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Radio silence

GRANT ROBERTSON

Globe and Mail Update

Latest comment posted at 8:35 AM EDT 08/02/08

Kingston is the latest city to lose its AM radio stations. Tired of stagnant revenue, broadcasters are jumping to the FM dial every chance they get ...Read the full article

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  1. Clark The Mighty from Canada writes: The people of Kingston only need to stations: one that plays Led Zepplin all day and another that plays Conway Twitty.
  2. David Simon from Canada writes: Its ridiculous that the CBC has talk stations on FM. The CRTC should only allow music on FM so that all kinds of music can be broadcast that way. If sombody lives in a high rise and can't get AM, there's always this internet thing I've heard so much about and am using right now.

    Many urban areas are limited in the amount of urban music they can get because of the nearly lilly white talk CBC stations on FM.
  3. Rolloff deBunk from Calgary -Centre of American wannabe's, Canada writes: AM radio finally meets it's maker huh? Mindless pap surounded by mindless commercials written by the local druggist. Remember those days when that's all we had and all stations played the same ten songs all day and evening? If we lose the CRTC, TV will go exactly the same way in this country ahh actually we're pretty close to the edge already. Goodbye and good riddance to bad AM radio.
  4. john shantz from Canada writes: AM680 in Winnipeg, a Corus station, has the largest audience with its non stop commercials, infomercials and inane broadcasters. Go figure?
  5. Rolloff deBunk from Calgary -Centre of American wannabe's, Canada writes: Lemmings will always make their way to the cliff led by the pied piper called AM Radio.
  6. Vincent Clement from Formerly of Toronto, Canada writes: Good riddance.
  7. Todd Sandrock from Canada writes: Does CJOB 68 still play that Furnasman commercial with the whistling guy and the 'GLobe22-545' telephone number?
  8. D K from Canada writes: People still listen to radio? LOL
  9. M. O. from Ottawa, Canada writes: I don't know what I would do without our local AM station.

    The morning host's uninterrupted mad ranting between 6:30 and 7:00 am is the only thing that gets me out of bed -- to turn him off!

    All kidding aside, I much prefer listening to talk shows and hearing what my fellow citizens think about current issues -- some are positively scary -- than listening to a bunch of sophomoric dj's and what passes for music today.
  10. Mark Tilley from Brampton, Canada writes: I find the low quality of AM sound almost as irritating as fingernails on a chalkboard.

    It's like a slap in the face every time I flip to CFRB1010 after listening to FM (frequent traffic updates are the only reason to do so).

    I'm surprised it's taken this long for stations to abandon that frequency band.
  11. Steven Patterson from Canada writes: It's past time that radio abandoned the AM frequency band; both FM and satellite have vastly better audio quality, and satellite exceeds AM's broadcast range.

    Turn the AM band over to a digital broadcast format like HD-radio, which can be competitve to both FM and satellite subscription services. Heck, it might even make a dent in online streaming.

    -- Steve
  12. A. Nonymous from Video Killed the Radio Star, United States writes: Radio sucks, it's just a bunch of mindless drivel, playing the same songs, over and over and over again in an attempt to sensitize people into buying the crap.

    Radio has the same message as TV: "CONSUME! CONSUME! CONSUME!"

    Most readio stations are like TV:

    CSI: This
    CSI: That
    CSI: The Other Thing
    CSI: CSI

    All repetition, based on simple formulas anyone with 2 brain cells can follow
  13. Gordon Murray from Canada writes: Do I first discard my 1970 transistor radio or contact Science Kit manufacturers and distributors in case those failing functions have children given them as presents abandon science? "What's the real lesson in no longer supporting the Science Kit AM radio feature? Is it that sometimes adults lie? Obsolescence? 'Hey kid, go play in the street'?"
  14. A Mitchell from Canada writes: What the CRTC really needs to do is mandate that XM and Sirius Satellite radio rebroadcast local signals to help protect advertising revenues. It should be my choice as to if I listen to local radio stations, but I must be given that choice. Under the current system, if I am a satellite subscriber, I do not have that choice. Furthermore, this expense should be picked up by the subscriber, not the tax payer. We talk about Can-Con yet we only enforce it in certain areas.
  15. El Gran Chico from Etobicoke, Canada writes: One advantage AM radio always has is range. I still love to flip around the dial while driving and listen to stations from New York, Boston, Chicago, and as far away as Atlanta.

