From: john@zygot.ati.com (John Higdon)
Subject: Re: AM radio needn't die
Originator: wdp@gagme
Organization: Green Hills and Cows
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 10:19:37 GMT

On Jul 26 at 20:24, Bill Pfeiffer writes:

> [Moderator's Note: Here in Chicago, WLUP-AM 1000 is respected nationwide for
> their innovatoive hip/rock/comedy/personality format.  They do VERY well. 
> True, playing music is not the main product, but they are AM and in a market
> which is FM saturated.

As I admitted earlier, talk formats have no problem on AM in almost any
market. And certainly, if the programming is entertaining enough
listeners will partake of it on any medium, including AM. But if the
attraction of the programming is the music itself, (as opposed to
discussion, drama, debate, or creative montage), AM will lose.

> In Minneapolis, a 5kw AM called radio AHHS (pronounced oz) is doing a very
> innovative 'kids radio' music format which is  incredible.  I  have been
> known to drive there just to tape this marvelous station.

Again, an innovative, entertaining program. Quite honestly, if the
majority of radio still had real entertainment rather than
researched-to-death plug-in formats, we might not be having this
discussion.

> They have great sound too.  Few will seriously argue that an AM
> station at it's best, will sound as good as an FM station at it's best.  But
> there are AM stations, at their best, which sound BETTER than some
> aggressively processed, CHR FM's I have heard.

I still cannot see how anyone can even compare 50 - 15,000 Hz response
(essentially flat) with about a 70db S/N to a 100 - 7500 Hz response
that is anything but flat (every station has its own "secret" curve),
10 -15% IM distortion, 2 - 5% harmonic distortion and a 30db S/N under
real world reception conditions. Any ear that has not been damaged can
hear the differences between AM and FM and I don't care how badly
processed the FM is. At least I have never heard one processed that
badly.

> How many average listeners have the kind of ear and equipment to tell?

Most of the public. And more and more each day.

> For those that do, there is plenty of fm around.  But let's not write off
> an entire band because  it is  not quite up to the FM.

Look around you. AM is dying whether you like it or not. It is the
market force at work. The public is not interested in the sound of the
1920s, so it is migrating in force to the FM band. Sorry, but that is
reality. And we do not have to write it off; the marketplace will do it
for us. BTW, we should all be thankful that the 50MHz FM band WAS
written off.

> AM is getting better, and for programmers with guts
> and creativity, it can be a great venue for new innovative programming.]

Oh, are the laws of physics being repealed? AM is "state of the art"
TODAY, as it was in 1950. There is just so much information you can
cram into the tiny AM channel. And that wavelength is that favored by
most natural and man-made noise. Hell, an AM radio tuned to 540 is a
great thunder storm detector. And maybe someone should have thought
about that innovative programming about twenty years ago. It is now too
late. The public is no longer interested and I submit there is nothing
that will bring it back. What I want and what you want is of little
importance at this late date. It is already a done deal. Those with the
money are already speaking with their wallets.

-- 
        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   +1 408 264 4115
    john@zygot.ati.com      | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !

 
Newsgroups: rec.radio.broadcasting