Small-Market Owners Caution Against “AM Stereo Situation” With Digital

[rbc]

A group of smaller-market AM owners want the FCC to allow voluntary all-digital transmissions; and they cautioned the commission against repeating the AM stereo situation of the 1980s.

The collection of broadcasters — in all 25 licensees — consists of groups such as East Texas Broadcasting and Georgia-Carolina Broadcasting that typically operate AM stations in smaller markets.

The comments were submitted to the FCC by their attorney John Garziglia of Womble Bond Dickinson LLP. They say broadcasters can control their own destiny by deciding whether to invest in all-digital AM technology. They cite the “significant” harm to AM listenership from interference and reception issues, and the availability of higher-fidelity alternatives.
[...]
https://www.radioworld.com/tech-and-gear/digital-radio/small-market-owners-caution-against-am-stereo-situation-with-digital

 

[Kelly A]

A group of smaller-market AM owners want the FCC to allow voluntary all-digital transmissions; and they cautioned the commission against repeating the AM stereo situation of the 1980s.

Comparing the adoption of AM stereo and MA3 all-digital mode, is like comparing apples with a Yugo car. AM stereo didn't fail only because the FCC allowed for the marketplace to decide. It was because listeners were already in the process of abandoning AM for music, coupled with Leonard Kahn's numerous lawsuits.

It's pretty clear the Hayseed Broadcaster Alliance here, hasn't done much research on the two subjects.

 

[davideduardo]

Comparing the adoption of AM stereo and MA3 all-digital mode, is like comparing apples with a Yugo car. AM stereo didn't fail only because the FCC allowed for the marketplace to decide. It was because listeners were already in the process of abandoning AM for music, coupled with Leonard Kahn's numerous lawsuits.

Thank you for mentioning Kahn's responsibility for killing the viability of music on FM.

In the late 70's, I had and order and a deposit in for unit #1 for two of the proposed AM stereo system that were vying for FCC approval. We expected, if I recall the date right, to be in stereo in early 1979.

While much of the music audience was already on FM by that year, music stations were still viable and could have self-promoted AM stereo.

But after Kahn's legal actions, too many years had gone by and AM was no longer viable as a music medium. Many stations had already moved away from music, and those still doing mass appeal music formats had so little audience left that they could not achieve the needed critical mass for a rebuilding.

 

[Kelly A]

In the late 70's, I had and order and a deposit in for unit #1 for two of the proposed AM stereo system that were vying for FCC approval. We expected, if I recall the date right, to be in stereo in early 1979.

When I started at a station back in 1989 which was already running an early Kahn exciter, the first thing I did was rip it out. It was amazing how much the perceived coverage improved and listeners noticed, even in ND-Day mode.

But after Kahn's legal actions, too many years had gone by and AM was no longer viable as a music medium.

That was Leonard's plan. If he wasn't the exclusive provider of AM stereo with his ISB stereo standard, then nobody else would. I chock a lot of that attitude to his experience working as an engineer with RCA. Problem was; Leonard was no RCA.

 

[Kelly A]

For those who care; here is an excellent (and accurate) history recollection of Leonard, and is ISB AM Stereo: http://www.radiolists.net/pipermail/broadcast/2012-June/133053.html

 

[tested]

Thank you for posting this. I confess that reading much of the trade publication and newspaper articles about the AM stereo battle at the time did not reveal the assorted issues with Kahn's system and Mr. Kahn in general. I had long followed the battle over creating an AM stereo standard, but did not understand fully the degree to which Mr. Kahn had damaged the effort to get this technology adopted.

Like others, I think if an AM stereo standard had been adopted - and they stuck to it - by sometime in 1979, there was a chance they could have slowed the loss of audience to FM stations. But the end result was always going to be FM stations gaining the majority of audiences with music formats dying off on AM. It just would have taken longer. And yes, maybe we'd still have some music on AM now with the occasional station doing okay. Who knows.

This all-digital issue is entirely different. AM is essentially a dead band now. It gets 10% of the audience or less in most markets. There are exceptions to that rule, but that's how bad it is now. If some stations are willing to try something different in the hope of generating some interest and maybe listeners, I say go for it.
I have listened to the samples someone posted here of the one station doing all digital compared to another station doing HD radio. Honestly, I'm not sure the all digital system is better. Maybe it's just the way the one station is doing it. I just want someone to recognize that if you're going to go all digital on AM, you need to provide good stereo seperation and a music format that people will want to listen to. It's just that simple.