Saving AM Radio

[Kelly A]

The radio version doesn't seem biased.

Funny you should say that:

Fox News (Opinion) Media Bias Rating

Learn the AllSides Media Bias Rating of Fox News (Opinion). AllSides rates the media bias of hundreds of news outlets, media sources and writers.

www.allsides.com

They don't break out the Fox Radio News reporting specifically, but it is safe to assume there is a right-leaning editorial slant when it comes to the stories aired and how they are written. That, and they are from the same organization as their online and other cable "entertainment" divisions.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Funny you should say that:

Fox News (Opinion) Media Bias Rating

Learn the AllSides Media Bias Rating of Fox News (Opinion). AllSides rates the media bias of hundreds of news outlets, media sources and writers.

www.allsides.com

They don't break out the Fox Radio News reporting specifically, but it is safe to assume there is a right-leaning editorial slant when it comes to the stories aired and how they are written. That, and they are from the same organization as their online and other cable "entertainment" divisions.

I didn't notice a bias when the AM station I listen to most switched from ABC to Fox News Radio.

 

[Kelly A]

I didn't notice a bias when the AM station I listen to most switched from ABC to Fox News Radio.

That means their evil plan is working. They ease you toward the right until you're eventually well into the cult.

 

[gr8oldies]

Funny you should say that:

Fox News (Opinion) Media Bias Rating

Learn the AllSides Media Bias Rating of Fox News (Opinion). AllSides rates the media bias of hundreds of news outlets, media sources and writers.

www.allsides.com

They don't break out the Fox Radio News reporting specifically, but it is safe to assume there is a right-leaning editorial slant when it comes to the stories aired and how they are written. That, and they are from the same organization as their online and other cable "entertainment" divisions.

I follow one of the radio anchors on Facebook; he seems pretty even keeled. He's not screeching MAGA talking points.
On the other hand, I happened on a Townhall newscast when John McCain's funeral was actually happening. Not one mention.

 

[Kelly A]

I follow one of the radio anchors on Facebook; he seems pretty even keeled. He's not screeching MAGA talking points.
On the other hand, I happened on a Townhall newscast when John McCain's funeral was actually happening. Not one mention.

I'd imagine the talent's social media page doesn't necessarily carry the network lines as when they're on the air. Professional vs. personal.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I was driving home today and had a local oldies station on, and I could hear it just fine while power lines were running along the road. Something changes at the intersection where one of the main lines connects to the main line running along my road. And then I hear nothing.

But in the house it's fine.

 

[Kelly A]

I was driving home today and had a local oldies station on, and I could hear it just fine while power lines were running along the road. Something changes at the intersection where one of the main lines connects to the main line running along my road. And then I hear nothing.

But in the house it's fine.

What does your listening experience between your new clock radio and what stations you can hear along your road, have to do with saving AM radio?
Interference comes from many sources and locations.

 

[secondchoice]

What does your listening experience between your new clock radio and what stations you can hear along your road, have to do with saving AM radio?
Interference comes from many sources and locations.

Please take it easy on posters' interjecting their personal experience with AM.

If a "person interested in radio" has issues with noise, what do you think a totally uncaring (about radio) person is going to think? Perception counts for something.

Threads wonder on this site. IMHO narrowing of the "wondering of theads" will decrease the number of postings and could endanger the future of this site.

 

[CTListener]

Please take it easy on posters' interjecting their personal experience with AM.

If a "person interested in radio" has issues with noise, what do you think a totally uncaring (about radio) person is going to think? Perception counts for something.

Threads wonder on this site. IMHO narrowing of the "wondering of theads" will decrease the number of postings and could endanger the future of this site.

Wander, not wonder.

 

[cc333]

To bring this thread sort of back on topic:

I think AM radio itself is more or less fine as is for now. This late in the game, there isn't much that can be done to bring listeners back. They've gone to FM and/or Internet streams, and they're probably not coming back. Just let it ride more or less as is to appease what little audience is left.

Do I like this? No, of course not. I really enjoy AM, despite its limitations (or perhaps because of them; I used to enjoy TV DXing when I was growing up in the late 90s/early 2000s, but once it went all digital, it lost virtually all of it's appeal). But it's realistic and pragmatic. The commercial broadcasters will go where the bulk of their audience is, and for better or worse, that's not AM.

c

 

[CTListener]

To bring this thread sort of back on topic:

I think AM radio itself is more or less fine as is for now. This late in the game, there isn't much that can be done to bring listeners back. They've gone to FM and/or Internet streams, and they're probably not coming back. Just let it ride more or less as is to appease what little audience is left.

