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![]() "Doug Smith W9WI" wrote in message ... On the other hand, we do now have "duopoly" in the U.S. - it's now legal for the same company to own more than one AM station in the same city. WLAC could, for example, buy WAMB-1160. Convert WAMB to DRM, and use it to carry the same program (but in digital mode) as WLAC. Once (if!) the majority of listeners have DRM radios, they could swap stations for a few years. (converting WLAC to DRM and WAMB back to analog) When the number of analog radios in use becomes negligible, either shut off WAMB, sell it to someone else, or start a second DRM station. Most group owners are still far enough short of the limit for the number of AM stations they're permitted to own in most major markets, and there are generally enough "also-ran" small AM stations available to buy. The coverage of the DRM stations would be less than that of the existing analog outlets, but if the IBOC adjacent-channel interference from other stations isn't there then the actual coverage with DRM might well be *better*. Yes, but if the second station doesn't increase revenues by increasing audience, the money is wasted. Not that broadcasters haven't wasted money like that before, they used to simulcast their AM programming on FM. But the FCC didn't like simulcasting, and pretty much stopped it. AM IBOC has been around for a year or two, and it's still something of a novelty. It doesn't seem to be taking off as quickly as AM Stereo, and there aren't many receivers available, yet. I also don't know if there's much of a market for digital radios which receive the same old stuff that any old cheap radio receives. Maybe if all the radios were the same price, but IBOC hopes to make money on licensing fees. I don't know the bandwidth of full digital IBOC, but if the full digital bandwidth is the same as DRM, it seems the IBOC has an advantage with the transitional hybrid system. Of course, the *right* answer (for the listener, not for the DXer!) is Eureka on VHF/UHF. -- Doug Smith W9WI Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com If we ever manage how to figure out how to put satellites up reliably and economically, the networks will probably put up high-power, non-subscription direct broadcast satellites. Frank Dresser |