Re the unlikely scenario of Brisbane gaining a 5th commercial FM licence by replacing ABC Newsradio’s Gold Coast translator service on its frequency:
One key issue of Smooth gaining the FM licence is that Nova Entertainment already owns 1.5 stations in the Brisbane market, as they own 50% of 97.3FM with ARN. If Nova Ent sells 50% of 97.3FM to ARN, therefore owning only 1 station (Nova 106.9), then I could see them going for a new FM licence to launch Smooth & give the Brisbane commercial FM stations a much needed shake-up.
If a new commercial FM licence were to be issued in Adelaide, Nova Ent would have to sell off FiveAA to MRN in order to get Smooth onto the FM band there. As for Perth, I would expect a bidding war between ARN & Nova Ent for the 5th commercial FM licence, especially if ARN sells off 50% of Nova 93.7 to Nova Ent.
That said, all of the above scenario is unlikely to happen, as DAB+ is the future of radio in the major capital cities, in which they’re not restricted to the 2-station rule unlike with the FM & AM licences.
I agree. Sydney needs a commercial station that plays a lot of 60s/70s music that is not as soft sounding as you would hear on Magic 2CH or Smooth. If Melbourne (3MP), Brisbane (4KQ), Adelaide (Cruise), Perth (6iX) & Canberra (2CA) have that kind of station, why can’t Sydney have it too? Not even Fun Super Digi, a DAB+ station in Sydney owned by BOG/SRN (owner of 2SM), plays that much 60s/70s music, in which they favour more towards the 80s (much like WS).