No more moving the dial.
It looks like FM radio will soon be going the way of AM radio, if the world is follow in the footsteps of Norway.
First invented in 1933, FM broadcasts soon took-over in popularity for the-then abundant AM broadcasts.
In the eight-decades-plus since then, FM has ruled the airways, with many radio stations taking to naming themselves after the frequency modulation (i.e. FM) itself, such as FM104 and Today FM.
However, this week witnessed the first steps towards the end of radio as we know, with Norway being the first country in the world to switch off its national FM signals, switching over entirely to digital radio outputs.
This tiny cabin next to the antenna is where a momentous occasion in radio broadcasting history occurs #pure_insider #ERT #FMexit pic.twitter.com/eSsbbKJDEo
— Andy Graham (@andygraham001) December 13, 2017
Final stage of Norwegian #DSO completed today when all national radios switched off FM in Troms and Finnmark. #dab #fmexit #radio #digitalradio #switchoff https://t.co/MyoPBID9Ye
— Line Langnes (@LineLangnes) December 13, 2017
Glorious FM in Norway is… GONE! (Maybe a religious based broadcast is on) The northern side of the land that inspired #Frozen (Disney) is now unable to hear the radio, since there's no local broadcast and now requiring new radio DAB receivers. What does the radio says #Ylvis? https://t.co/7SWcXVVUSa
— Carol Alfonso #PrayForPeace 🙏 PuertoRico 🇵🇷 (@caa1000) December 13, 2017
Despite the order to shut down, some FM stations are continuing to broadcast, as there are some parts of the country where anyone with an FM radio will be left entirely without access to any kind of radio.
#Norway’s Metro Group is continuing to broadcast on #FM in Oslo, despite the order to shut down last Friday. Radio Metro, The Beat and Radio Rox remain on-air. #fmshutdown https://t.co/sVe20NlFD8
— Radio magazine (@Radiomagazine) December 13, 2017
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