• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

Starting an AM Station in Austin, TX (Newbie!)

A

AAIR

Guest
Hello,

Ok so I was wondering how you actually start an AM Radio station. I have a station that is online now that I would like to make into an AM station in the Austin, Texas area. I know I need to buy a broadcasting license from the FCC, but how does it work if I want to make an AM station? Who do I pay for a frequency or can I just start broadcasting on an open frequency? What about if I want to add an FM translator?

I'm really struggling with this simple question of how to acquire a frequency!


Thanks!

Evan
 
Evan.. I'm sorry to tell you that it would be just about impossible to build a new AM station in Austin (or anywhere for that matter) at least anytime in the forseeable future.

First you would have to wait for the FCC to open a filing window for applications for new AM stations -- that could be years away (if ever.)

And even if such a filing window would open, you'd have to find a frequency that doesn't interfer with an exisitng AM station and pay for an expensive engineering study to prove it.

By the way in a populated area like Austin, a usable AM frequency would be virtually impossible to find...even if you hear an "open channel", that doesn't mean you won't interfere with some station in another town.

If you have some money, you could try to buy time or LMA an Austin AM station which requires you to pay a monthly fee to the station owner -- it's not cheap.

Of if you have around a million-dollars or more, someone might sell you their under-performing Austin AM.

Bottom line: even if you had access to an Austin AM, how would you make enough money to stay in business?
 
Just put a few hundred thousand dollars in a bag and throw that into a shredder.

Same results, but lots and lots of time saved. 8)
 
I'm not trying to insult you Evan, but you appear to know next to nothing about what's involved with putting a radio station on the air. Believe me -- that process is so complex you need to hire a consultant who specializes in new station start-ups to lead you through it. It's not just a matter of turning a transmitter on and hoping someone listens. If only it were that simple.

After you've gone through the costly licensing process -- and you don't just "buy" a license -- you're going to need A LOT MORE MONEY in the bank just to get it going and keep it going while you build an advertising base that generates enough new money to pay your bills and keep your station on the air.

I think you should stick to your Internet station. It's the wave of the future. "Brick and mortar" stations have a depressing way of turning into money pits. There's an old saying: It's easy to make a small fortune in the radio business. You start with a big fortune. Good luck.
 
I'll have to agree. If you think you already have something people will listen to, focus your time and money on getting the word out and building an online audience. It's a new world with social media replacing word of mouth.
 
If you have the cash get in touch with a good lawyer and media broker. You might find something you might want to get into, but you have to understand the full scope (good and bad) of broadcasting. Good luck.
 
Two pieces of advice: stay away from HD and AM. Part 15 FM is not a bad option. Buying time on an AM is okay, but won't get you an audience. Pretty much no one has an HD receiver. That technology has failed and is dying off.
 
I don't think HD radio is dying off, it's just a matter of getting receivers in the hands of the general public and figuring out how to build an audience on it. Other options include relaying HD2 and HD3 signals over translators... but I wouldn't even think of starting from scratch right now.
 
musicsweep said:
I don't think HD radio is dying off, it's just a matter of getting receivers in the hands of the general public and figuring out how to build an audience on it
Click to expand...

Hybrid Digital has been around since 2002. How many more years should we give it before we decide to file it next to AM Stereo and Quad FM.
 
fredcantu said:
musicsweep said:
I don't think HD radio is dying off, it's just a matter of getting receivers in the hands of the general public and figuring out how to build an audience on it
Click to expand...

Hybrid Digital has been around since 2002. How many more years should we give it before we decide to file it next to AM Stereo and Quad FM.
Click to expand...

How about 6:00 p.m. tonight, Fred ;D. Let's face it, if iBiquity hasn't taught this turkey to fly before now, we're at the end of the episode.
 
You'd probably have said the same thing about FM in 1968. Sure... it has better sound quality, but the signal doesn't travel as far and most car radios don't even have FM receivers...
 
musicsweep said:
You'd probably have said the same thing about FM in 1968.
Click to expand...

Actually-- by 1968-- there were hundreds of successful stand-alone FM stations and FMs that had split from their AM sister's programming. Most were doing classical, showtunes and easy listening. There were also country stations, niche formats and even a few rockers by 1968. FM had actually started to take off in the 1950s when record labels started releasing music in "Hi-fi."

They weren't ratings giants, but they reached an audience and monetized it. Is any HD subchannel anywhere making money yet? Those heard on an analog translator don't count.
 
What kept FM back so many years from progressing was the drift problem. If AFC was developed and placed on AM/FM receivers in the 40's or 50's....it would've placed ahead of AM alot sooner. Owners were frustrated prior to 68' that the stastion would drift frequency on receivers that affected listeners.
 
The move-in stations that we have today would never haver worked without today's digital tuners. Can you imagine trying to manually tune in a weak signal next to a local giant? The digital tuner puts you right on the mark and locks it in. In the old days listeners would have long given up and gone with something easier to tune in.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom