Like Expanding the FM Band down to 80MHz?
There isn’t enough space on FM for the low power community stations to be moved (especially Sydney and Brisbane), they will have to go on DAB via the main transmitter of the capital city or a new small-scale transmitter, which can’t be done until ACMA creates a new license for it (category 4 perhaps).
The commercial stations in adjacent markets won’t be changing frequencies so that is a non-starter.
The ABA made a complete mess of the FM planning 20 years ago, so the only option is DAB+ and/or streaming for sub-metro community stations to be taken off FM in the major cities on the East coast.
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The only capital cities that I can see AM to FM conversions happening, is in Perth (which hopefully will be given the go ahead next year for Option 1), Adelaide and Canberra.
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It’s not up to the listeners to do this, it’s up to CRA and the operators themselves to do it. Somehow I don’t think Paul Fletcher will be bothered if people on this forum wrote to him demanding a DAB+ rollout to regional markets…
But if you think he may listen, then why don’t you write to him and then report back to this forum if you actually get a response?
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Hmmm could be interesting if and when 4AK goes to FM… Might give SCA some competition, particularly with some of the music they play nowadays since the departure of DB as Music Director
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Adelaide and Canberra will find it difficult to achieve spectrum wise.
You’re right, but in the interim I still reckon 4WK and 4AK should do a frequency swap so they can make use of the FM translator in Toowoomba now. Would be great to see two FM music stations serving Toowoomba.
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They only need to convert 2 AM stations to FM in both markets.
EDIT: I am referring to the 2 commercial AM stations in each market, not the ABC.
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True, but I don’t think it will be that easy.
I don’t know about Adelaide, but Canberra is simple move the Tuggeranong translators 400khz off the Canberra spacing and there will be room to convert all am stations including the nationals to fm.
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I just can’t believe it’s that hard. These are two smallish cities (especially Canberra) each with not a huge number of stations and no big population centres nearby. It’s not like they’re a mega metro area like southern California or even south east Queensland with 2 or 3 times the number of stations to fit in.
Example from greater LA with mostly 0.4 spacing for adjacent and sub metro markets.
I know the ACMA states their principle is not to move any frequencies but that’s just ridiculous. Community stations in particular should have to move if required.
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What Now for the Spectrum?
Here are some examples of stations that moved frequency to enable other stations to move into FM.
- 3RIM Melton, a community station, moved from 95.5 to 97.9 to enable 3GL to convert to FM and become 95.5 K-Rock.
- RPH Warrnambool, a community station, swapped its FM frequency with 3YB Warrnambool to enable 3YB to convert to FM.
- 3YYR Geelong, a community station, moved from 100.3 to 94.7. This enabled 100.3 to be used in Melbourne, taken up by Nova 100.
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Yes exactly. Plenty of stations have had to move frequencies over the years. They’re not sacred cows.
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Moving community stations is much simpler than moving adjacent-market FM commercial stations.
But there is not enough space for all the sub-metros in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney to be moved to other FM frequencies, to enable high-powered FM stations. They will need to go to DAB+ and be taken off the FM band, but we have a higher chance of winning the lottery than this ever happening, as the whole radio industry would largely be opposed to it.
Adelaide and Canberra have much more space available on FM and less (if any) sub metro community stations.
Those have usually been in the context of a spectrum auction, the proceeds of the sale usually far outstripping the cost of paying to move another station.
That’s why I think you’ll see stations being paid to move, but not having the ACMA enforcing moves against unwilling operators.
I can’t remember which station it is, but isn’t/wasn’t there a solo market station that has been delayed for ages just to move an ABC station? Any flow on changes are going to be like pulling teeth.
I’m amazed the ACMA are willing to rock the boat enough to propose this, so I can’t see them being active in improving spectrum use efficiency,
I’m just hoping that this is an indication that Perth will get their conversation, but even that one is only displacing low power community stations.
I’m all for radical change, but I’ve seen enough ACMA to know how this will go.
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EDIT: One way to fix the mess that is SEQ, Brisbane could have 2 extra high powered FM stations if MMM Gold Coast were to move to 92.9, freeing up the 92.5 frequency and if the community station 94.1 moved to 93.7 with Rebel FM Canungra moving to 91.3, freeing up 94.1 for Brisbane.
However you would think SCA and Rebel would hardly accept this even if ACMA / Federal Government were to give them generous compensation as an incentive to move.
The other Gold Coast stations cannot be moved due to a congested FM spectrum with Northern NSW ABC stations as well as Rebel FM & Breeze FM in Beaudesert/Logan and Canungra.
94.1 - new Brisbane FM
93.7 Gold Coast Community Radio (moved from 94.1)
93.3 SBS Radio Brisbane
92.9 MMM Gold Coast (moved from 92.5)
92.5 - new Brisbane FM
92.1 Breeze FM Logan
91.7 ABC Gold Coast
91.3 Rebel FM Canungra (moved from 93.7)
90.9 Sea FM Gold Coast
90.5 Rebel FM Logan
90.1 ABC RN
89.7 4TAB Logan/Beaudesert/South Brisbane
89.3 4CRB Gold Coast
88.9 Breeze FM Canungra
88.5 ABC Classic
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Sydney has room for potentially 5 extra high-powered FM stations on the following frequencies:
88.9, 89.7, 90.5, 100.1 and 100.9.
But for this to happen 16 sub-metro community stations would have to convert to DAB+ only. The chances of it happening are so remote, it would be nearly impossible to implement.
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92.9 MMM Gold Coast (moved from 92.5) - 2NCR River FM Lismore would need to move from 92.9 as well then
92.5 - new Brisbane FM - May then be too close to 92.7 Mix Sunshine Coast.
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If we also clear the LPON’s 88.1 would become available, technically 87.5 mhz could be used to, it is 600khz spaced from 88.1. This would allow a conversion of all Am stations in Sydney except SEN track. They would just have to merge SEN Sports and Track into the one station.
However 87.7 is a Wollongong / Newcastle frequency so there would only be 200khz spacing between the two. You would not be able to wack an 80KW national from Mt sugarloaf, or a 150Kw / 40KW national from Knights Hill on this frequency.
If the Am band was switched off and a full fm conversion took place there would not be room for any new fm licences / operators. The fm band would be completely full unless they extended it.
All stations on fm could also be the nail in the coffin for dab+
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