New AM Stations in Calgary?

[JiriHrdina]

Sometime ago we had a thread about the new stations being added in the market, and some of you seemed to have some good insight. There was some discussion that the CRTC might approve a couple of new AM stations for Calgary, but as it turned out only a collection of FM stations were announced.

My question is...has anyone heard anything about new AM stations being possibly added still...or...since the CRTC announced the FM stations does that basically make that an impossibility or highly unlikely?

[Hack&Lube]

Do people still listen to AM?

[fanforever1986]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Do people still listen to AM?

Peter Mahar and the rest of FAN960 forgive you for what you just said.

[Engine09]

When my Sirius isn't on I listen to 660, 770 and 960.

FM is horrible in this city, a joke really.

[Flame On]

Off topic sorry JH, but has anyone heard of a hardware piece that attaches to iPod's that will get AM? I know there's FM. Then I can listen to the new AM radio when they come....phew just got it back on topic!

[Staypuft]

To be honest, AM is becoming more and more of a rare breed.
The radio stations I work at are one FM and one AM in the same building.
The problem with AM, is that most of the transmitters for these stations were built so long ago, and they are so costly to replace that we are considering a straight up switch to 2 FM stations.

Also, it's no secret that FM is much clearer...and that is a major deterrent to establishing a "new" AM station in any market.

[Looger]

in bc AM is disappearing fast, which is funny because FM is nearly useless around hills and trees.

in prince george for example, no AM is left - there were some old AM antennas on land belonging to a friend of mine's dad, but before i could look into maybe restarting them a couple of rocket surgeons decided to try and relocate them.

they tried to fell them like trees, they twisted and snapped as they're built in several sections.

AM revival takes another one right in the chops!

LPFM (low power FM) is getting HUGE in the states, calgary is a big enough city in my opinion that you could reach enough people, say downtown, to make it worth your while.

something tells me that LPFM may not be allowed in canada, maybe i just haven't heard of it happening here yet.

[algernon]

Originally Posted by Kryzsky

When my Sirius isn't on I listen to 660, 770 and 960.

FM is horrible in this city, a joke really.

Probably going out on a limb here, but, have you tried CKUA(93.7 in Calgary)? I'm not sure I can accurately describe it, but here goes: The Oldest public brodcater in canada,having been est. about 80 years ago @ Uof A. Since then it has become Alberta's public radio station, run on personal and corporate donations; like PBS in the states. You can pick it up on AM (580) almost anywhere in Alberta, and FM in the bigger centres.

As a Framer the last 4-5 years, I am completely turned off of commercial FM in this city. Too many annoying commercials, too much nickleback, etc. too much pandering to the lowest common denominator, and of course when you are beat over the head with the same 90 song rotation day in day out...!, you kinda want hurt someone. Anyhoo, I found CKUA by accident flipping through the dial when they were playing a Morcheeba song, & have been hooked ever since. Most of the time they don't really have a set format; one minute a song from Cuba, then a Johhny Cash tune, then Muddy Waters, a Bjork diddy, a township song from Africa, St.Germaine and they might finish off the set with Jack Johnson.

*gets off soap box*

to quote LaVar: "Don't take my word for it..." CKUA.COM to check out some of their current playlists. I have heard of so many new artists through this station it's unconcienable that I used to have to litsen to CJ 8 hours a day....Oh, and I don't reccomend trying to introduce CK to a crew that likes to listen to nickleback , as they are already a lost cause.