TBS Radio Inc. Chairman Kiyohiko Irie is seen during a news conference in Tokyo's Minato Ward, on June 15, 2021.
(Photo courtesy of the Wide FM receiver promotion liaison via mainichi.jp/)
According to "Sports Hochi News" and other media, representatives of 47 Japanese commercial AM radio stations held online meeting on June 15, they announced 44 out of 47 broadcasters have decided to stop AM broadcasting by the year 2028 and change to FM. Only 3 broadcasters in Hokkaido and Akita have not decided yet. 3 AM broadcasters in Tokyo – TBS Radio(954 kHz 100 kW/90.5 MHz 7 kW), Bunka Hoso(1134 kHz 100 kW/91.6 MHz 7 kW), Nippon Hoso(1242 kHz 100 kW/93.0 MHz 7 kW) will take decision in 2025. 28 AM broadcasters will start the demonstration experiment to stop AM in 2023-2028.
The reasons are :
1) it is financially impossible to renew the old AM transmitter equipment
2) the simultaneous AM/FM broadcasting has been the severe burden for finance, they add the number of internet/mobile phone (using "radiko" site or App) listeners have exceeded that of radio listeners,especially in younger generation.
47 commercial AM broadcasters are, 16 MW only and 31 MW +TV broadcasters. Radio NIKKEI (SW only) is not included.
(Takahito Akabayashi, Tokyo, Japan via WOR)
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44 of 47 AM radio stations in Japan to switch to FM by 2028