Day one of the 2013 NAB Convention kicked off with a panel led by FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai to discuss the issues facing the AM band to remain relevant. Among the ideas discussed include going all-digital, power increases, or additional use of FM translators.
And now the FCC tells us how to save AM radio. #NABShow #NAB2013
— NorthEastRadio Watch (@NERadioWatch) April 8, 2013
@AjitPaiFCC moderating #NABShow "Revitalizing AM" session: “When you talk about AM #radio, you evoke a lot of memories.”
— Holland Cooke (@HollandCooke) April 8, 2013
@AjitPaiFCC in #NABShow "Revitalizing AM" session: "AM radio still matters," though only 17% of Time Spent Listening is now on AM
— Holland Cooke (@HollandCooke) April 8, 2013
Commish Pai sees intereference with signal quality as a large obstacle to the future of AM radio. #NABShow
— Arbitron Programming (@ArbProgramming) April 8, 2013
At a #NABShow panel on, of all things, "AM revitalization." THIS panel, of course, has a packed room and all the other trade reporters.
— Perry Michael Simon (@pmsimon) April 8, 2013
(very) early take on this session: nobody thinking about how 2 promote AM's best content, more on the tech-side. content still king #NABShow
— Arbitron Programming (@ArbProgramming) April 8, 2013
Commissioner Pai on last week's Variety columnist bashing AM: "To paraphase Lynyrd Skynyrd, a radio man don't need him around anyhow."
— Radio World (@radioworld_news) April 8, 2013
John Garziglia: AM radio challenges include no quality antennas in cars, $$ of better transmission, question of digital conversion. #NABShow
— NAB Show (@NABShow) April 8, 2013
Glynn Walden: we have to go all digital on AM. #asexpected #NABShow #NAB2013
— NorthEastRadio Watch (@NERadioWatch) April 8, 2013
#NABShow CBS Radio SVP Engineering Glynn Walden: “AM band hostile environment for transmission & reception, AM receivers are cheap & bad"
— Holland Cooke (@HollandCooke) April 8, 2013
"Skywave protection has outlived its usefulness." Texas broadcaster Ben Downs. #NABShow #NAB2013
— NorthEastRadio Watch (@NERadioWatch) April 8, 2013
Melodie Virtue: AM stations going off the air bec. of interference, aging equipment or not being able to afford it. Need FCC help. #NABShow
— NAB Show (@NABShow) April 8, 2013
Diane Warren: AM Stations a voice for multicultural communities. Let's solve tech and regulatory issues, it's important. #NABShow
— NAB Show (@NABShow) April 8, 2013
There r markets with many different communities that would love to have a voice on the radio. AM can serve them with unique content #NABShow
— Arbitron Programming (@ArbProgramming) April 8, 2013
FM translators (for AM radio) are most important for advertiser perception, moreso than reaching audience. interesting point #NABShow
— Arbitron Programming (@ArbProgramming) April 8, 2013
John Garziglia: FM translators can be part of the solution. Advertisers perceive FM as better market = increased revenue. #NABShow
— NAB Show (@NABShow) April 8, 2013
John Garziglia in #NABShow "Revitalizing AM" session: “Advertisers for whatever reason do not believe people listen to AM #radio.”
— Holland Cooke (@HollandCooke) April 8, 2013
The AM Radio Revitalization panel is very… well, let's just say that this isn't a youth movement in here. #NABShow #whatsAM
— Perry Michael Simon (@pmsimon) April 8, 2013
SRO crowd #NABShow for FCC Commish Ajit Pai moderating panel on "Revitalization of AM Radio"
— Dennis Wharton (@AirWharton) April 8, 2013
Ben Downs: Content is king – but it's niche content for AM. Must convince FCC that AM is worth saving via FM translator. #NABShow
— NAB Show (@NABShow) April 8, 2013
If you're going to turn off analog, then you must require manufacturers to build digital AM receivers into all radios. #NABShow
— Arbitron Programming (@ArbProgramming) April 8, 2013
which is another way of saying that HD AM radio must become standard if the FCC were to set a "sunset" data for analog. #NABShow
— Arbitron Programming (@ArbProgramming) April 8, 2013
John Garziglia: AM cld be the only way to reach population in dire situation. Gov't. has a responsibility to transition to digital. #NABShow
— NAB Show (@NABShow) April 8, 2013
what about changing peak AM power rules to start earlier, "drive times" now begin at 5am in many markets. #PPM backs that up. #NABShow
— Arbitron Programming (@ArbProgramming) April 8, 2013
AM #Radio Revitalization Panel at #NABShow. @AjitPaiFCC moderating. Good ideas on future transmission. pic.twitter.com/vFfwqqEq7i
— Bruce Maduri (@BruceMaduri) April 8, 2013
@NERadioWatch From following along it seems as though they're gasping for air with no real ideas.
— RadioInsight.com (@radioinsight) April 8, 2013
@mattkid19 Very little talk of AM content. Mostly tech. But there was a shoutout to "HD haters" on message boards. That's an NAB first.
— NorthEastRadio Watch (@NERadioWatch) April 8, 2013
Scott Fybush has a detailed chronicle of the panel.
INSTANT INSIGHT: Nobody seems to have a clear idea what’s needed to resurrect and sustain the AM band. How many technologies go with minimal changes for nearly a century like AM has? The industry already passed on the potential of moving broadcasting to a purely digital platform a decade ago when they chose the analog/digital hybrid HD Radio standard. Instead of paving the way for using those digital subchannels to help AM stations relocate they’ve been given to the FM owners where they go unlistened.
So now we have a have and have not scenario with translators. As the AM band has become cluttered with more signals, some now wish to do the same with FM. There’s not enough room for existing FM stations, translators, and the addition of LPFM. Every discussion they’re having now regarding AM will just be duplicated in a few years with FM.
Shifting both AM and FM to a new digital band that also gives room for LPFM would make the most sense, or expanding analog FM into the current spectrum used by TV Channels 5 and 6. Perhaps keep a limited number of 50kW stations on AM for the purpose of emergency communications. But using new spectrum would go against the FCC’s plans to auction off as much of the TV spectrum as possible to the highest bidder.
And none of that even gets into the issues of content and demographics facing all of radio.
wing740 
MattParker
Wow 30 years ago Stereo AM was supposed to save AM radio during the Reagan Era.
But Wasn’t some of the Analog TV Signals supposed to auctioned off to more Wifi signals, DSL Signals and Smartphone signals.
My two cents: AM’s big advantage are it’s ability to go beyond line of sight. I don’t have technical specs but driving across country, class A and B stations between the Appalachians and the Rockies are still able to put out clear signal over a large geographic area – often areas not densely populated. I say get rid of the clutter on the AM, all the class C and D, all the daytimers, all the station on local frequencies. Allow remaining stations to increase power and get rid of directional patterns – even go 500kw like WLW did at one time. In return, remaining AM stations have ownership limits and must do local-live programming and otherwise operate under the old rules for news and public affairs programming.
And no IBOC.