FM Spectrum Replan - Perth

That statement makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. You’re effectively accusing the ABC of sabotaging DAB+ radio because they don’t mention it on air. That’s ludicrous.

Not according to others on this forum. The DAB+ transmitters in some cities are at end of life and ABC apparently doesn’t want to spend any money on replacing them.

ABC has shown no interest in expanding DAB+ to the Gold Coast, even as the commercial stations gear up for it.

All that has happened with ABC on DAB+ is that they’ve changed their method of distributing program feeds around the country. The touted improvement of audio quality is simply a byproduct of that. You can bet it was primarily done for commercial reasons.

Anyway this is very off topic!

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I don’t think it’s ludicrous at all, sorry.

If they were keen on the platform to succeed they would mention it on air as a way of listening, just as they do the ABC Listen app. It’s obvious what their preference is.

I think it’s ludicrous to say the ABC promotes DAB+ when they never, ever mention it to listeners as an option to listen.

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I’m a big fan of DAB+ and am extremely frustrated by the industry’s lack of promotion of it.

But you have rose coloured glasses on if you think the ABC is interested in DAB+

They are interested in the Listen app and the distribution of stations like Double J on TV sets. Nothing more.

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I personally would not be at all surprised to eventually hear that the ABC (and SBS) have pulled out of DAB+ in favour of focusing their efforts on streaming and the far more widely available radio via TV.

The commercial networks (certainly Nine & SCA who have interests in both TV & radio) would do the same if they could get their stations available on DVB-T, I think.

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Yes the ABC is pulling out of DAB+ in favour of DRM given they are testing DRM somewhere (check out the Digital Radio thread).

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They have just spent a lot of money upgrading their digital infrastructure, you shouldn’t be so harsh on them.

The last time I checked the ABC is broadcasting in Hobart and Canberra and I am sure they will be broadcasting on the Gold Coast at some point.

To me that looks like they do care about broadcasting on DAB+ into regional Australia.

Maybe if the Abbott/Turnbull/Morrison governments hadn’t cut the ABCs funding, perhaps they would have been able to spend more money on upgrading DAB+ transmitters and broadcasting into more regional areas.

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That’s like saying the CRA and CBAA are trying to sabotage DAB+ radio, because they don’t promote it on-air. It’s a totally ridiculous and stupid argument.

Garbage. They have just done a massive upgrade to their infrastructure and you are accusing them of not giving a damn about digital radio. Makes no sense to have this point of view.

They are broadcasting into Hobart and Canberra and I am sure they will be broadcasting into the Gold Coast at some point.

Maybe instead of whinging about the ABC, write a letter to the Morrison government to demand for increased funding for the ABC so that they can upgrade their DAB+ transmitters and speed up the broadcast of DAB+ into more regional areas.

Or maybe the first to use DRM to do this?

Sure, if it’s cheaper for them and they can get better reception over large rural areas, then why not?

I doubt whether DRM will be rolled out in Newcastle, Wollongong, Sunshine Coast, Central Coast, Geelong, Toowoomba, Townsville, Cairns, Bendigo, Ballarat, Launceston.

Apps and streaming are a complimentary technology not a substitute technology for broadcast radio, be it on FM/AM/DAB+.

Of course the ABC, ARN, SCA and Nova are investing money in apps - online streaming is surging in popularity especially among young people. It’s also a good way to aggregate podcasting which is a growing market.

I think a reality check is needed about the radio industry: just because the major operators are investing money into streaming, doesn’t mean they are also not investing in DAB+. They are investing in both, as well as in podcasting. The pie is growing and listenership is surging, so it benefits listeners, advertisers, independent producers, artists and the operators themselves.

Well I guess they will find out:

Note that in that test transmission the voice over apparently does confirm “ABC is looking to the future of radio” which is DRM?

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Gee mate you like to throw around some insulting language. You might want to settle down. Saying an argument is “ridiculous” and “stupid” doesn’t do you any favours. A reminder that this is a forum where people have different opinions.

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Well, your comment was pretty outrageous, so I said what I thought.

It’s like saying that the BBC are trying to sabotage digital radio in the UK because they don’t mention it on air… It’s total nonsense.

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But BBC does.

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You do realise that Hobart and Canberra are capital cities. You can’t conflate that with an interest in regional Australia. If it were actually so, ABC would have moved to broadcast DAB+ in places like Wollongong, Newcastle, Toowoomba etc.

And please stop saying that ABC have spent a “massive” amount on recently upgrading infrastructure for DAB+. Unless you know the figure. If you do, let us know. All they have done is change the distribution of feeds around the nation. For their convenience and as mentioned before, possibly a better commercial deal.

See RF Burns’ post in the Digital Radio forum dated May 1 for further info.

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Does the ABC broadcast its services on DAB+ in the Mandurah/Peel region of WA where the Wave and Coast FM do?

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No, it does not THOM.

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Whether they do or not is beside the point, it’s the argument that is total nonsense.

The logic that because the ABC or BBC or whoever, doesn’t mention DAB+ on their FM/AM broadcasts, is done on purpose to sabotage DAB+/DAB is absolutely stupid.