I'm gonna guess that was a typo, because KFRC went AM stereo in August of 1983:
You got me!!! I thought it was in the 70's but the 80's sounds correct.
And as for not mentioning it, they did---the exact same way, at the top of every hour:
As far as them mentioning it, I guess I did not pay close attention to the hourly ID on KFRC 610, in NYC they mentioned FM STEREO in the mid 60's way more times than just on the hour, at times it got "old", but they mentioned it often with-in the hour plus on the top of the hour.
Again, regarding KFRC in the 80's and other stations . . . the STEREO fight (over standard to use) was brewing which did not help, because AM/FM broadcasters, the FCC, the NAB and selfish companies failed radio,
but good points Michael!
Wow, commercials in AM stereo….
Yes, I'll bet that your hearing commercials IN STEREO as you stream - STREAMFAN 2023
Chalk it up to more of Alok's revisionist history.
Wow . . . cool word!!!
next from David . . . aways - up the screen . . .
Yet, initially, it took 3 years just to get to 200 FM stations in stereo. There was no groundswell of interest in stereo... it was more like a slow growth, where stations would decide on stereo based on format and the need to update equipment. Some FMs in the early 60's were still using gear from the late 40's and 50's, so when it was decided to renew the studio and transmitter they gave stereo a chance.
Did not know that David, but again as I said in NYC the FM's around the mid 60's could not stop talking about being in STEREO. Even new magazines for FM and FM STEREO popped up around the country, one for NYC being sold in the NYC area, talking about programming on local FM stations, program listings, STEREO programs, STEREO radios in general, audio component equipment, etc.
As I said friends were buying these inexpensive component systems and putting them in their bedrooms . . . kids were putting FM radios in their cars, these were average people that knew nothing about radio or electronics, they just wanted to hear Jimi Hendrixs in STEREO . . . Radio Shack had an under dash AM/ FM - FM STEREO radio that looked real nice and sounded great.
Too bad AM radio never got a chance to do something like this, but it did not.
As I said some of you have talked about "the listener can't hear STEREO or knows the show is STEREO or if radio is analog or digital.
As I said before I never heard that kind of talk working in TV engineering for over 40 years.
At engineering meetings and at management / engineering meetings . . . never did I hear that.
I am sure many of you in radio feel this way, that you give the listener the best you can . . . but it has been mentioned often here in this group, that the listener can't tell.
Again, in TV where I was at, we always offered the best we could with-in budget and gave the people what we knew was proper & correct . . . great quality in sound & pictures.
If the people could not hear it, as I said before who cares . . . we as broadcast engineers knew we were giving the best our signal could provide and I am sure many of you in this radio group feel this way.
Some of you point out that "yea we got digital TV" and the consumer had to pay for it by having to buy a new TV . . . again . . . they got something better . . . as I said our viewers when we went digital loved it, the "nerds" as some of you call them and the average Joe . . . they loved the better picture on their new DTV and the sound too.
Some of you talk about consumers having to pay for a new DTV, when DTV came on board . . . well when you buy a new car today you get that fancy "infotainment center" or whatever the car companies call it . . . guess who is paying for that . . . the consumer.
Guess who pays for some of the APPS to use in that infotainment center . . . the consumer.
Who's paying if they exceed the data usage as they stream or having to pay for extra data usage up-front . . . the consumer.
And who is being led to believe their Smartphones going to be there in time of need, the consumer.
*****
let's compare TV & radio over the years . . .
look at TV . . .
color TV in the 50's,
closed captions,
SAP (Second Audio Program),
Stereo
DTV
please don't say there was more places where TV could improve because it was pictures & sound. . . nope that don't count,
*****
Now radio,
over the years the only thing I know that made radio better, the opinion of not just me but others, was FM STEREO
Quadraphonic (remember that in the early 70's) - failed
AM STEREO - failed
RDS - failed in our country (I know some of you will say the consumer did not want it, some did, do it for them)
Analog to Digital - never given the chance,
pretty decent number of failures for just an audio service
Look a number of you are very smart, I respect that, but I think some of you know deep down inside radio messed up, if you don't feel that way, that is OK, but you know how I feel - radio messed up.
I respect you all.
You all have a Happy New Year!!!!