The past few years it has turned into a commercial style station.
The majority of local shows are just presenters announcing music with occasional crosses to Nine News. The only show which services the community well is Mel Little’s slot.
There isn’t any local artists coming on live anymore like they used to do as-well.
These will probably be the first shows to go if they decide to not scrap the license.
Remember when Territory FM had to play country music non-stop because they were deemed as being run too much like a commercial station?
Is it actually possible for the license to be converted to commercial if a new holder were to take it over? Or would a new license have to be formed then implement Territory FM branding…?
If memory serves that was the 98.7 HPON in Alice Springs that was being run as a semi-repeater of Territory FM - it’s now Tourist Gold under the ownership of ASCB.
Didn’t Territory FM take over 8CCC on 102.1, and that became the Territory repeater?
The Darwin RA1 and RA3 LAPs would have to be varied by the ACMA. That would require consultation paper, submissions etc. Then eventually put into force under the Broadcasting Act.
I actually enjoy listening to Territory FM and it would definitely be my station of choice if I visited the Top End. It is how a commercial radio station should sound: laid back with plenty of music variety. Possibly the closest thing to FM104 we have out there.
I agree it’s against the spirit of the community broadcasting licence, though. I doubt if the licence will ever get reallocated as a commercial radio licence. I’m not sure if there are any aspirants in Darwin willing to ‘hop in the grave’. Appropriately for Darwin, it would be a case of survival of the fittest.
Does that apply to the scenario where CDU chooses to scrap the station as suggested - then a new party comes in such as Channel 9 and applies for a new commercial radio license using Territory FM branding perhaps?
It sounds like a lengthy process with a ton of hurdles of CDU chooses to scrap the station and another licensee wished to pick it up.
This will be one to keep an eye on. CDU’s proposed restructure plan indicates a large amount of VET course axings and “ceasing Territory FM”.
There isn’t a commercial licence available to bid for. The 2 LAPs would have to be re-written to make one available with submissions received potentially in opposition to any change from 104.1 being for a community station.
Troubles at WHCR FM? Just noticed the station’s website and Facebook page have disappeared. @TheChase have you heard anything?
WYN FM in Victoria are in an odd situation, they’ve been off air since COVID as they’re based at Victoria Uni and can’t access the studios, so they’ve been broadcasting Voice of America Hits 1, which plays hit music 24/7 with US news mixed in.
That’s the format heard on 909 Botswana as well 
Since I left the station, its been a bit touch and go with communication with them and they haven’t replied to any emails we have sent since early September.
I had access to the Facebook account but they have not replied to emails to transfer it back to someone at WHCR, and the website went down about 2 weeks ago, pending expiry (Which means they haven’t bothered to renew it). and other social media they own like Twitter and Instagram haven’t been updated since before September.
For all intense purposes WHCR FM since September seems to have ceased to exist and only plays music 24/7 with news and IDs.
Interesting, thanks for the insight.
Was wondering why they still haven’t returned to normal programming. By no means a poorly run outlet, you’d think someone at the station would be able to access the broadcast chain remotely and have something local go to air
Yeah same, they’ve also not done a good job promoting the shows still going, their social media said they have shows still operating but then don’t link or point to any. Have a feeling it’s probably not got a lot of younger heads around.
All well, I guess that’s one branch pruned off the trunk for now, guess it will be interesting to see how the others branch out in regards to the remaining aspirants in the windsor hawkesberry area. 
WYN FM rarely had any younger presenters. They were certainly few and fair between.
Around the late 90s and early 2000s they had an influx of older presenters from 3WRB, who had all been given the boot after it was shaped into the infamous Stereo 974.
Always been hotch-potch programming, resistant to going for automation overnights (at least when I was there in the early 2000s) and many in the community wouldn’t even been able to tell you they exist.
Have you by chance heard anything about the now vacant 97.4 allocation? Any groups wanting to establish a new station?
I live on the otherside of town now, so I’m out of the 97.4 FM range.
Very dodgy how that station went off air in the end.
Last I heard a few months ago was most (if not all) of the equipment had been flogged off on Facebook. Hopefully something will come of it - a shame for an incredibly diverse part of Melbourne to be without a local station.