Re-Aim Your Dish… We’ll Wait Here.
Attention, fellow satellite aficionados — in just 45 days, radio stations across this great land will lose their radio network programming from all major companies if they do not re-aim their satellites from AMC-8 to the new AMC-18 (enjoy this artist’s rendering) at 105 degrees West Longitude.
All radio stations currently receiving programming from AMC-8 have until June 30, 2017 to re-point their downlink antennas (dishes). At that time, AMC-8 will no longer serve as the radio network “neighborhood,” and there will not be a suitable replacement satellite at the 139-degree position. It has exceeded its design life and is not being replaced by an equivalent C-band satellite at the same location.
The five major commercial radio networks — Learfield, Orbital Media Networks (OMNi), Premiere Networks, Skyview Networks and Westwood One — now have their full complements of satellite-delivered programming available on their new frequencies on AMC-18. This also includes programming from syndicators who lease their satellite time from these five companies.
It is imperative that stations have a plan in place and conversations with their technical teams. Engineers and parts may become scarce as the June 30 deadline fast approaches. For more information, including satellite vendors, a full list of frequencies for each network, or technical questions about satellite settings, please visit amc8migration.com/docs/RNUG_FAQ.pdf. Stations in need of vendors to re-aim their dishes can visit amc8migration.com/Vendors.html.
