For years, radio stations in Canada have been abandoning the AM dial for FM, especially in big cities where the FM signal is far more reliable. Saskatchewan was slower to respond principally because our population was not as urbanized but the trend to FM is now being reflected here. Proof of that is the launch of new FM frequencies in the last 2-3 months in Regina with Big Dog 92.7 and Missinipi Broadcasting (MBC), Mix 103 in Moose Jaw and Wired 96.3 in Saskatoon.
Another factor propelling broadcasters in this direction besides the sound quality is the youth market. According to this recent article in the Globe and Mail, 80% of all people under age 54 do not listen to AM. In Saskatoon, Wired 96.3 is targeting its music at teens and the 18 to 34 year group. Its manager, Carley Caverly, says “it is the only radio station in Saskatchewan with this kind of music format.”
So popular is FM there is little space left on the dial in some cities for additional frequencies. In some cities such as Thunder Bay, Ontario there are no local AM stations. In Saskatchewan, we have seen two mighty AM stations: CFQC Saskatoon and CKCK Regina come and go. Even the once formidable signal strength of CBK 540 has eroded in some cities. Thus, CBC received regulatory approval to broadcast Radio One on FM in Regina and Saskatoon markets in addition to its AM signal.
According to the Globe and Mail, the switch to FM has also proven profitable. The latest figures show that commerical AM stations netted an average of 118 thousand a year while FM stations averaged 659 thousand dollars per year. How long those numbers hold up is anyone’s guess with the growth of satellite and Internet radio including Saskatoon-based Jazz Avenue.
2 responses so far ↓
Dave // May 7, 2009 at 8:52 pm |
The playlists and formats of US and Canadian stations are morphing into a mix of Madonna, Metallic and Eminem.
A recent trip through a couple of Latin American countries brought back the sense of adventure in listening to the radio. Old one hit wonders that never even hit oldies stations could be heard in Bogota mixed in with their local music along with the more modern music of New Order Jazz and Nine
Inch nails. The programmers mix seemingly incompatible music together. The good tunes that we loved that disappeared after a few plays are alive and well on foreign radio. The old formats of easy listening can now be heard widely on Latin American
FM Radio. Each station is a mixed bag yet
none sound alike. The only stand alone is classical and Spanish, but occassionly mixed in with the romantic sounds of Barbara Streisand and the Fifth Dimension.
Tyrone Principe // May 12, 2009 at 3:58 pm |
Yeah, commercial radio just SUCKS.