I would think the ACMA let Nine Radio movie the 1278 TX from Lower Plenty to Mount Cottrell if they asked for permission
I personally think that either…
A: Has expired.
B: Didn’t actually exist in the first place, because 2UE/Talking Lifestyle was still allowed to run the music-centric “Saturday Night Live” while 2CH had (and still has) a Christian talkback show on Sunday nights.
Either way, I’m reasonably sure that the relaunched 2UE as a music station will be considerably more successful in the ratings than Macquarie Sports Radio (which will be forever remembered for extremely dubious honour of getting 954AM Sydney their lowest ratings ever) has been. If Nine are willing to advertise the relaunched 2UE even just through commonly owned properties such as the SMH & TV stations, it could potentially become a 2CH killer.
I’m not sure if 3MP ever did anything similar, but 2WS heavily centred their operations around Western Sydney for at least the first 15 years of its existance. That suburban focus slowly faded out in favour of a more Sydney-wide approach during the decade after converting to FM though.
1 Like
I just don’t agree. This hasn’t been my experience at all. I hear 4KQ in shops and take note of the receivers, they are all on DAB. My local Post Office had 4BH on (DAB) and now they’re on 4KQ on DAB.
AM is barely receivable in cars these days so I don’t understand anyone who would listen on AM in the car when DAB is available.
4 Likes
MP studios were in Frankston for many years
1 Like
It’s probably been about 8 years since I was last in Brisbane, but the Brisbane area electrical emissions or AM transmitters must be totally different now, because I listened to 4BH on AM exclusively for 5 weeks last time I was there & never had any issues receiving it, & could get it well out of town to the North, South & West.
Either that or you’ve got a shit radio in your car?
In Sydney CBD it’s probably not too good, but get out of the CBD & AM reception is generally no problem, I can easily listen to Sydney AM radio in the car 50km away from the TX site & it’s still reasonable at around 100km from the TX site close to my home.
Around most of the Sydney suburbs, there’s no interference at all & it sounds clear & quite good & I’m happy listening to it, in fact, other than being mono, it probably sounds just as good if not better than the low bitrate DAB stations.
I’d still rather listen to 2CH on AM in the car over DAB too, because the AM has a much more warmer inviting sound to my ears, even at 128k on DAB.
@Radiohead might be aware of this also but it’s not widely realised, the number of people around the Maitland (Lower Hunter Valley areas) who listen to 2GB in the car or on their radios at home on AM with no problem, & that’s pushing 120km from the TX site.
Put that in comparison to Sydney DAB, & at 50km out from the TX site, unless you were in a high location with good long distance LOS, you’d have no DAB reception & probably would’ve lost it 15-20km earlier in your travels.
3 Likes
My new car radio only gives off static AM radio in the Brisbane area. At home, I can receive ABC 612 on AM.
DAB is the only way to go for receive the AM stations now.
4 Likes
Yes agree. My car is brand new and has a good quality radio but AM is terrible for 4KQ and particularly 4BH. ABC is ok except in the CBD where even that is just static.
1 Like
I cant see why they cant make nine music radio 24/7 music station and use NTS for contacted afl, nrl and cricket coverage
Another example occurs in the Southern Highlands and Illawarra, where 2CH is perfectly listenable on AM but DAB+ reception is patchy to non-existent. I have both 1170 kHz and the DAB service in my presets. The same goes for 2CA.
2 Likes
Seems to have gotten worse in the last couple of years. My mother wanted to listen to 4RPH on 1296 (the old 4BK frequency and transmitter) however, in The Gap - can only receive static so DAB was the only solution for her.
I used to switch to 4BC for the news in the car but unable to anymore. The sooner they allow them to move to FM, the better. Watch 4KQ’s (and 4BH) ratings go up.
2 Likes
Have about 11 radios in my home none have AM! Haven’t listened to anything except DAB+ since 2009. I’m probably much older than many on here but Magic was too “old” sounding for me previously. Will sample the new Magic and see what I think.
I am so pleased 2UE is back. First station I listened to when I came to Australia in the late sixties. Hope it quickly knocks out 2CH. I only listened to CH for a short time on holiday in Sydney last year and found it extremely boring. Hated the boring religious bits! 
Channel 9 successfully owned 3AK in Melbourne when it was the Number 1 station. Then they threw it all away for CBC radio, one of radio’s biggest flops (which I loved by the way). Overseen by the great broadcaster Brian White and the likes of Phillip Adams etc. as broadcasters.
4 Likes
I suspect that one problem is the fin antennas that many modern cars use.
2 Likes
That would be correct.
1 Like
I’ve got a 19 Hilux SR5, a 72 Valiant Charger with the old type AM/FM radio in it and the wife has a 18 Hyundai I30. I find listening to AM in these cars up here in Queensland are unlistenable with all the static and the muffled sounding music.
3 Likes
My line up for Nine Music Radio would be
6am-9am: Brig & Lehmo
9am-1am: Glenn Ridge
1am-4pm: Kevin John
4pm-8pm Craig Wilis
8pm-12am: Simon Owens
12am-6am: Tony Molair
At best when and if announcers come much of it will be networked however given the chance to grab a local legend such as Craig Huggins in breakfast.
Suggest the best place for Simon Owens now would be producing Denis Walter at 3AW. Neither Craig Willis, Tony Moclair or Simon Owens are suitable for the rebirth of Magic
2 Likes
I hardly go to Brisbane but I was there about 2 years ago was with a Qld based team mate, think it was a jeep, he had 4bc on, minimal reception in CBD. Having said I think most CBDs might be crap, maybe Sydney & Canberra might be an exception. I think Newcastle has the best CBD AM reception in Australia.
2 Likes
I agree especially for coastal or fairly flat areas. Although, in the Blue Mountains reception or hilly terrain it is fairly average. Might be the railway line in blue mountain the main factor. Once you hit flat country out west AM is great. Overall for long distances AM reigns supreme but it needs to be decent power. The low power 2ka country music station for example isnt great outside the licence area. Low power FM is much better. @anon71206228 can probably put a much better technical explanation why this is so. Anyway way off topic.
Transmitter location and antenna height are also big factors for MW. The old 2KA at Wentworth Falls was apparently a notorious underachiever, probably due to the poor ground conductivity in the Blue Mountains. Overachievers like 1314 Wollongong and (the former) 2GO Gosford transmit from swampy ground, which provides superior ground conductivity. 4IP/4TAB Brisbane on St Helena Island is another good example.
I think you do need a relatively high CMF (ERP) to really get your signal out via groundwave, though.
3 Likes
Probably not far off with Moclair. They did say he’d be around throughout the year.
I doubt they’ll have mid-dawns announcers though.
My prediction is it’ll be the talk network’s B-team usually heard during holiday periods.