|
|
|
Attack of the Killer Satellite (Blog Menu)
If you read any audio/video magazine articles these days where the words "terrestrial radio" are used, you likely see a descriptor similar to "dismal future." That's to be expected. Magazine editors need to get your attention and hyperbole and exaggeration are two arrows in their linguistic quivers. Many of these same magazine editors have become enamored of satellite radio, one of the newest toys for home and car. Magazine circulation has always depended on descriptions of the latest greatest, so I would expect little, if any, attention given to traditional radio. So far, other than Howard Stern, the content of satellite radio has usually taken a backseat to the praise for its variety and technical sound.
To be sure, satellite radio, as the magazine pundits suggest, is becoming a factor to reckon with. Terrestrial radio, however, will answer the call and will become better because of the competition. Competition, to be sure, is a pain, but it does produce better and more diverse choices in any arena, including radio, so bring it on.
On the other hand, we in the radio broadcast industry were recently alerted to a new, unforeseen problem, one which public radio station WYPR-FM/Baltimore alerts their listenership to on their Web site:
HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED INTERFERENCE WHEN TURNING TO 88.1 IN YOUR CAR?
Recently we have heard that some listeners are experiencing interference in their cars while tuning in to WYPR. Instead of hearing our station, they are hearing an entirely different broadcast. We thought you should be aware; the interference may be due to Sirius Satellite Radio. Sirius and other manufacturers sell transmitter car and home kits that allow subscribers to listen to satellite radio by broadcasting a limited range signal from their portable satellite device into their car radio. These transmitters offer Sirius subscribers an inexpensive alternative to purchasing multiple satellite radios. Unfortunately, your radio receiver might come within the short range and the satellite signal being transmitted will be heard on your radio. Some of the Sirius literature even suggests using 88.1MHz as the FM frequency. If you are listening to WYPR, but begin hearing something else, you may be within range of a car utilizing the Sirius transmitter and receiving a Sirius broadcast. You can remedy the problem by simply moving away from the adjacent car. We thought you should be aware and thank you for listening to 88.1 WYPR .One anecdotal report has a listener of WYPR-FM claiming that he can't listen to 88.1FM while driving in his car for fear that his children might hear the evocative descriptions by Howard Stern emanating from the receivers in adjacent cars. Does this threaten the terrestrial radio station? Yes, probably more seriously than the program service of satellite radio, for if listeners in the lower FM spectrum cannot rely on a clean signal from their public radio station because of the technical interference, the only alternative is to listen less. Less listening could translate into less station loyalty or passion. Less loyalty/passion may translate to lost pledge dollars.
So, we terrestrial broadcasters in the lower regions of the FM spectrum need not only worry about new competition, but interference from that new competition's receivers. Life was never fair and it is getting even less fair with this new wrinkle.
I warn you now, so that if, in the future, you encounter Mr. Stern's unique sensibilities on your car radio at 88.7FM in the Joplin area, you can be sure you are no longer listening to our station, you will be eavesdropping on your fellow drivers'. Speed up and away with caution.
As always, we'd like your reaction, the e-mail address is .
88.7KXMS is an international cultural resource of Missouri Southern State University