    But I can't stations from any Canadian city outside the GTA, and it's always been like this.
  16. James McGillawee from Oshawa, Canada writes: At this moment I am listening to 680AM over the www.680news.com while I surf the net. Nothing like being over informed about the inane and perverse!
  17. Jeremy K from North Vancouver, Canada writes: radio sucks
    its either rightwing warpimps filling pour minds with lies and filth about muslims and the middle east or the same 10 songs looped repeatedly between endless cycles of inane advertisements. It's verbal pollution and I'm glad I switched it of years ago

    although i might get Sirius to get me some commercial free music. their selection is wide enough to get away from top40
  18. David McCormick from Mississauga, Canada writes: Sirius and XM have brought back the fun of radio. Commercial free music, awesome sports, News from around the world and wild and crazy radio from Stern, Maxim or Opie and Anthony uncensored! The only regular radio I listen to is 680News and watch the Fan 590's Bob McCowan on Sportsnet!
  19. Alex Yaxmos from Canada writes: Have all the AM stations move to FM and soon all the radio stations will be Sat. freeing up that part of the radio spectrum for other uses. This is the future.
  20. M. O. from Ottawa, Canada writes: News from around the world on XM?

    I cancelled my XM subscription because when travelling I wanted to hear news from home. Their Canadian news amounted to nothing more than a barker channel with what sounded like two New Yorkers sitting in some office in Manhattan reading from either a teletype machine or one of our national newspapers.

    Gimme interactive am anytime.
  21. Stephen Green from North Saanich, Canada writes: AM radio station, especially the CBC must not be allowed to kill their AM stations in favour of FM. FM does not have the range a simple fact. If I am in Seattle washington in the States, I cannot recieve FM from Vancouver, but AM I can.

    The CBC has a mandate to provide maximum radio coverage, they are abrogating their mandate.
  22. Rick Clarke from Edmonton, Canada writes: M. O. from Ottawa, Canada writes: News from around the world on XM?

    I cancelled my XM subscription because when travelling I wanted to hear news from home. Their Canadian news amounted to nothing more than a barker channel with what sounded like two New Yorkers sitting in some office in Manhattan reading from either a teletype machine or one of our national newspapers.""

    Sirius carrys CBC. I have it just for the reason you mention above.
    Your right. XM s Canada 360, is a joke.
    I have both.
  23. max from edmonton from Canada writes: Mitchell from Canada writes: What the CRTC really needs to do is mandate that XM and Sirius Satellite radio rebroadcast local signals to help protect advertising revenues. It should be my choice as to if I listen to local radio stations, but I must be given that choice. Under the current system, if I am a satellite subscriber, I do not have that choice. Furthermore, this expense should be picked up by the subscriber, not the tax payer. We talk about Can-Con yet we only enforce it in certain areas. *********************************************************** Why MUST you be GIVEN the choice for local radio? If the people want to listen to AM rasio they will, and the stations will survive. AM is dying our because it is not competitive enough to survive. This is the nature of a market economy Do you want the government to get even bigger and force AM radio to stay on the air? Next you say no taxpayer money...the "subscriber must pay" So I guess to you that means it should be Law to have AM radio, since not enough want AM to make it work in the free market, you want it LAW for citizens to subscribe to (and pay ) for AM radio. Why don't YOU open an AM radio station, then you can broadcast what ever content you like (so long as mother CRTC approves). Its a simple choice, if you want AM radio do something about it. Put your money where your mouth is.
  24. Jen Abe from Toronto, Canada writes: I got Sirius sattelite radio for christmas this year...and I love it. It has the CBC and NPR!

    Seriously...CBC should get out of the TV business altogether and concentrate on what it does best. Radio.

