05-10-2012, 04:29 PM
Paranoia aside, I think ONE aspect of the AM to FM change (and it's happening here to an extent too) is transmitter equipment costs and broadcast power.
Friend of mine who works for one of the local TV stations (same company owns one of the local radio stations...) talked with the local engineer and he was saying that their transmitter equipment was so old that there were no spare parts available, except a few scrounged used and squirreled away. Also that in order to upgrade, the cost of a new FM transmitter (talking the radio station here) was cheaper than a new AM transmitter - so they would likely go FM if their AM transmitter finally fails or they upgrade.
Friend of mine who works for one of the local TV stations (same company owns one of the local radio stations...) talked with the local engineer and he was saying that their transmitter equipment was so old that there were no spare parts available, except a few scrounged used and squirreled away. Also that in order to upgrade, the cost of a new FM transmitter (talking the radio station here) was cheaper than a new AM transmitter - so they would likely go FM if their AM transmitter finally fails or they upgrade.