radioprofessor said:
Interesting discussion parameter regarding FM simulcasts. In my humble view this is the future of radio. The spoken word will be simulcast providing two platforms and an economic boon. Bonneville, CBS and others are leading the way. AM provides coverage in many cities that have terrain issues, can have less multipath in the car and can extend coverage at night. FM provides solid in office listening and is favored among those under the age of 40. Combining the two leads to power stations like WTOP and now KIRO which as a combo is number one in Seattle in the last monthly extrap 25-54. Recent PPM data and indepedent data show that radio remains very strong among the 18-34 audience and has actually gained strength in recent months. The decline of satellite radio (economic issue) and the slowdown in I-Pod use are some of the reasons. Simulcasts in my humble opinion will eliminate weak flanking FM signals and allow those that remain to be more profitable and have more audience. At the same time simulcasts as outlined above will extend AM brands. There has always been a belief that internet, I-Pods and satellite have diminished the radio audience. Not true. Radio is listened to by 93% of the population each week and 77% of the 18-34 year olds. This is virtually unchanged since 1990. CD, Cassette and tape in car listening has declined and been replaced by these other non-radio options (Ipods, internet et al.) In short nonradio listening morphed into other non-radio listening. Radio remains strong but owns only a 6-8% of advertising dollars. Unchanged since 1964.
It is my humble view that radio will be stronger by letting the strong FM music and personality stations survive and letting the flanking Jack, Movin and classic hits formats go to simulcasts extended the brand of AM. This is the future. Fewer formats, more simulcasts, leading to stronger brands and more cost per point advantage.
Compelling arguement, but once the music dies, will FM radio become the "stereo* equivelant of a Radio Shack NOAA Weather radio cube?
I honestly think too much work has been done to let it get to that point.
All I'm saying is you'd better SERIOUSLY think this over one more time. Because once the genie's out of the bottle, there's NO putting it back...
And what if it FAILS? What's the Plan B?
You see, we love to guess here at Radio-Info (and it's a GREAT way to work off the crap of an average day in the REAL world.) But in the real world, we've discovered some unpleasant facts you may not know about until next year, Professor and that's:
1) We're having a MAJOR crisis, one that could spell the end of the radio industry as we know it.
2) There's no future in commercial radio.
3) This so-called industry doesn't know what it's got until it's gone....FOREVER.
4) The radio industry is at the point of no return, and finally,
5) Will the last AM transmitter in Seattle please turn out the lights on their way out?
Fact is, you can hope all you want, but there is nothing left to hope for - except help. But the very best help has been spurned off long ago, in the name of "potential" profits that never materialized.
Some will argue that radio stations would have gone off the air completely if not for Telecom '96. I say bulls--t. Because radio stations were cycling all the time, one owner went under or bailed out of the market, another one came in. There was no shortage of potential, some very professional, some exciting, some very eccentric new owners. No matter the outcome, the station was going to leave it's mark on the psyche of local radio fans (Remember KXRX?). You really don't see much of THAT today.
The beauty of radio is in the uniqueness TV and V-Cast cannot capture. Nor anything else and if you can simulcast it on the Internet, then more power to ya! Who needs FM on these new cell phones anyway? I'd rather be exploring REALLY NEW stuff anyway.
The point is, MAKE RADIO WORTH LISTENING TO!!
