San Diego/Tijuana Retro Dial, May 2000

[Bluenoser]

from San Diego Union-Tribune

AM Dial
540 X-Bach IClassical)
550 KCR (Alternative)
600 KOGO (News/Talk)
690 XTRA (Sports)
760 KFMB (Talk/Sports) CBS
800 XEMM (Mexican Variety)
860 XEMO (Regional Mexican)
910 KECR (Religious)
1000 KCEO (Financial Talk/Health)
1040 KURS (Spanish Music & Info)
1130 KSDO (News/Financial Talk) ABC
1170 KCBQ (Conservative Talk)
1210 KPRZ (Christian Talk)
1240 KSON (Radio Disney)
1320 KKSM (Adult Alternative)
1360 KPOP (Nostalgia) NBC
1420 XEXX (Spanish News & Sports)
1450 KSPA (Adult Standards) ABC
1470 XERCN (Spanish Tropical)
1550 XEBG (Spanish Sports)

FM Dial
88.3 KSDS (Jazz)
88.7 XHITT (Public)
89.5 KPBS (News) NPR
90.3 XHTZ (Contemporary Rhythmic)
90.7 XLNC (Classical)
91.1 91X (Cutting-Edge Rock)
91.7 XHITM (Mexican Regional)
92.1 KFSD (Classical)
92.5 XHRM (AC)
93.3 KHTS (Country)
94.1 KJOY (Soft Oldies)
94.5 XHTY (Romantic Spanish)
95.9 K-Best 95 (Oldies)
95.7 KMSX (AC)
96.5 KYSY (Soft Favorites)
97.3 KSON (Country)
97.7 XTIM (Regional Mexican)
98.1 KIFM (Smooth Jazz)
98,9 XHMORE (Alternative)
99 KCR (CAFM Alternative)
99.3 XHCR (Hot Country)
99.7 XHTY (Young Country Hits)
100.1 KLVW (Country)
100.7 Star (AC)
101.5 KGB (Classic Rock)
102.1 Sets FM (Adult Album Alternative)
102.5 XHUAN (Ranchera)
102.9 KLQV (Spanish Contemporary)
103.7 The Planet (Classic Hits)
104.5 XLTN (Spanish Contemporary)
105.3 Rock 105 (Rock)
106.5 KLNV (Ranchera/Banda)
107.1 KSYY (Modern Rock)
107.3 XHFG (Spanish Contemporary)
107.7 XHRST (Spanish Contemporary)
107.9 KWVE (Religious)

 

[GEDA1990]

This stations they no longer appeared on San Diego Union-Tribune in that year, previously appears some years ago

950 XKAM (Spanish News/Talk)
1090 XPRS (Spanish Variety)
1270 XEAZ (Spanish Music & Info)
1310 XEC (Spanish Music & Info)

 

[e-dawg]

I do see some mistakes from the San Union-Tribune newspaper.

91.1 91X alternative
92.5 Magic Rhythmic Oldies
93.3 Channel CHR-Pop
95.7 MIX HOT-AC
99.7 Regional Mexican
100.7 Star Modern AC

 

[davideduardo]

What is 550 (AM) "KCR"?

 

[Mediafrog+]

What is 550 (AM) "KCR"?

Station run by San Diego State University. The 550 frequency appears to have been a carrier current operation that covered the campus. Also had a cable FM presence on 98.9. Apparently later on 1610, perhaps Part 15 OTA?

Present website: KCR College Radio - The Sound of State

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KCR_(SDSU)

 

[powers]

I actually think I remember hearing the KCR signal on 550 driving on Highway 52 near the Tierrasanta area of San Diego. It was very weak but listenable. I think they had actually fired it up over the air for a very short time, I want to say sometime about 15 or 20 years ago. I remember hearing that the FCC had approved them to go on the air with very low power, but it didn't last long. When I was a student at SDSU I NEVER heard the station on 550. I remember driving the campus loop with my AM radio on and not hearing a thing but static. It might have been on 1610, but I thought there was a TIS station based at the stadium on that frequency.

