Most Japanese commercial AM broadcasters will stop AM until 2028
According to “Spotrs Hochi News” and other media;
The representatives of Japanese 47 commercial AM radio broadcasters held the online meeting on June 14, they announced 44 of 47 broadcasters have decided to stop AM broadcasting until 2028 and change to FM. Only 3 broadcasters in Hokkaido and Akita have not decided yet.
3 AM broadcasters in Tokyo – TBS Radio (954kHz 100kW/90.5MHz 7kW), Bunka Hoso (1134kHz 100kW/91.6MHz 7kW), Nippon Hoso (1242kHz 100kW/93.0MHz 7kW) will do the last 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.
Takahito Akabayashi, Tokyo, Japan to WOR groups.io (2021-06-15)