FCC Approves Digital AM

[boombox4]

The one thing I'll say that makes the whole "All-digital" AM different from AM Stereo is the availability of receivers. Lots of cars have HD radios. You can buy them in a lot of places. When AM Stereo came out and the 5 systems were competing for stations, there were very few receivers available because manufacturers didn't want to put money behind a system that didn't win. After AM had largely lost all music, you could find C-Quam receivers, but there really wasn't any reason to get one at that point.

I don't know what will happen if the FCC adopts this rule, but I'm okay with it. I'll mostly be interested to see how many stations flip to all-digital and in what markets that happens. It's hard to imagine that some big market popular AM station would do it, but there are plenty of good signals in big markets with low or no ratings that might.

Having been alive during the AM Stereo thing, I agree that the availability of HD radios is greater than it was with AM stereo radios when AM stereo was introduced. That doesn't mean HD radio will be a massive thing, though -- but it may be a factor in it lasting a bit longer.

 

[Kelly A]

Having been alive during the AM Stereo thing, I agree that the availability of HD radios is greater than it was with AM stereo radios when AM stereo was introduced. That doesn't mean HD radio will be a massive thing, though -- but it may be a factor in it lasting a bit longer.

I don't think anything radio, or for that matter, broadcast-related will ever be a "massive thing" again. Those days are long gone.

 

[Ralph Martin]

I don't think anything radio, or for that matter, broadcast-related will ever be a "massive thing" again. Those days are long gone.

Hey fellow broadcasters,

Here's a positive note for the holidays:

I love that we're starting to accept AM all-digital radio, or At least, take the possibility that it might work. I think it will.

Some might say digital broadcasting is too little, too late for radio. Cheer up!!

I'm certainly not turning off our transmitter anytime soon. We broadcasters already have wonderful online streaming and on-demand podcasting capability. Add powerful interactive platforms with the usual social media presence, and we're all set. We can even do video streaming, just like TV. Sure, we do all of it and still wouldn't think of turning off our terrestrial transmitters -- at least until nobody wants to hear it that way anymore. It's a perfect choice.

We do HD hybrid. All-digital FM isn't an issue for us yet. But, all-digital AM is intriguing! I hope it works out for the medium wave broadcasters. I think it might be the saving grace for the legacy band.

Radio is very much alive. I have online capability both as a media consumer and as a broadcaster. I still listen to the radio. Despite providing a wide range of options, most of our audience listens to us on the radio. They don't have to, but they do. Ultimately, it doesn't matter whether they hear us on their analog radio, or their HD radio, or their smartphone, or their laptop, or smart speakers or whatever floats their boat. We're here for them!!"

Hey, fellow broadcasters (or should I say, "mass-media content providers")!! We'll all keep producing great radio however our devoted audience wants to receive it!! Am I right?!

Happy Holidays!!
Ralph KVCB 100.9
www.vcsradio.com

 

[Ralph Martin]

Hey fellow broadcasters,

Here's a positive note for the holidays:

I love that we're starting to accept AM all-digital radio, or At least, take the possibility that it might work. I think it will.

Some might say digital broadcasting is too little, too late for radio. Cheer up!!

I'm certainly not turning off our transmitter anytime soon. We broadcasters already have wonderful online streaming and on-demand podcasting capability. Add powerful interactive platforms with the usual social media presence, and we're all set. We can even do video streaming, just like TV. Sure, we do all of it and still wouldn't think of turning off our terrestrial transmitters -- at least until nobody wants to hear it that way anymore. It's a perfect choice.

We do HD hybrid. All-digital FM isn't an issue for us yet. But, all-digital AM is intriguing! I hope it works out for the medium wave broadcasters. I think it might be the saving grace for the legacy band.

Radio is very much alive. I have online capability both as a media consumer and as a broadcaster. I still listen to the radio. Despite providing a wide range of options, most of our audience listens to us on the radio. They don't have to, but they do. Ultimately, it doesn't matter whether they hear us on their analog radio, or their HD radio, or their smartphone, or their laptop, or smart speakers or whatever floats their boat. We're here for them!!"

Hey, fellow broadcasters (or should I say, "mass-media content providers")!! We'll all keep producing great radio however our devoted audience wants to receive it!! Am I right?!