I do remember the 98.9 on Cable FM. Cox would try to get you to pay for Cable FM, but if you bought an antenna splitter (remember those with a coax female connector?) and hooked it up to the FM antenna terminals you got the Cable FM regardless. Back then it was really the same stations you got anyway on FM, plus KCR from SDSU and 95.7 KSDT from UCSD, stereo audio from HBO and/or Showtime, KUSC from Los Angeles (no other LA stations which kind of was disappointing) and I think KOGO in its early days as a news talk station even had an FM presence on cable. it was over 30 years ago, so I can't remember exactly.

 

[TomásEstefan]

Speaking of the SD radio dial, some time ago I believe there was a CP for a new station to go on the air in the SD market on either 1400 or 1490 possibly licensed to Lemon Grove. Does anyone know what ever became of that?

 

[sdwulfdawg]

I actually think I remember hearing the KCR signal on 550 driving on Highway 52 near the Tierrasanta area of San Diego. It was very weak but listenable. I think they had actually fired it up over the air for a very short time, I want to say sometime about 15 or 20 years ago. I remember hearing that the FCC had approved them to go on the air with very low power, but it didn't last long. When I was a student at SDSU I NEVER heard the station on 550. I remember driving the campus loop with my AM radio on and not hearing a thing but static. It might have been on 1610, but I thought there was a TIS station based at the stadium on that frequency.

I do remember the 98.9 on Cable FM. Cox would try to get you to pay for Cable FM, but if you bought an antenna splitter (remember those with a coax female connector?) and hooked it up to the FM antenna terminals you got the Cable FM regardless. Back then it was really the same stations you got anyway on FM, plus KCR from SDSU and 95.7 KSDT from UCSD, stereo audio from HBO and/or Showtime, KUSC from Los Angeles (no other LA stations which kind of was disappointing) and I think KOGO in its early days as a news talk station even had an FM presence on cable. it was over 30 years ago, so I can't remember exactly.

Cox killed off all of their Cable FM offerings and then killed them off when they made them into TV channels on their system.

 

[Sixeye]

I actually think I remember hearing the KCR signal on 550 driving on Highway 52 near the Tierrasanta area of San Diego. It was very weak but listenable. I think they had actually fired it up over the air for a very short time, I want to say sometime about 15 or 20 years ago. I remember hearing that the FCC had approved them to go on the air with very low power, but it didn't last long. When I was a student at SDSU I NEVER heard the station on 550. I remember driving the campus loop with my AM radio on and not hearing a thing but static. It might have been on 1610, but I thought there was a TIS station based at the stadium on that frequency.

I do remember the 98.9 on Cable FM. Cox would try to get you to pay for Cable FM, but if you bought an antenna splitter (remember those with a coax female connector?) and hooked it up to the FM antenna terminals you got the Cable FM regardless. Back then it was really the same stations you got anyway on FM, plus KCR from SDSU and 95.7 KSDT from UCSD, stereo audio from HBO and/or Showtime, KUSC from Los Angeles (no other LA stations which kind of was disappointing) and I think KOGO in its early days as a news talk station even had an FM presence on cable. it was over 30 years ago, so I can't remember exactly.

According to Wikipedia, KCR did operate on both 550 and 1610 AM over the air in years gone by. The article doesn't state what years it was on the air though. Perhaps someone here can shed light on that.

Now for some other history. I worked in the cable industry for 43 years and at Cox San Diego for nearly 28 before retiring in late 2020. The FM radio service that the industry provided was sort of a bonus thing. Yes, at one time, cable companies charged a monthly fee for "additional outlets" and the FM radio connection was considered such even if it was a simple splitter behind the TV feeding the FM receive on a shelf underneath the TV or nearby. It was the standard thinking of the time. As we all know, that was later eliminated.

