Kill AM

[Weltall]

So, you're suggesting that as television goes, so should goeth radio. I agree with this sentiment.

The problem is, it wouldn't be as smooth as the television transition. TVs are, with a few exceptions, standalone console devices which have little fundamental variation from one form to another. Digital converter boxes were a workable solution because they were compatible with basically all TVs, given the right extras. It's not the same with radio, because radios are, as often as not, embedded devices which would have to be completely replaced--car stereos are a major example--and how many people are going to bother doing that?

That's why I think the best way to handle it would be for satellite to adopt the advertiser model and attempt to become the radio standard, because new devices will be necessary anyway, and satellite radio already has both years of operation and a decent amount of market penetration. Alternatively, they can adopt the television method in which local stations are free and you can subscribe for the premium stations as is the current reality. There's no need or reason for there to be more than one broadcasting standard.