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I was talking today with the manager of our local community radio station WWOZ New Orleans (streaming at wwoz.org), one of the few all locally programmed, all music public stations left I suppose. He reminded me that within x years (maybe 5) the FCC will force all broadcasting to go digital. He gave me the impression that after a certain point they won't be permitted to broadcast an analog signal even if they want to. Is this indeed true? I asked him if an analog tuner could still be used with some sort of D/A converter to receive the digital signal, since they would still be broadcasting at the same frequencey. He didn't really know that much about the technical details, but since we both own McIntosh tuners we both considered if we should sell them soon before they become next to worthless (at least in the U.S.A.)One thing he said that made an unfortunate form of sense, given the FCC's abandonment of the public interest in favor of the military-entertainment complex, is that RIAA (and no doubt ASCAP and BMI) are pressing this change because it will invalidate the old contracts and arrangements with the broadcast industry over license fees and payments, and they feel they are in position to press for a better deal. This certainly will put even greater pressure on public and non-profit radio broadcasting, perhaps accelerating the move towards talk in place of music on the public end of the dial. I suggested the perhaps the answer was to return to broadcasting live music (no RIAA) that was not copywrited (folk music, or on the spot free-improv!!!--no BMI or ASCAP.) Acutually that would be a great idea for WWOZ, since New Orleans still has a viable live music culture, but I won't hold my breath . . .
Follow Ups:
It's all about bandwidth; meaning more channels in a slot, meaning more advertisement exposure.Commercial radio (and TV) broadcasting is, and always has been, keeping your attention between commercial clusters.
to live broadcasts of the Monterey Jazz Festival, I can confirm that live music is really a nice option. I'd speculate, though, that it would be hard to stage live music formats today. The manpower required for scheduling and engineering alone would be quite expensive.The funny part about all the brou-ha-ha about digital broadcasting is that its a solution looking for a problem, IMHO. Yes, there are business reasons why to abandon the radio spectrum and to void very old contractual arrangements (RIAA, etc). That doesn't mean that the consumer will go along - and they vote with their pocket books.
Cheers,
David
at the Italian fest, couldn't listen, was at a conference on Cannery Row. Oh well, next year. Where did you listen to the broadcast (station, city locale)?
KUSP had a van out at the Monterey fairgrounds and had arranged for a patch into the board for the main stage. I got to hear Dave Brubeck and McCoy Tyner on Sunday night and caught the last act from last Friday night's Clayton-Hamilton Big Band with Kurt Elling singing - all live into my own home. Cool.We're very fortunate to have some really cool folks around here, like Pete Fallico (of the Doodlin' Lounge) who manned the mics, too.
Cheers,
David
They'll turn off FM broadcasts when all FM radios (car and home) are in landfills. Look at how long it's taking HDTV to come on line. The feds keep moving the deadline back for the switch-over.
The only serious potential threat to the FM scheme of things are the webcasts of various radio stations available on your computer. If they ever get to the point where they are as good as FM in sound quality (a good FM station that is) then the gig is up.
I do not believe US analog local radio broadcast on the 550-1600kHz or 88-108mHz bands will be banned by the FCC in even the next 20 years. Too many radio receivers exist in the US & far outlast TV sets (no CRT).
. . . the stupidity--or for that matter, venality--of government.
I cannot speak for the USA or New Orleans with any authority but I
recently had my tuner upgraded at Magnum dynalab and had a similar
discussion with Larry Zurowski.
He told me that a few years ago in Canada they were pushing to go all
digital.But they could not get anyone to buy into the technology.
Today every single digital tranmitter has been turned off.
He also told me tha there are still a half million analog tuners
sold worldwide and that analog is very much alive.
I also read somewhere a few years ago that the American broadcast
standard that was adopted called for a dual transmission.That the digital signal was going to be broadcast within the analog signal so
as not to make analog obsolete.This standard was very different
than the European standard that Canada had adopted and being next
door neighbours to the US who adopted a different standard,was a major reason for Canada abandoning the digital broadcast.
Larry Zurowski says that they will inthe future offer XM radio along
with analog but he says it is an oxymoron to get good sound form
digital which has a lower bit rate than cd.The case to go digital
is not a slam dunk by any means and if the result in Canada is any indicator analog FM will be around for a long long time yet.