Originally almost all FM was received and passed on as a broadband service in the 88-108 MHz spectrum on the cable lines. Depending on where the antenna was, propagation could fade in and out, and in higher sunspot years, even get clobbered by distant FM stations (F2 skip!). Imagine having to explain that to customers! Later came cable industry built FM radio processors which allowed on channel or even off channel conversions and stable output levels but of course not stable input levels. This helped but wasn't a fix-all because while now the RF signal level was stable on the cable, the input to the processors was varying in some cases and thus the signal quality was too. Let's just say though that it was MUCH better than just passing the FM band from off-air to the cable line/feed. Prior to the processors, we were spending an inordinate amount of time on FM radio signal quality at cable systems in SoCal.

In the case of KCR and KSDT (UCSD's station), there were a small handful of us in engineering that championed continued coverage on the cable system. The idea was twofold in that the stations propagated potential future industry people, and they were stations that couldn't be had OTA at home. So even when Marketing was blase about them, we championed their continued existence on cable. BTW, COX relayed KCR and KSDT to Southwestern Cable (now Spectrum). COX received the two stations via leased telco lines. The baseband audio fed modulators at Cox and fiber optic transmitters to Southwestern. KUSC was one we received via satellite and put on cable, also relaying to Southwestern.

Changes did come down the pike later at Cox and Spectrum where analog FM no longer had a place since all TV signals had been converted to digital QAM signals. Thus, the FM stations were digitized and carried on their own "TV channels" received by a cable box. At that point, you could no longer receive the FM stations on an FM tuner. This was actually par for the course across the industry.

Some time later, Spectrum here in San Diego actually dropped all FM carriage. I can't speak to why but I can guess. And no, I doubt that it was due to lack of listenership. Cox did the same in 2021 (after my retirement). This had to do with the conversion of all signals on the system from MPEG2 to MPEG4, which was a huge spectrum efficiency move. If you've been following the cellular companies OTA spectrum needs/growth, and the FCC's accommodation of such via spectrum compactions and auctions, you know that spectrum efficiency is a big deal. The same is true on cable and satellite. For cable, it's about making as much spectrum as possible available for that thing called "the world wide web," or more accurately, internet service. As the need and demand for higher speeds continues to grow, the cable industry has continued to evolve efficiencies in spectrum management. The move from MPEG2 to MPEG4 was one such move. There wasn't an elegant way to deal with FM service on digital cable and increase spectrum efficiency, and in light of the fact that pretty much all FM (and even AM) stations can now be had via streaming, Cox and the rest of the industry sunsetted FM station carriage.

 

[bob_international]

According to Wikipedia, KCR did operate on both 550 and 1610 AM over the air in years gone by. The article doesn't state what years it was on the air though. Perhaps someone here can shed light on that.

Now for some other history. I worked in the cable industry for 43 years and at Cox San Diego for nearly 28 before retiring in late 2020. The FM radio service that the industry provided was sort of a bonus thing. Yes, at one time, cable companies charged a monthly fee for "additional outlets" and the FM radio connection was considered such even if it was a simple splitter behind the TV feeding the FM receive on a shelf underneath the TV or nearby. It was the standard thinking of the time. As we all know, that was later eliminated.

Originally almost all FM was received and passed on as a broadband service in the 88-108 MHz spectrum on the cable lines. Depending on where the antenna was, propagation could fade in and out, and in higher sunspot years, even get clobbered by distant FM stations (F2 skip!). Imagine having to explain that to customers! Later came cable industry built FM radio processors which allowed on channel or even off channel conversions and stable output levels but of course not stable input levels. This helped but wasn't a fix-all because while now the RF signal level was stable on the cable, the input to the processors was varying in some cases and thus the signal quality was too. Let's just say though that it was MUCH better than just passing the FM band from off-air to the cable line/feed. Prior to the processors, we were spending an inordinate amount of time on FM radio signal quality at cable systems in SoCal.

