quietly outstripping larger prairie neighbors like Calgary and Edmonton, and matching major markets out East to build one of the most advanced digital broadcast dials in Canada.