But only time will tell for certain and Larry may just want to sell tuners.Duane Upshaw
Excellent perspective and lets not forget in many metropolitan areas they're are still quite a few publicly funded stations for quality classical and jazz programming. While the digital broadcasting is definitely here for the long haul I see no reason to eliminate analogue broadcasting any time soon in the foreseeable future , I seriously think the everyday radio listening public would be outraged.They'll {analogue and digital} more than likely coincide along one another for quite some time. Lets not forget that standard television broadcasting has survived alongside cable and satellite for many years even though cable offers far more programming. I think with radio programming the change is going to be subtle over many years while XM and the likes offer radio radicals like Howard Stern the freedom to do they're thing Ill continue to support quality public programming for my evening listening. Its therapeutic at times.
Long live FREE Quality music on the FM dial!!!
Best Regards /// Tim W... ///
Tim, I'd suggest that we remind ourselves that "free" shouldn't apply to the non-commercial Public stations that give us our best music and in the biggest quantities. During the times I happen to be employed, I feel obliged actually, to send in a couple of bucks to my public radio outfit.Those of us owning M-D tuners or equivalents, should have no problem sending 1% of retail price to our favorite Public outfit.
(P.S.- not taking potshots at your tagline; just plugging the fact we should all include supporting our favorite non-commercial stations as if they're a Component in our System. Which, for me, they are.)
Greetings cdb...Yes you are so right in your comment regarding my post. As I submitted my thread and re-read my statement I wanted to recant the final thoughts regarding FREE radio as my point sounded misconstrued. Actually in my summerization I was referring to the entire FM radio broadcasting airwaves as a whole to the "John Q public at large".
And depending on ones point of view and set of priorities yes, I think your suggestion of "one percent" in donation to public funded radio in correlation to my Magnum Dynalab tuners price point, in any one's assessment, is a very fair if not conservative monetary contribution.
Their are two terrific stations that I get a great deal of listening enjoyment in my area from. I for one know nobody works for free or can maintain various equipment costs etc. at these smaller radio stations. Nothing in life of value is free-- nor should it be. So I stand corrected and please allow me to re-summarize my previous post by correctly stating to all those that value quality programming to support your local public radio-- great return on your investment!Which reminds me I'm about due up to support another great free -- OOOPS -- wait a minute--- make that "publicly funded website"... The AA... ;o} !
Regards /// Tim W... ///
These guys are usually very accesible, and really appreciate customer feedback; IME.On the link I provided, I've called Mick Martin during his Blues show, on air, and always gotten through. Outside of the quarterly Neilson numbers, these folks have little feedback that they are connecting with anyone. Anyone, in any profession, appreciates an occasional "Nice job" comment, along with courteous criticism.
Interesting.
Ive never thought about it but Ill keep that in mind and give it a try sometime. Recognition from patrons for ones daily efforts in all aspects of employment is generally a great way to uplift someones spirits in the daily grind.-- Kindness costs nothing yet many are unwilling to pay... Enjoy your M.D.Best Regards cdb... /// Tim W...///
One of the reasons that I made a substantial investment in analog FM is indeed the fact that I live within 20 miles of a public funded
jazz station in Toronto that has superb sound quality with no compression and within 40 miles of A public funded staion out of
Buffalo New york that also has no compression and superb sound quality.The programming on the buffalo station is second to none.
My weekends are spend listening to a very comical car repair show by
click and clack the tappet brothers and a superb weekend long blues
show that features some of the hottest blues artists around.My magnum
was IMHO worth the price of admission.Duane Upshaw
Can you imagine the uproar from the public if one day their car radios, FM tuners at home, boom boxes, no longer worked?And they asked, What's with this? Officials answered, you were warned... you have to go buy new equipment, but that's OK, it's sound better because it's digital and new.
There would be a run on rope, FCC officials would hang from every lamp post.
--- However candid my post was I "enjoyed" your analogy much more. Perhaps I should stock up on rope now?Safe to say that very thought process reinforced rationality to my financial decision in investing in a quality tuner for my music listening. Yes FM should be here for quite some time. That about sums it up....
Regards /// Tim W. ///
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