In the case of KCR and KSDT (UCSD's station), there were a small handful of us in engineering that championed continued coverage on the cable system. The idea was twofold in that the stations propagated potential future industry people, and they were stations that couldn't be had OTA at home. So even when Marketing was blase about them, we championed their continued existence on cable. BTW, COX relayed KCR and KSDT to Southwestern Cable (now Spectrum). COX received the two stations via leased telco lines. The baseband audio fed modulators at Cox and fiber optic transmitters to Southwestern. KUSC was one we received via satellite and put on cable, also relaying to Southwestern.

Changes did come down the pike later at Cox and Spectrum where analog FM no longer had a place since all TV signals had been converted to digital QAM signals. Thus, the FM stations were digitized and carried on their own "TV channels" received by a cable box. At that point, you could no longer receive the FM stations on an FM tuner. This was actually par for the course across the industry.

Some time later, Spectrum here in San Diego actually dropped all FM carriage. I can't speak to why but I can guess. And no, I doubt that it was due to lack of listenership. Cox did the same in 2021 (after my retirement). This had to do with the conversion of all signals on the system from MPEG2 to MPEG4, which was a huge spectrum efficiency move. If you've been following the cellular companies OTA spectrum needs/growth, and the FCC's accommodation of such via spectrum compactions and auctions, you know that spectrum efficiency is a big deal. The same is true on cable and satellite. For cable, it's about making as much spectrum as possible available for that thing called "the world wide web," or more accurately, internet service. As the need and demand for higher speeds continues to grow, the cable industry has continued to evolve efficiencies in spectrum management. The move from MPEG2 to MPEG4 was one such move. There wasn't an elegant way to deal with FM service on digital cable and increase spectrum efficiency, and in light of the fact that pretty much all FM (and even AM) stations can now be had via streaming, Cox and the rest of the industry sunsetted FM station carriage.

In the '70's here in Yuma, Ariz. our cable company carried KYXY and later KJQY 103.7 in their Beautiful Music days. (in addition to KLOS)

 

[powers]

Some time later, Spectrum here in San Diego actually dropped all FM carriage. I can't speak to why but I can guess. And no, I doubt that it was due to lack of listenership. Cox did the same in 2021 (after my retirement).

My dad used to have Comcast/Xfinity at his home in the Monterey area, before dropping it for DirecTV some time ago. I remember scrolling the program guide and seeing tons of FM stations. Here was the thing though. Comcast pretty much covers the entire SF Bay area from Santa Rosa down to Monterey. Even though the lineups for their local TV channels varied by the actual market served, I guess the FM lineup was more centrally located, and included FM stations from Santa Rosa, San Francisco, Monterey, etc. available to every one of the Comcast customers throughout the entire region, so it was possible to hear radio stations through the TV that weren't even available over the air in the area. I read that they dropped FM channels in 2020, instead referring customers to the iHeartRadio app and such...which is probably less costly for them anyway. Even if FM stations were not being paid to be carried, there were probably cost details involved with receiving, distributing, etc. and now it's just easier with an app. I just remember thinking how neat it was to get most of the big Bay Area FM stations, along with some smaller stations and markets that were 150+ miles away.

 

[Frequency1]

KJUX-AM's CP expired for failure to construct.

In re: KJUX(AM), Lemon Grove, CA Facility ID No. 160820 File No. BNP-20070926AMO K229DP, Lemon Grove, CA Facility ID No. 201336 File No. BNPFT-20171201AKN Tolling Request Dear Mr. Naftalin: On April 22, 2021, you filed a tolling request on behalf of Christyahna Broadcasting, Inc. (CB), permittee of AM station KJUX, Lemon Grove, California (File No. BNP-20070926AMO)(KJUX Permit), and FM translator K229DP, Lemon Grove, California (File No. BNPFT-20171201ADX) (K229DP Permit). The KJUX Permit was granted on August 29, 2018, for a three-year term expiring on August 29, 2021, and the K229DP Permit was granted on October 2, 2018 for a three-year term expiring October 2, 2021. The tolling request states that CB has been unable to construct or sell its facilities, and that tolling is warranted due to circumstances beyond the permittee’s control.