Do I like this? No, of course not. I really enjoy AM, despite its limitations (or perhaps because of them; I used to enjoy TV DXing when I was growing up in the late 90s/early 2000s, but once it went all digital, it lost virtually all of it's appeal). But it's realistic and pragmatic. The commercial broadcasters will go where the bulk of their audience is, and for better or worse, that's not AM.

c

DXers were never of any value to broadcasters. While the radio and TV industries probably were not specifically out to discourage distant listeners/viewers through various changes, the fact is that digitizing the TV signal, filling FM holes with translators, and moving sports play-by-play from wide-ranging 50kw AMs to purely local FMs all helped discourage DXers and provide the advertisers a more cost-effective way to reach actual potential customers rather than a bunch of knob twisters or channel flippers three states away.

 

[cc333]

DXers were never of any value to broadcasters.

Perhaps with the exception of the early days of radio, when it was new and largely not well understood.

This isn't relevant in any modern context, though.

c

 

[K.M. Richards]

DXers are rapidly becoming regarded in the same light as the "deeper playlist" listeners. Both are outliers in what cc333 properly terms the modern context.

I'm not even sure how they can DX anymore, given all the noise on the band.

 

[cc333]

I'm not even sure how they can DX anymore, given all the noise on the band.

DXing is still relatively possible, but it's certainly not as easy as it used to be. When the band was relatively wide open (well before my time, sadly), one could hear distant stations from 500+ miles away easily without much effort, especially at night with a good radio. But with all the noise nowadays? Not so much. In fact, depending on conditions where one is trying to listen, it requires almost heroic efforts just to hear locals!

c

 

[Kelly A]

DXers were never of any value to broadcasters.

Harsh but true. DX listeners don't help support broadcasting by spending money with their advertisers or donate money to a distant public station. There simply is no upside to the radio station being heard by the hobbyist.
Anymore the same could be said from a radio station with a big signal that extends well outside the market. Utility and maintenance expenses many times higher than just staying mostly within the market also don't do the station much good.

 

[BruceB]

Harsh but true. DX listeners don't help support broadcasting by spending money with their advertisers or donate money to a distant public station. There simply is no upside to the radio station being heard by the hobbyist.
Anymore the same could be said from a radio station with a big signal that extends well outside the market. Utility and maintenance expenses many times higher than just staying mostly within the market also don't do the station much good.

I don't want to argue with you about DXing,
I'm sure you're right. But back in the 60's a number of those 50kw Top 40 stations would encourage their listeners to mail in their names if they were listening from far away.
I did to Cousin Brucie on WABC and he read my name on his show.
Did it help him sell spots? Absolutely not, but it gave me a lifetime memory I still talk about.

 

[K.M. Richards]

But back in the 60's a number of those 50kw Top 40 stations would encourage their listeners to mail in their names if they were listening from far away.

A lot of that was driven by station policies to (especially at night, when the powerhouses' signals got out a long way) make them seem "bigger than life". And when you added a strong personality like Bruce Morrow reading the names, it resonated with the audience.

 

[Kelly A]

I don't want to argue with you about DXing,
I'm sure you're right. But back in the 60's a number of those 50kw Top 40 stations would encourage their listeners to mail in their names if they were listening from far away.
I did to Cousin Brucie on WABC and he read my name on his show.
Did it help him sell spots? Absolutely not, but it gave me a lifetime memory I still talk about.

Most of that was a leftover from the original days where Powel Crosley built WLW. Radio, AM/MW in particular was a national product with national advertisers. WLW was called the 'Nation Station' because it could be heard in major population areas and well into Europe. A lot has changed since then.

 

[Ed Nielson]

Maybe DXers don't contribute to the bottom line, but there was a certain amount of prestige involved when you could say that you could reach "thirty eight states" at night as WBZ (1030 Boston) used to do. Larry Glick, when he did overnights years ago, used to love to take out-of-state calls.

 

[K.M. Richards]

Maybe DXers don't contribute to the bottom line, but there was a certain amount of prestige involved when you could say that you could reach "thirty eight states" at night as WBZ (1030 Boston) used to do. Larry Glick, when he did overnights years ago, used to love to take out-of-state calls.

I bolded the part of your quote that makes the point about DXing being a lost cause, Ed. Living in the past doesn't fix all of the interference problems inherent in that hobby today, unfortunately.