The problem with a duopoly is that the stations targeting the same demographic/ market, sound nearly identical, and it gives rise to mediocre radio as there is no incentive to be creative or improve. Having a radio market with just 2 owners of the majority of the stations, is much worse than one with multiple owners, as there is more competition and creativity. If you include the ABC and SBS, Sydney and Melbourne has 9-10 different operators and far better quality formats than Auckland or Wellington.
If you compare the different formats, CHR, Hot AC, AC, Easy listening, Classic Hits, Rock, the Aussie stations sound miles better. Just have a look at the playlists or even better, have a listen to some of the NZ stations, and you will see a stark difference in quality.
Also, Iâm not sure why you think Brisbane doesnât have any formats targeting over 45s. On DAB there is Smooth 80s, MMM Classic Rock, MMM 80s, 973 80s, as well as 4KQ and 4BH in stereo. It also has 20+ commercial DAB stations as well as a large number of ABC, SBS and Community stations.
The radio industry has moved on from just analogue, there is also DAB and streaming.
Why do you wish SEN didnât exist? They do a great job with sports coverage, particularly AFL and NRL and they do a good job with 2CH. The 2CH playlist is actually very good, the only problem is SEN donât have enough DAB capacity to give it a better quality sound.
Also, using this logic, we most likely wouldnât see the ACE radio expand into Sydney and Brisbane, and their equally good 2UE, Magic, 4BH.
If BOG got their act together and put announcers on their DAB stations in Sydney and the entered the ratings, it would be an even more competitive radio market.
SEN is fine for what it is, but personally I think it belongs on a narrowcast licence.
SKY/2KY already occupies a commercial licence, I donât think Sydney needs a 2nd sports station taking up another valuable commercial licence, in a city that is not a sports city.
I think if SEN had a second licence in Sydney, there is a real possibility that they would put 2CH on AM, but like I said earlier, it doesnât really matter whatâs only on AM or FM as you also have DAB and streaming, where all demographics are catered for.
Ray Hadley just mentioned the sale on air stating all existing station Staff would be gone by the time SEN takes over on 1st July and expressing best wishes to Laurel, Gary & Mark.
He also took the time to have a crack at SEN and their poor ratings wondering where all the cash is coming from.
so 10% of Brisbane radio listeners are now basically being told to sod off? Which other station is likely to try and capture them? 97.3? or could this be a windfall for 4BH?
4BH wonât be the only winner out of this, but also Breeze, which can be heard into much of Brisbane on 92.1FM.
The interesting outcome out of this is that the Gold Coast will still have a proper âclassic hitsâ station on DAB+ in the form of Hot Tomato Gold, which is owned by ARN.
It would be comparatively easy to get some of the audience via playing âclassic hitsâ, but part of the attraction of 4KQ was its local focus. It was really was Brisbaneâs classic hits that were based on past Top 40 listings from the city. There was also a lot of local flavour from talking about past events, locations, TV programs, cinema etc.
âThe 2CH networkâ could expand then on dab. Yeah the local flavour is what works (its not always about the music). It is unfortunate.
4BH really need to take advantage now, get some of those names from 4KQ to join. Tweak the music a bit. Can they buy 4KQ naming rights? It will then just be a freq change. SEN would not care?
I agree. Perhaps 4BH could shift to a âclassic hitsâ format, using the same log as Magic 1278, to capitalise on the loss of 4KQ.
4KQ would still be the assigned callsign for the station, unless SEN are willing to change their callsign for its newly-acquired Brisbane AM licence. After all, their Sydney AM licence still has 2CH as their assigned callsign, likewise for its Melbourne AM licence, which is 3AK.
Yes unlike Sydney, I donât think 2UE really cashed in on the 2CH change (as it was run by Nine in autopilot mode). Now that ACE are in, its time to talk to staff at 4KQ to rebuild 4BH. They can do some good advertising. Looking for your classic hits station? just go up the dial, your new home of classic hits. Although easier said than done and you need money to do this which Ace may not have.
The purchase of 4KQ mirrors the acquisition of Sydneyâs 2CH in 2019 and will guarantee that the new station will not compete with any of ARNâs Brisbane stations, and is likely to push the current audience onto other, possibly ARN stations.
I wonder does that mean no 4KQ on DAB? I think this is why ARN wanted to sell to SEN to be honest.
I feel sorry for the existing presenters and staff at 4KQ, especially Laurel, Gary and Mark. Will they find a job at another station or will the trio have to split?