As detailed below, CB’s request is denied. CB requests that the Commission grant tolling for both permits because it has been unable to construct or sell the permits because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. CB claims that it was unable to “muster” funds to build or to meet with local officials or prospective buyers because of fears of infection. It says it hired a broker with no success. We deny CB’s COVID-19 tolling request as inadequate for the following reasons. First, radio stations are essential services and are not subject to state-imposed COVID-19 restrictions.

Permittees are expected to use workarounds, such as social distancing, masking and virtual meetings to accomplish required business. Second, CB does not provide any evidence that it attempted to construct the Stations. It claims that the pandemic affected its ability to hold face-to-face meetings with local officials or prospective buyers, but does not explain specifically how the pandemic impacted its construction requirements. Third, CB does not explain why workarounds were not possible or considered to avoid face-to-face meeting concerns. Finally, the lack of funds is not a basis for tolling, and the decision to sell the permits rather than construct them is a business decision within a permittee’s control and is thus not a basis for tolling. In order to receive more time, CB’s request should have included documentation demonstrating the specific steps it had taken to commence and complete construction and how COVID-19 had impacted those efforts. For example, CB could have provided (i) evidence that equipment was ordered on time but had been delayed due to shipment constraints or supply chain issues; (ii) correspondence from tower crews indicating that they were scheduled to install equipment but did not have the crew to send; (iii) invoices demonstrating expenditures to further construction; or (iv) leases for the tower site. CB has offered no such evidence or any similar evidence of an attempt to construct. Accordingly, tolling is denied, and the KJUX Permit will expire on August 29, 2021, and the K229DP permit will expire on October 2, 2021.

 

[TomásEstefan]

KJUX-AM's CP expired for failure to construct.

In re: KJUX(AM), Lemon Grove, CA Facility ID No. 160820 File No. BNP-20070926AMO K229DP, Lemon Grove, CA Facility ID No. 201336 File No. BNPFT-20171201AKN Tolling Request Dear Mr. Naftalin: On April 22, 2021, you filed a tolling request on behalf of Christyahna Broadcasting, Inc. (CB), permittee of AM station KJUX, Lemon Grove, California (File No. BNP-20070926AMO)(KJUX Permit), and FM translator K229DP, Lemon Grove, California (File No. BNPFT-20171201ADX) (K229DP Permit). The KJUX Permit was granted on August 29, 2018, for a three-year term expiring on August 29, 2021, and the K229DP Permit was granted on October 2, 2018 for a three-year term expiring October 2, 2021. The tolling request states that CB has been unable to construct or sell its facilities, and that tolling is warranted due to circumstances beyond the permittee’s control.

As detailed below, CB’s request is denied. CB requests that the Commission grant tolling for both permits because it has been unable to construct or sell the permits because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. CB claims that it was unable to “muster” funds to build or to meet with local officials or prospective buyers because of fears of infection. It says it hired a broker with no success. We deny CB’s COVID-19 tolling request as inadequate for the following reasons. First, radio stations are essential services and are not subject to state-imposed COVID-19 restrictions.

Permittees are expected to use workarounds, such as social distancing, masking and virtual meetings to accomplish required business. Second, CB does not provide any evidence that it attempted to construct the Stations. It claims that the pandemic affected its ability to hold face-to-face meetings with local officials or prospective buyers, but does not explain specifically how the pandemic impacted its construction requirements. Third, CB does not explain why workarounds were not possible or considered to avoid face-to-face meeting concerns. Finally, the lack of funds is not a basis for tolling, and the decision to sell the permits rather than construct them is a business decision within a permittee’s control and is thus not a basis for tolling. In order to receive more time, CB’s request should have included documentation demonstrating the specific steps it had taken to commence and complete construction and how COVID-19 had impacted those efforts. For example, CB could have provided (i) evidence that equipment was ordered on time but had been delayed due to shipment constraints or supply chain issues; (ii) correspondence from tower crews indicating that they were scheduled to install equipment but did not have the crew to send; (iii) invoices demonstrating expenditures to further construction; or (iv) leases for the tower site. CB has offered no such evidence or any similar evidence of an attempt to construct. Accordingly, tolling is denied, and the KJUX Permit will expire on August 29, 2021, and the K229DP permit will expire on October 2, 2021.