    Sunday morning without Michael Enright would be hell :) Love his show...
  25. Ed Fromaway from Canada writes: D K from Canada writes: People still listen to radio? LOL

    D K, I'll tell you who...everybody who goes into stores
    or sits in a waiting room. You get to listen to stations
    you would otherwise choose to avoid, lots of sixties-
    style ads complete with reverb effects. But its for your
    benefit, it expands your cultural horizon, gives you lots
    of goods and services info, and gets you out of the store
    quickly so that you minimize time wasted just browsing.
  26. Andrea Timmons from Kingston, Canada writes: The death of the AM radio band signals the death of many small radio stations because there won't be enough FM bands left for them to continue their local broadcasts.
  27. Brit . from Canada writes: There has NOT been a good AM/FM radio in Canada since 1992 due to the idiots at the CRTC shutting down Coast 1040. Radio is dead like the music store.
  28. Richard F from Victoria, Canada writes: Thank God for Sirius... the only entertainment I get and I'm glad to pay for my tunes. That way I don't have to listen to the mindless drivel of a couple of nincompoops, who have diarrhea of the mouth, blathering away about nothing....well Sirius has Howard Stern... but there is plenty of selection besides him.

    Sanitized, syrupy or just plain stupid are my opinion of most AM and FM options....and their playlist is a joke... 40 selections tops.

    TV? Not in my house...why buy an $1000 HD ready flat screen so I can pay ripoff cable fees to watch a bit of program content interspaced with smarmy, almost offensive ads flogging overpriced (environmentally unfriendly) gas guzzlers, baby life insurance, razor blades...the list is endless isn't it?

    I found the barrage just plain offensive so my old CRT TV hit the recyclers ages ago.

    Time to get a life folks... chuck the remote!

  29. max from edmonton from Canada writes: Mitchell from Canada writes: What the CRTC really needs to do is mandate that XM and Sirius Satellite radio rebroadcast local signals to help protect advertising revenues. It should be my choice as to if I listen to local radio stations, but I must be given that choice. Under the current system, if I am a satellite subscriber, I do not have that choice. Furthermore, this expense should be picked up by the subscriber, not the tax payer. We talk about Can-Con yet we only enforce it in certain areas. *********************************************************** Why MUST you be GIVEN the choice for local radio? If the people want to listen to AM rasio they will, and the stations will survive. AM is dying our because it is not competitive enough to survive. This is the nature of a market economy Do you want the government to get even bigger and force AM radio to stay on the air? Next you say no taxpayer money...the "subscriber must pay" So I guess to you that means it should be Law to have AM radio, since not enough want AM to make it work in the free market, you want it LAW for citizens to subscribe to (and pay ) for AM radio. Why don't YOU open an AM radio station, then you can broadcast what ever content you like (so long as mother CRTC approves). Its a simple choice, if you want AM radio do something about it. Put your money where your mouth is.
  30. D K from Canada writes: Ed Fromaway from Canada writes:......

    Actually, most stores use satellite radio now, or looped music. No blather.
  31. Nick B. from Canada writes: AM Radio? What's that?

    I bought my XM receiver in the US before XM Canada even got off the ground (and I'm glad I have a US subscription with all the channels, not just the ones XM Canada has - though I think they're converging now more). I rarely if ever listen to terrestrial radio anymore, because I want to listen to music, not Dean Blundell and his ilk. Plus, I like being about to listen to CNN, BBC World Service, NPR, comedy, whatever else because I have so many choices from XM. It's worth every penny.
  32. Michael D from Canada writes: **QUOTE: Mitchell from Canada writes: What the CRTC really needs to do is mandate that XM and Sirius Satellite radio rebroadcast local signals to help protect advertising revenues. It should be my choice as to if I listen to local radio stations, but I must be given that choice. Under the current system, if I am a satellite subscriber, I do not have that choice. Furthermore, this expense should be picked up by the subscriber, not the tax payer. We talk about Can-Con yet we only enforce it in certain areas. **

    Well for starters there is not nearly enough bandwith on sattelite to share the nations local stations. In fact there isn't enough to add the Toronto stations alone. And if you are a sattelite subscriber since when are you LIMITED to sattelite. Turn it off and your radio still works for AM/FM... Magic...
  33. E Samuel from Ottawa, Canada writes: David Simon from Canada said "Its ridiculous that the CBC has talk stations on FM."

