FM Spectrum Replan - General Discussion

[Nicholas_Whitrod]

I think that if Double J launched on FM in Melbourne, it would be at 101.9 due to Fox FM aging and possibly losing listeners to rival stations. In Sydney, Double J would replace the struggling 2Day FM.

[TheStyles83]

DRM+ is the Obvious Choice for Regional Australia.

[TelevisionAU]

@Nicholas_Whitrod

I think that if Double J launched on FM in Melbourne, it would be at 101.9 due to Fox FM aging and possibly losing listeners to rival stations.

that’s not how it works. In any case, in the latest survey, Fox improved its ratings, including increases in the demographics age 18 through to 54.

[Moe]

Certainly many regional areas with nearly no choice would scream out for Double J on FM - but I’ve long thought that markets should choose the best fit of stations. There’s regional areas where having ABC Country would be far more popular than the very metro ABC Classic.

In major metro areas, I’d move SBS Radio 2 to AM, potentially using frequencies freed up by regional AM to FM conversions. Most already have access to numerous community ethnic stations, for example 3ZZZ in Melbourne, and those areas also have the full suite of SBS stations on both Digital TV and DAB. They are also well served for Classical music, with MBS/Fine Music community stations in most areas as well, but that’s less readily able to be moved to AM, so it’d need to be closed off entirely.

In regional areas, there’s a lot of places where replacing the almost 0 rating NewsRadios that have popped up in recent years on FM with Double J would be wise.

It’d be difficult - but it’s a kick up the arse commercial radio could do with.

[gordo92]

@lovemusic

needs to provide funding in conjunction with CRA, ABC, SBS and the commercial networks to roll out DAB to the large regional centres such as Toowoomba…

Nevermind Double J, having ABC Local Radio on FM in Toowoomba would be nice, considering the FM frequency here in TWB is used by ABC News Radio… Why? Everytime it storms we have to try to tune in the 747AM service from Dalby which is almost impossible to hear during storms. They should make 96.7 TWB ABC Local Radio

[TheStyles83]

DRM is another Alternative

[TV.Cynic]

@gordo92

Nevermind Double J, having ABC Local Radio on FM in Toowoomba would be nice, considering the FM frequency here in TWB is used by ABC News Radio… Why? Everytime it storms we have to try to tune in the 747AM service from Dalby which is almost impossible to hear during storms. They should make 96.7 TWB ABC Local Radio

The 105.7 frequency used by RN should ideally be swapped with local radio on AM. Who needs RN on FM? That is also a high power outlet on 100kw compared to just 2.5kw for the News Radio outlet.

[Radiohead]

There would be a number of other markets where they should also swap Local and National from AM to FM. such as Orange and Tamworth in NSW, Rockhampton and Townsville in QLD, Mt Gambier and Spencer Gulf in SA.

And having ABC Local Radio in proper FM stereo would be good too, same thing I’d like to see them do with other ABC Local Radio stations that are already on FM.

[TheStyles83]

85-87.4 MHz are Possible for Commercial AM Stations to Convert to FM and ABC.

[lovemusic]

@Brianc68

I still think there’s a chance Double J could replace Classic FM in metro areas with Classic continuing on DAB only

I can’t see that ever happening. It rates a 3 share in Sydney, it would piss-off too many listeners.

[lovemusic]

@Moe

In regional areas, there’s a lot of places where replacing the almost 0 rating NewsRadios that have popped up in recent years on FM with Double J would be wise

I would go with replacing the <1 rating RN’s with Double J, in the regional areas, if available frequencies can’t be found.

[Radiohead]

The ABC has NEVER been about ratings. Personally, I think Double J is a bit too close to Triple J format wise, Classic FM is a whole lot different and adds diversity for regional listeners who generally can’t access that genre music on local radio stations, maybe not so much for metro listeners,

[dxnerd]

Yes, the ABC is bound by its Charter rather than by commercial imperatives. The Charter provides that the ABC should air arts and cultural programming. Classical music is a good avenue for exposing the uncouth hicks in the sticks to arts and culture, so I think ABC Classic will stay.

I sometimes listen to ABCFM on the drive home from Braidwood at night; it’s relaxing as I keep an eagle eye out for roos and wombats.

