WMMM 1260 goes AM Stereo
The sale of WDJF meant some renewed cash flow for Flamm's remaining station. A new movement was changing the face of broadcasting - AM STEREO. WMMM was one of the first stations in Connecticut to utilize Kahn Communication's independent sideband AM Stereo technology. Four newly installed ITC 750 open reel tape players were installed in the on-air studio to program "The Entertainers," a middle of the road music format produced by Burbank based program supplier Radio Arts. Other new additions were the CRL audio processing equipment and the JAM acapella jingle package.
As part of its move to stereo broadcasting, the station encouraged listeners to get involved thanks to Gary Flamm's "AM Stereo Challenge" promotion in which the station gave away many Sony SRF-A1 FM/AM Stereo Walkman® portable radios. WMMM was one of many stations that opted for the technically superior Kahn system instead of the Motorola C-CQUAM™ system, which would end up as a de-facto standard thanks in part to the GM/Delco alliance.
Pictured top right is a logo for the Radio Arts "The Entertainers" music format. Above left is one of the WMMM AM Stereo Challenge bumper stickers. Pictured on the right is one of the Sony SRF-A1 Walkman® FM Stereo / AM Stereo radios given away by the station as part of the "AM Stereo Challenge" promotion. Pictured lower left is the Sony SRF-A100 portable FM/AM Stereo radio once used as a studio monitor tuner. Pictured bottom right is the Sony CFS-6000 FM/AM Stereo "boom box" style radio often used at on-location remote broadcasts by the station.
All three of these radios are capable of receiving AM stereo broadcasts. Since there were several competing stereo broadcasting standards at the time, these radios had a switch that allowed the unit to properly receive the four systems. In one position, the radio would receive the Harris, Magnavox and Kahn ISB systems, while in the other position the unit would receive the Motorola C-QUAM system.
These receivers also differ from many other AM radios as these have a wider bandwidth audio response. Sony had been one of the more innovative electronics manufacturers who developed and marketed radios for the reception of AM Stereo. The Sony SRF-A300, a portable FM/AM Stereo radio similar to the long discontinued SRF-A100, is still available in Japan.