On Dec 13, 9:31*pm, "Bob Campbell" wrote:


There is no doubt that traditional radio listening is way down. Mp3
players and satellite radio is growing leaps and bounds.

AM sounds terrible and SW is just a joke.

AM does sound terrible compared to FM, that's why almost all music
stations are off AM now. My hometown is an exception to this rule,
there are 2 AM stations within 15 miles of my house. 1200 out of
Saluda, SC actually does play variety music but it shuts off at
sunset. The other close AM station (1 miles from my house) plays all
Spanish music. Most AM stations in other markets either play talk,
sports talk, or religion. WSM in Nashville is one exception I can
think of.

And while I am listening to shortwave and this forum is biased in
favor of shortwave, SWL's are few & far between. A lot of English
broadcast such as a the BBC, Netherlands, Monitor Radio, Israel etc
have stopped targeting America or stopped broadcasting over the air.
You can still get the BBC and Netherlands but it takes some tweaking
and good atmospheric conditions. Honestly, it's just easier to listen
to the BBC streaming on the web.

I think looking and listening for unique shortwave radio broadcasting
like Cuba, Romania, China, and Russia is a unique experience. While I
think Radio Habana is full of , very good to listen to their spin
of the news.


There is clearly still a world wide market for radios, but in the U. S. it
is all but over. *

Agree, on the decline except in 3rd world countries. And those in 3rd
world countries aren't going to buy medium to high priced radios.

The digital/HD/IBOC stuff was a last-ditch attempt to
modernize radio. *

I barely understand what that is, unlike HDTV, there hasn't been no
public education about HD radio and similar technologies. Satellite
radio is superior except for inside reception.

I fully expect that in 10 years, commerical AM radio will be completely
gone. *

I don't think it will be gone but the listenership will continue to
decline. AM has survived television and FM radio & it will survive for
a while longer. Rush Limbaugh still makes tens of millions each year
from AM radio so there is money and opportunity to be made.

FM will have the local news/talk/weather/traffic (it already does
here) as well as some music hold outs - country, oldies and other formats
where the listener is less likely to have computers and MP3 players and
therefore still listens to radio. * The car radio will transform into an amp
and speakers for the MP3 player.

I'll agree with that assessment also.

still a lot of good stuff to hear on AM, shortwave, and FM depending
on your taste.