[Brianc68]

@dxnerd

Yes, the ABC is bound by its Charter rather than by commercial imperatives. The Charter provides that the ABC should air arts and cultural programming. Classical music is a good avenue for exposing the uncouth hicks in the sticks to arts and culture, so I think ABC Classic will stay.

I sometimes listen to ABCFM on the drive home from Braidwood at night; it’s relaxing as I keep an eagle eye out for roos and wombats.

But really, how many youths and other people in the country are listening to Classic? Practically nil.

I do agree with @Radiohead that Double J is too close to Triple J. Often I can’t tell the difference. Double J should move just a smidge older and more mainstream. It would still fill an (increasing) gap in commercial offerings. I’ve said it before, BBC R2 is a format ABC should be offering.

I’ve never agreed with the premise that the ABC shouldn’t compete at least partially with commercial radio. ABC Local competes directly with 4BC. Triple J competes partially with CHR radio. In the UK, BBC Radio 3 Classic competes directly with a commercial classic music station.

At some point value for taxpayer funding enters the equation, it has to. Offering services hardly anyone listens to and that could be broadened slightly in appeal needs to be considered.

[dxnerd]

@Brianc68

I do agree with @Radiohead that Double J is too close to Triple J. Often I can’t tell the difference. Double J should move just a smidge older and more mainstream. It would still fill an (increasing) gap in commercial offerings. I’ve said it before, BBC R2 is a format ABC should be offering.

Yes it’s a pity. I try and listen to Double J but lose interest after a while; too much emphasis on new (and often mediocre) tracks. At least they do play stuff that commercial radio doesn’t touch, a bit like the original JJJ.

An intelligent ‘adult album alternative’ station would be the way to go I reckon, mixing in the best of today’s new ‘adult’ alternative with classic alternative tracks and even a little classic rock. I think ABC Gold Coast went in this direction before it became a generic Local Radio outlet.

[Ant5476]

How I see it with the lack of available frequencies in metro markets, the ABC would have to sacrifice Classic fm by moving it to dab+ / streaming if they want a national rollout of Double J. This would piss off my mother as Classic fm is the only radio station she listens to.

A possible work around in Sydney to keep Classic fm on air would be to move Alive 90.5 to 89.5 and allocate Double J to 90.5. This would also involve finding new frequencies for the Manly south community radio translator, and the Lithgow community radio station too.You would then have a 150KW Double J 400 kilohertz’s away from 2NBC. Would ACMA allow this allocation so close to 2NBC?

It is all well and good Labor talking up a national fm rollout of Double J, but it might have been good if they consulted with ACMA first.

[Ant5476]

@dxnerd

Yes it’s a pity. I try and listen to Double J but lose interest after a while; too much emphasis on new (and often mediocre) tracks. At least they do play stuff that commercial radio doesn’t touch, a bit like the original JJJ.

An intelligent ‘adult album alternative’ station would be the way to go I reckon, mixing in the best of today’s new ‘adult’ alternative with classic alternative tracks and even a little classic rock. I think ABC Gold Coast went in this direction before it became a generic Local Radio outlet

I wonder if the ABC is in bed with CRA to some degree and deliberately programs Triple J to not tread on the turf of the Hit / KIIS / Nova Networks, hence why Triple J does not have a BBC R1 format. If you look at the UK RAJAR’s BBC R1 is a head of the KISS, Heart, and Capital Networks across the UK.

This is possibly why Double J is not on fm / dab+ with a R2 style format. If done correctly it could rate supreme against the Gold / Smooth Networks.
I would think CRA would be quite happy with the status quo.

I do remember Coast fm Gold / Sunshine Coast. It was an easy listening / adult alternative station back in the early to mid 90’s. It was really the only adult station on the Gold Coast as KROQ then and Sea fm were both targeting 18-39’s with an active rock format.

[Radiohead]

The ABC has NEVER really tried to compete with commercial radio. I think they do a good job, a bit more local content on Local Radio would be good though.

[Ant5476]

@Radiohead

a bit more local content on Local Radio would be good though.

I agree, some of the regionals are only local at breakfast.

[Brianc68]

@Ant5476

It is all well and good Labor talking up a national fm rollout of Double J, but it might have been good if they consulted with ACMA first.

Hmm, I think the ACMA need less consulting and a good kick to get them actually moving. The government of the day needs to give them clear direction and feel this has been lacking for a long time.