BERLIN—While there is general gnashing of teeth regarding some countries plans (or lack thereof) to shut down their FM networks, there seems to be no equivalent with respect to plans on shutting down AM medium-wave stations.
At 2 a.m. local time, July 6, both of the WDR (West German Radio) MW transmitters were turned off for good. Funds thus saved will be re-allocated for DAB+ radio.
The transmitters are in Langenberg (720 KHz @ 63 KW) and Bonn (774 KHz @ 5 KW). They provide coverage in the north Rhine and Westphalia areas, along with Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse, according to digitalfernsehen.com. The programs that have been transmitted via the two AM stations are already available via the internet, over DAB+, satellite radio, and on local cable systems.