Last year Norway created ripples in the international community when it declared, what may be termed as the death knell of FM radio. In an official statement issued early last year, Norway announced that it was ending the FM radio service in the country. It will become the first country to do so, when FM radio stations broadcast their last radio programs next year on January 2017.
For millions of people around the world, the radio has always been a major source of information as well as entertainment. The latest news as well as the latest hit songs have always made their mark on radio channels, before they are broadcast through any other medium. Many from the older generation will remember the thrill of anticipation that came with tuning the various knobs present on the radio, in an effort to find popular FM stations. The characteristic hums and hisses that came with tuning into different FM stations can still be recalled by them.
Thus, it was with a twinge of sadness that many people, especially the citizens of Norway, realized that it was time to bid adieu to one of the oldest forms of electronic entertainment. Many countries are expected to follow Norway’s example and down the shutters of their own FM radio stations. The cause for this has been attributed to the decrease in traditional radio listeners as most of the younger generation have migrated to newer versions of radio-entertainments, like the digital radio programs being offered by Internet Radio Stations.
Many in Norway have opposed the shutdown, including the Center party and the Progressive party. Unexpectedly, the move has now being vehemently opposed by Norges Fiskarlag, The Norwegian Fishing Association. They allege that replacement measures to provide equivalent services to the off-shore seamen have not been put forth by the government.
For thousands of radio listeners in the United Kingdom the news was shocking, and yet it was quite expected. The latest reports coming in from Radio Joint Audience Research (RAJAR) have confirmed what many people in the radio industry only suspected. RAJAR has confirmed that there has been a shift in radio listening preferences, with more people tuning in to access Digital Radio Stations, rather than the conventional FM & AM stations.
With the elections in The United States Of America scheduled to be held later this year, the FCC, America’s primary communications regulator, is gearing up to face the barrage of activities it will have to oversee during and after the elections.
According to FCC rules, all legally qualified candidates running for elective office, must be given equal opportunities and treated with impartiality by all broadcasting agencies. All candidates and their opponents are eligible to use the services of the broadcast station at the same prescribed rates. Qualified and running candidates can pay the lowest unit rate charge or LUC to the broadcaster. These charges are applicable 45 days before the state primary elections, and 60 days before the general elections. In order to avail the broadcast station’s lowest unit charge, The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act-2002 (BCRA) requires candidates to supply a certificate agreeing not to malign or directly refer to opposing candidates.