Since this station was going to be on 1400 kHz with 500 Watts ND, I'm sure they no doubt could probably have arranged to di-plex off of another existing facility, saving them time and money

 

[sdwulfdawg]

Since this station was going to be on 1400 kHz with 500 Watts ND, I'm sure they no doubt could probably have arranged to di-plex off of another existing facility, saving them time and money

I sense that this maybe a case of another KNSJ "Social Justice" 89.1 FM situation where you have individuals who have purchased the book, "Building and Running A Radio Station for Dummies" (my sarcasm). The internet has caused so many people to "think" that they are radio professionals but they obviously were not.

As it pertains to KNSJ, there is an individual connected to that station who had (has) absolutely no knowledge that different microphones can have different response sound patterns (cardoid vs. omni-directional). They repeatedly stated the attitude that "I have never heard of that" as though it didn't exist, nor did they want to know more. When you would suggest that they enroll in some radio broadcasting classes at City College or Grossmont College, "people tell me that I have a natural talent for broadcasting so why would I need to do that?"

It is just like how Activist San Diego, the licensee of KNSJ, was convinced that they could fudge on their license submission for their subsequently dead station, KUMI-FM in Ramona, and lie about the construction position of an antenna for that station and allegedly pay someone off to sign off on that application/permit.

 

[DarrenVision]

from San Diego Union-Tribune

AM Dial
540 X-Bach IClassical)
550 KCR (Alternative)
600 KOGO (News/Talk)
690 XTRA (Sports)
760 KFMB (Talk/Sports) CBS
800 XEMM (Mexican Variety)
860 XEMO (Regional Mexican)
910 KECR (Religious)
1000 KCEO (Financial Talk/Health)
1040 KURS (Spanish Music & Info)
1130 KSDO (News/Financial Talk) ABC
1170 KCBQ (Conservative Talk)
1210 KPRZ (Christian Talk)
1240 KSON (Radio Disney)
1320 KKSM (Adult Alternative)
1360 KPOP (Nostalgia) NBC
1420 XEXX (Spanish News & Sports)
1450 KSPA (Adult Standards) ABC
1470 XERCN (Spanish Tropical)
1550 XEBG (Spanish Sports)

FM Dial
88.3 KSDS (Jazz)
88.7 XHITT (Public)
89.5 KPBS (News) NPR
90.3 XHTZ (Contemporary Rhythmic)
90.7 XLNC (Classical)
91.1 91X (Cutting-Edge Rock)
91.7 XHITM (Mexican Regional)
92.1 KFSD (Classical)
92.5 XHRM (AC)
93.3 KHTS (Country)
94.1 KJOY (Soft Oldies)
94.5 XHTY (Romantic Spanish)
95.9 K-Best 95 (Oldies)
95.7 KMSX (AC)
96.5 KYSY (Soft Favorites)
97.3 KSON (Country)
97.7 XTIM (Regional Mexican)
98.1 KIFM (Smooth Jazz)
98,9 XHMORE (Alternative)
99 KCR (CAFM Alternative)
99.3 XHCR (Hot Country)
99.7 XHTY (Young Country Hits)
100.1 KLVW (Country)
100.7 Star (AC)
101.5 KGB (Classic Rock)
102.1 Sets FM (Adult Album Alternative)
102.5 XHUAN (Ranchera)
102.9 KLQV (Spanish Contemporary)
103.7 The Planet (Classic Hits)
104.5 XLTN (Spanish Contemporary)
105.3 Rock 105 (Rock)
106.5 KLNV (Ranchera/Banda)
107.1 KSYY (Modern Rock)
107.3 XHFG (Spanish Contemporary)
107.7 XHRST (Spanish Contemporary)
107.9 KWVE (Religious)

isnt AM 1240 500 watts, SD is so mountainous u barely get it in the North and South Counties

