Yikes I’d have to disagree on that one. I can’t see them not broadcasting RN on one of the FMs.
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I notice little mention of the white elephant in the room in most of these discussions and of course the discussion paper. Given the population growth in the Perth license area since Nova came on the scene, are we not entitled to have another new commercial station by now (as Brisbane I think has)?
The discussion paper seems a bit vague on this when going through the AM conversion options, you know something like: 3x ABC conversions to FM, bidding war between 6PR and 6iX for one to convert to FM, and another bidding war for a new commercial FM license.
The federal government does need the extra revenue, rather the commercial broadcasters than taxpayers.
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Agreed, it should be option 1 (complete conversion to FM) plus a new FM commercial station.
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The last new licence in Brisbane was also Nova around the same time. 97.3 was a couple of years earlier and also a new licence. A bit of a back story there. Brisbane got 2 new licences along with Sydney and Melbourne while Adelaide and Perth got one. Part of the reason was 4BH failed to convert to FM in the early 90s so Brisbane only had 2 FM stations while Adelaide and Perth had 3. I think it’s possible that if 4BH had converted in the early 90s Brisbane might have only gotten 1 new one along with Perth and Adelaide, although we can’t be sure, they may have still added 2.
Brisbane has always had more commercial licences though. There’s 8 now (4 AM and 4 FM), against Perth and Adelaide’s 6.
I agree Perth’s poulation probably warrants a new one but we’ll have to see. I also agree it would be a potential revenue source for the government.
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Just a thought re: the proposed FM conversions.
Could there be an option for the legacy ABC stations (RN and ABC Radio Perth) to simulcast on AM and FM? RNZ National is on both AM and FM in the major New Zealand cities.
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I suppose part of the problem there is that basically the FM conversions for 6IX/6PR basically convert them onto frequencies freed up by eliminating/using the frequencies they use or are earmarked for their current FM infill transmitters.
Basically pretty much that if 6PR/6IX don’t convert, you basically don’t have all the frequencies usable, hence their odd 3 new licenses and no conversions idea.
Hopefully they find a middle ground balance between conversions and new licenses, but it probably can’t be a fight between 6IX and 6PR.
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I’d be extremely surprised if ACMA decided to allocate new FM commercial licenses for Perth, because it would set a precedent and 2 more new licenses would have to be auctioned for Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney and Melbourne.
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The audience for RN is miniscule and getting smaller every year, there is more demand for Double J on FM. It would attract much higher ratings, on a par with Triple J.
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It would be interesting but I personally don’t think Double J would rate anywhere near Triple J.
In my dreams I’d love ABC to launch a BBC R2 clone on FM
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Would love to see them try it in one market just to see what happened. CRA would be furious of the ABC tried Double J on FM though.
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Possibly, but it’s format doesn’t directly compete against anything on commercial radio. It is targeted to a slightly older demographic than Triple J and would have lots of listeners who used to listen to JJJ in their younger years but now are looking for something different. Similar to BBC Radio 6.
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I like the idea of Double J, I just don’t like the delivery. It’s just a little too obscure and too similar to Triple J. BBC R6 does it better IMO.
When I’m listening to Double J if there’s a good song playing I always feel the next song might be bird noises or a ukulele.
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Isn’t the number of commercial licenses dependent on the (relative) population growth / size? So Perth and maybe Brisbane may warrant another license.
Of course the other aspect of a new commercial license for Perth is then the pressure will be on to also allocate DAB space. In that sense I don’t mind 6iX being converted to FM, maybe like 6MM to 91.7 the same format change will take place, and I can also get 6iX on DAB.
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Which were very popular on Nova!
If Option 1 goes ahead, which would appease the incumbent commercial operators of Capital Radio Network and Nine as well as the ABC, and prevent new commercial FM licenses from being auctioned, the following could happen:
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91.3 - 6PR
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102.5 / 103.3 / 104.1 - ABC
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104.9 - 6IX
I’m still going to go with my original prediction that one of those new ABC frequencies will be used to broadcast Double J, with ABC Radio National available only on DAB+, TV and online/streaming.
Can’t see that happening but good luck with your prediction
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Even if that was remotely in the ABC’s consideration - both the ABC and any commercial networks should and likely would convert with their existing formats for a few surveys to measure the true audience in the absence of the AM reception problems.
That said, the pessimist in me assumes the ACMA will select the option 4 that converts just ABC Local Radio and keeps the status quo.
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The strong rumour a couple of years ago was that the ABC was thinking of making ABC Classic a DAB+ only station in metro areas and moving metro ABC local radio to the vacated FM frequencies. To me that makes a lot of sense.
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Not a bad idea given the presence of the MBS stations in most capitals; there are probably some DAB only outlets that rate significantly higher than ABCFM, too.
Perth is the only major mainland city to not have an MBS station, though. Even Canberra has (f)Artsound.
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I think the ABC would see it as a better use of spectrum. Music on FM rating in the 6s and 7s would be the smarter option than RN rating less than a 1.
Of course it all depends if Option 1 is chosen by ACMA…
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