    David, you must not listen to Radio 1 very much - its certainly not all talk. There is a fair amount of music at different times during the week as well (Q, Bachman's Vinyl Tap, many regional music programs, etc)

    I was very happy when CBC Radio 1 switched over in Ottawa a few years back. The quality of the signal improved my enjoyment a lot - both for music and talk!!
  34. doctor business from vancouver, Canada writes: now would be a great time to open this up the amatuer radio public. for too long commercial monopoly has dominated the airwaves. I would love to hear something more interesting on AM. I wonder how expensive the transmitter is in power consumption?
  35. Frank N. Stein from Canada writes: I just tune into internet radio. Thousands of channels world wide.

    http://www.nexusradio.com/downloads/nexusradio/
  36. Richard F from Victoria, Canada writes: Dr. Business... amateur radio operators are not in the business, nor are they allowed to operate commercial radio stations. Industry Canada would frown on that.

    But I believe there are new opportunities for community based groups to operate special interest niche market community based radio stations. They would run low power, perhaps less than 100 watts

    A good example might be group who liked the olde tyme "flapper" tunes of the 1920's or maybe the big band sounds of the "30s"; or perhaps popular music written around the turn of the century. Save maybe the CBC, none of that show up in the popular media. We could even hear some reruns of an old mystery series like "The Shadow", much as they were originally broadcast... on AM... the possibilities are endless.

    Something like that would fit the restricted bandwidth "AM sound" of the old tube type cathedral radios found on prairie farms during the 1930's, and a new use for the now often unused AM frequencies could be found. You won't get the boom-box rap music crowd listening to these stations, but a large segment of older population would possibly tune in. One might call it retro-radio.

    These community stations would be run by volunteers... perhaps even radio hams, and most licensed ADVANCED amateurs would be more than capable of putting something like that together, but these services would not fall under the mandate or rules of the Amateur Radio Service per se'.

    FYI.. I have been a licensed Amateur Radio Operator since I was 15, and have worked in radio and communications... including commercial broadcasting...



    As an amateur radio operator since I was 15
  37. jan bakker from Canada writes: I rarely listen to the radio anymore, too many commercials, and too many screamers who's voices are an assault to the ears.
  38. Dave T from midwest, Canada writes: amen
  39. John Smith from Ottawa, Canada writes: Frank N. Stein from Canada writes: I just tune into internet radio. Thousands of channels world wide. http://www.nexusradio.com/downloads/nexusradio/ Thanks. I am a lover of Live365 www.live365.com for the quirky stations. Some fellow in Tel Aviv has a list of tango recordings recorded between 1897 and 1942. Another plays music revolving around the life of silent film star Louise Brooks. This is the new face of programmed radio. They play the stations in loops. When you are tired of the station that you are listening to, there are about 10,000 other stations to pick. Viva internet!
  40. Dennis McLeod from Sudbury, Canada writes: Why the CRTC hasn't mandated that all AM and FM bands be cleared of useage by a certain date is beyond me. The release of the AM and FM Bands to be used for wireless Broadband for local and remote regions would be the biggest single improvement for communications in Canada that any department could implement.
    DAB as its been formulated for the Canadian Radio Broadcast market in the "L" Band would allow many more broadcasters to simultaeously broadcast into any given market with improved quality and on less bandwidth and with less transmitters. Its a win/win situation just like Sattellite Radio has done for useage in the "S" Band.

    The CRTC should be taking the lead in this field and saddly they are doing nothing in the administration of improved Bandwidth useage for the future. Currently they are being dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century with no productive directions to the current or future technological capabilities and advancements.

    OH!, and don't even bring up how far we are from Digital TV Broadcasting for the same reasons.

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