Some electric car manufacturers are considering dropping AM radios. The electric engine causes interference that makes AM unlistenable. And, you know if the AM's go from electric cars, vehicles with internal combustion engines are next. Why should vehicle manufacturers have two different radios? One model for all vehicles will suffice.
Some see this as an awful move. The rest of the world is indifferent.
I grew up with AM radio.
I worked in AM radio.
I love AM radio.
The AM fans feel if AM goes away, the country loses a vital source of emergency information.
Bunk!
In the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area there is only one AM radio station with a real local presence, and that's only half of the day. If something big happens after 6 pm, it will have to wait until the next morning.
The Federal Communications Commission threw AM owners a bone by giving them FM translators. All that did was inspire owners to drop spoken word formats for music intensive formats.
The big all news stations in major markets now also broadcast on FM. That includes KYW in Philadelphia, WBBM in Chicago, WINS in New York, KNX in Los Angeles, and WTOP in Washington, DC.
I would be sad if AM went away, but let's face it. There isn't much on the band worth saving.