 

[davideduardo]

isnt AM 1240 500 watts, SD is so mountainous u barely get it in the North and South Counties

Mountains don't necessarily impede AM signals. I've worked with AMs in very mountainous area and coverage depends on the conductivity of the topsoil and what is very near the surface.

 

[DarrenVision]

(https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/1990s/1998/RR-1998-11-27.pdf) Before there was RD, AM 1240 was then an AM simulcast of the old KSON country then on 97.3 FM. Kinda poor in the North County

 

[TomásEstefan]

Mountains don't necessarily impede AM signals. I've worked with AMs in very mountainous area and coverage depends on the conductivity of the topsoil and what is very near the surface.

I think 1240 in SD is using what amounts to an 1/8 wave antenna which could mean that too much of the signal goes nearly straight up, no matter how the matching network between the transmitter and the antenna is tuned. I think the tower was broken in a heavy storm years ago and was simply re-tuned. 1040 (400 W) also diplexes off of that same tower...

 

[Sixeye]

My dad used to have Comcast/Xfinity at his home in the Monterey area, before dropping it for DirecTV some time ago. I remember scrolling the program guide and seeing tons of FM stations. Here was the thing though. Comcast pretty much covers the entire SF Bay area from Santa Rosa down to Monterey. Even though the lineups for their local TV channels varied by the actual market served, I guess the FM lineup was more centrally located, and included FM stations from Santa Rosa, San Francisco, Monterey, etc. available to every one of the Comcast customers throughout the entire region, so it was possible to hear radio stations through the TV that weren't even available over the air in the area. I read that they dropped FM channels in 2020, instead referring customers to the iHeartRadio app and such...which is probably less costly for them anyway. Even if FM stations were not being paid to be carried, there were probably cost details involved with receiving, distributing, etc. and now it's just easier with an app. I just remember thinking how neat it was to get most of the big Bay Area FM stations, along with some smaller stations and markets that were 150+ miles away.

The larger number of stations on the cable FM dial by Comcast was probably due to 1) no FCC rules precluding importation of so-called "distant stations," 2) FM radio stations take up little bandwidth compared to video channels, and 3) relatively low cost to receive and encode them. But yes, with streaming now ubiquitous, there is little reason for cable to carry FM and AM signals anymore. Plus, I sort of hate to say it, the bandwidth is now needed for ever growing internet consumption requirements.

 

[TomásEstefan]

The larger number of stations on the cable FM dial by Comcast was probably due to 1) no FCC rules precluding importation of so-called "distant stations," 2) FM radio stations take up little bandwidth compared to video channels, and 3) relatively low cost to receive and encode them. But yes, with streaming now ubiquitous, there is little reason for cable to carry FM and AM signals anymore. Plus, I sort of hate to say it, the bandwidth is now needed for ever growing internet consumption requirements.

Indeed a few decades ago here in LA, when our local Cable Co. carried FM we not only had local Classical KFAC, and Classical KUSC, they also threw in Classical WFMT from Chicago, which arguably for some folks was a better station than the other two. But that, of course, was a personal taste issue.

I always thought it was funny how the Cable Co. would try to sell their FM service by saying it was only $2 a month and that one of their guys would come out and set it up for free, when all anyone had to do was go down to their local Radio Shack and spend $5 dollars on a simple TV/FM splitter and an extra piece of coax and hook it up. And I discovered I really didn't even have to do that as I tried a simple extra cable signal splitter I had on hand and it worked fine.