Happy Holidays!!
Ralph KVCB 100.9
www.vcsradio.com

I know, I sound like a commercial for radio. I'm just excited about the future. Thank you all for the inspiration

Ralph

 

[rbc]

I know, I sound like a commercial for radio. I'm just excited about the future. Thank you all for the inspiration

Ralph

It's good to hear some positive attitudes about the future of radio. Keep pushing. Thanks.

 

[Jimmy Backrow]

One thing concerns me; going all digital would mean killing off the analog signal, thus limiting it to ONLY receivers that can decode it.
Who's going to buy a new type of radio in this day and age?
A lot of new cars have comparable radios...true...but...
Have you tried to find a radio locally over the past few years?
The days of having several to chose from in almost any kind of store at all is long gone. Now it's extremely rare to find even one available.
If regular radios are in such low demand, why would broadcasters take a chance with cutting off (practically) all of the ones in use today in exchange for something that would require buying a new radio?
Another concern is that to an untrained ear a digital signal on the AM dial is going to sound like a bunch of noise/static, thus possibly adding to the reputation that the band is a static filled mess. The less "noise" on the band the better.
If we want pure digal so badly, and think that it would be a demand for it; why not do it on the old channel 2 - 6 low VHF TV band?

 

[PTBoardOp94]

If we want pure digal so badly, and think that it would be a demand for it; why not do it on the old channel 2 - 6 low VHF TV band?

I think everyone in the industry would prefer that, but the FCC has refused.

As far as who would do all-digital AM? Someone with an FM translator. Suppose you have a translator that covers 80% or 90% of your community well. Almost all of the listening is on there, but the 1kW AM it's attached to probably has better coverage. If you can make that 1kW AM sound better, it might earn you some listeners where the FM translator coverage is poor.

 

[Ralph Martin]

I think everyone in the industry would prefer that, but the FCC has refused.

As far as who would do all-digital AM? Someone with an FM translator. Suppose you have a translator that covers 80% or 90% of your community well. Almost all of the listening is on there, but the 1kW AM it's attached to probably has better coverage. If you can make that 1kW AM sound better, it might earn you some listeners where the FM translator coverage is poor.

I agree, They're still free to remain analog if desired. The old AM technology has rendered the band increasingly unprofitable -- so much so that it has become a discussion of urgent revitalization. I doubt this move will remove analog completely. At this point, it seems the medium wave broadcasters should be given a chance to choose their new path.

 

[davideduardo]

I think everyone in the industry would prefer that, but the FCC has refused.

I don't know of anyone "in the industry" who wants to make a major investment in a new band and technology. The focus by owners and, of course, users, is on web based options.

AM stereo did not work. HD really did not work (except to be an excuse for a new analog translator). Nobody will buy a radio for a new band with just a few stations, all filled with commercials.

 

[rbc]

I don't know of anyone "in the industry" who wants to make a major investment in a new band and technology. The focus by owners and, of course, users, is on web based options.

AM stereo did not work. HD really did not work (except to be an excuse for a new analog translator). Nobody will buy a radio for a new band with just a few stations, all filled with commercials.

Hubbard and the NAB seem keen on the idea of digital. Some of the articles I've read highlight fears that stations that go digital, may take audience away from the remaining analog stations. I suppose this is most keenly felt by stations that don't have the capital to invest in all-digital broadcast equipment. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the marketplace.

 

[Kelly A]

Hubbard and the NAB seem keen on the idea of digital. Some of the articles I've read highlight fears that stations that go digital, may take audience away from the remaining analog stations. I suppose this is most keenly felt by stations that don't have the capital to invest in all-digital broadcast equipment. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the marketplace.

That's because roughly 20% of the cars on the road already have the capability for receiving HD AM or FM. Those existing radios will already receive digital only AM (MA3).
And digital taking away from existing analog stations? They call that competition. But personally, I don't believe anyone has to worry about AM digital catching fire like IPhones. The chance of that ship sailing ended 35+ years ago.

 

[anotherguyTN]

Even if digital AM takes off, if the formats don't improve what's the point?

 

[rbc]

Even if digital AM takes off, if the formats don't improve what's the point?

I think the improved fidelity of all digital AM will open some doors for programming that wouldn't have been tried on AM in the past. WWFD has been running a music format.