AM Radio might have 10 more years

[Marcus]

This is mentioned towards the end of the following video. Electric cars without AM are said to be a factor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDYEUqC9YO0

[Turkeytop]

This is mentioned towards the end of the following video. Electric cars without AM are said to be a factor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDYEUqC9YO0

With luck, I'll make it to the graveyard before AM radio does.

[k8jd]

OK, back in the 70's when I worked at a Detroit AM/FM, the chief engr told me he was sure AM would be gone and TV would all be in cable in 10 years !
He was a few decades off with Cable TV but AM is still hanging on, and with HD sound !

[Marcus]

I hope what he said at the end of that video was wrong, and it could be.

Even if some of the current shortwave broadcasters moved to the 530-1700 band with 500 KW, that would at least keep the spectrum allocated to broadcasting. Another thing they can do if a number of transmitters are shut down is to change the spacing each channel to 20 kHz apart instead of the current 10 kHz, therefore increasing the bandwidth to improve sound quality.

The car radio situation is very real and will get worse before it gets better. Something will have to replace electric which could take many years.

[MotorCityRadioFreak]

Other than 950, I can't say I listen.

[radioandtventhusiast]

It will be interesting because AM's audience is aging rapidly, and there are barely any younger people listening.

[CurlyHoward]

Hell, how many younger people are even listening to FM anymore?

AM weathered TV taking scripted programming away in the 50s and FM taking music away in the 70s-80s, true. and I think there will always be room for niche formats. Religious, brokered, ethnic. But in a world where Rush Limbaugh and Art Bell are no longer with us and sports are increasingly migrating to streaming apps, I think a LOT of stations going dark is likely.

[k8jd]

When China and Iran shoot down all our satellites and there is no more SiriusXM, we will need AM to reach coverage to rural areas !!

[Turkeytop]

When China and Iran shoot down all our satellites and there is no more SiriusXM, we will need AM to reach coverage to rural areas !!

Maybe even short wave would make a comeback.

[SolarMax]

Maybe even short wave would make a comeback.

If people don't seem to know that you can get TV over the air with an antenna, they're sure not going to understand the heady concept of shortwave, or get their very first home radio for it!

[MWmetalhead]

AM radio will likely be around for several more decades, it'll just become increasingly marginalized and removed from most mass produced receivers with time. The programming will increase consistently of fringe preachers and foreign language programming.

By the way, is Bell Media ever going to get off its ass and permanently fix the signal & audio quality issues affecting CKWW and CKLW?

The audio on CKLW is too low, and it's especially bad during some of the syndicated shows the station airs. Signal still doesn't seem quite up to snuff, either.

CKWW's audio was horrendously low a week or two ago when I last listened, but seems better today (albeit not quite as loud as it should be). Signal strength still seems "off," too.

[ZenithCKLW]

By the way, is Bell Media ever going to get off its ass and permanently fix the signal & audio quality issues affecting CKWW and CKLW?

The audio on CKLW is too low, and it's especially bad during some of the syndicated shows the station airs. Signal still doesn't seem quite up to snuff, either.

CKWW's audio was horrendously low a week or two ago when I last listened, but seems better today (albeit not quite as loud as it should be). Signal strength still seems "off," too.

Just a few weeks ago I posted how well CKWW’s signal comes in at my home. I jinxed it, because now I can barely receive it at all. And for being a 50kw “blowtorch”, CKLW seems like a weak class C. Might as well be on 1450.

[Marcus]

In LA, NYC, and Toronto AM will remain in use do to the fact that the FM spectrum is crowded and there is a significant Ethnic population in each city. In a city like Toledo for instance, I can see AM going away.

[Ben Zonia]

In LA, NYC, and Toronto AM will remain in use do to the fact that the FM spectrum is crowded and there is a significant Ethnic population in each city. In a city like Toledo for instance, I can see AM going away.

Add Chicago to that list. Probably a few others. Toronto has a need so great they are using LMAs for US stations like WTOR 770.

[k8jd]

When China and Iran shoot down all our satellites and there is no more SiriusXM, we will need AM to reach coverage to rural areas !!

Maybe even short wave would make a comeback.