I agree. The problem from the start is that they didn’t allow new entrants on DAB. If a new DAB-only entrant existed they would actually push it and market it. The incumbents would then have had to do the same. DAB could then have succeeded a lot more.
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No need to imagine. I was there in 1980 when 96fm was the first commercial station only available on the FM band, together with 92.1 RTR the first community radio station on FM and ABC FM. It took a decade for people to warm up to the potential of FM and before 6PM and 6KY finally converted from AM to FM in 1990 to mark the end of AM radio as the dominant band.
But DAB is a different beast. Although superior to FM (as FM was to AM) back in the1980s hifi and stereo was a thing, FM had it, AM didn’t. Nowadays streaming is the thing, not sure if “hifi” means anything, and people don’t really care whether mono or stereo (only if it has Dolby Atmos when watching a movie through their new soundbar).
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Not sure it took a decade for people to warm up to FM. Pretty sure FM104 in Brisbane hit number one by 1983 and was completely dominating by 1985. I thought 96 was also dominating by then too?
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96fm had hit #1 overall by 1986 according to this below article found on their History page, although 6PM wasn’t far behind.
Radio Wars - Reflex, Friday 18th April 1986
As 1986 progressed, 96fm pulled further ahead of 6PM.
FM pull away from the pack - Campaign Brief, 17 September 1986
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I just looked it up, it was actually 1984 that FM104 went No. 1 with 18%. They dominated for the rest of the 80s with as high as a 37% share.
Worth noting though they were winning some evening time slots by 1983.
So they went No. 1 a little earlier than 96fm. I had thought it was around the same time. 6PM seemed to hold up to the FM competition a bit better than Radio 10.
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That is because 96fm had an album format whereas 6PM was top 40 singles. 96fm didn’t play all the top 40 hits but 6PM did and 96fm mixed in classic 70s whereas 6PM was all hits. That kept most teens away from 96fm which was really targeting the over 21s.
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Same in Brisbane though. FM104 was album-oriented and didn’t play all the Top 40 either. They were VERY selective. 104 played a lot of 60s and 70s and a broad range of rock but not a lot of Top 40. Radio 10 was CHR just like 6PM. The Brisbane audience still flocked to FM104. I was a teen in the 80s and it was still much cooler to listen to 104 than Radio 10. There was also more AM competition in Brisbane with 1 or 2 more stations on the dial.
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Wonder if AMCA are pushing this back just enough that then they’ll blame caretaker mode to not make a tough decision in an election year, and then have a new communications minister come in and want to change things, and then we find ourselves in 2023 with no progress.
It’s amazing just how slowly this is being rolled, because they will upset someone no matter which option they pick, so it just sits there.
Wonder what happens first - a decision on this or Gold Coast DAB launches?
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Wouldn’t be surprised if you’re right and they do delay it.
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It’s what Australian governments excel at.
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Being an election year, I’m going to go with Gold Coast DAB launching first.
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Kicking the Can-berra down the road.
They also specialise in leaving broadcasting reviews at the back of a dusty shelf…or in the round file.
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An update from the ACMA spectrum management work program:
Consult on potential for replanning analog radio services in Perth, following the clearance of Band II television in Bunbury.
FYSO timeframe: TBA based on consultation in Q2 2021
Progress/update: Further information to be published in Q1 2022.
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Is this new information? Wasn’t it already known the final decision would be in Q1 2022. Or has the wording changed (“Progress/update” which could include the decision being no decision or status quo)? Anyway Q1 2022 means they have until end of March, we are halfway into Q1 already.
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This came from the FYSO 2021-26: 6-month progress report that came out today: https://www.acma.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-02/FYSO%202021-26_6%20month%20progress%20report_0.docx
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Interesting. The words “snails pace” spring to mind for most of their work in progress. I wonder what sort of resourcing ACMA has? Perhaps less consulting and more ‘deciding’.
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According to the ACMA Draft FYSO 2022-27 that was released today, activities planned for 2022-23 include this:
- Engage in targeted consultation with commercial radio broadcasters and the ABC
in Perth to gather feedback on the potential to replan the Perth FM radio band.
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ACMA would have to be the world’s slowest broadcast regulator when planning services surely?
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