Well, get those poison darts ready. Joe D'Angelo a veep at iBiquity has written an op ed on why AM must go all digital. While his article is obviously self-serving (or iBiquity-serving) he makes some good points. Tests show that digital AM provided a robust, clear signal farther and with less power than analog and that, in the long run, is more cost effective then running an analog plant.
Yes, it means making obsolete millions of radios but statistics show AM is already becoming obsolete in terms of listenership. So why not blow up the current AM scene and start fresh. D'Angelo did say that clock and table radios are becoming a thing of the past which may explain why we haven't seen hardly any new HD Radios in that form factor. But the automobile is digital AMs future.
I tend to agree with the premise that AM must go all digital. It's probably the best way to save the medium for a future generation not to mention that it could greatly improve AM station valuations. As it is many stations are either being given away or simply going dark.
The article is in the Sept. 25 edition of Radio World.
Yes, it means making obsolete millions of radios but statistics show AM is already becoming obsolete in terms of listenership. So why not blow up the current AM scene and start fresh. D'Angelo did say that clock and table radios are becoming a thing of the past which may explain why we haven't seen hardly any new HD Radios in that form factor. But the automobile is digital AMs future.
I tend to agree with the premise that AM must go all digital. It's probably the best way to save the medium for a future generation not to mention that it could greatly improve AM station valuations. As it is many stations are either being given away or simply going dark.
The article is in the Sept. 25 edition of Radio World.