No I believe Transurban were forced to rebroadcast for free.
1 Like
When do you think regional DAB will be rolled out?
Probably never?
5 Likes
Online has pretty much replaced DAB out in the regions. I don’t see it rolling out any time soon if ever.
4 Likes
Yeah probably never, unless they come up with a cheaper way to do it. I believe there’s a trial in Launceston but I’m not sure what’s happening with that. The only markets I can realistically see it happening are Sunshine Coast, Central Coast, Newcastle and (maybe) Wollongong, in that order
1 Like
Cairns was next market to get DAB+ but SCA have shelved all future DAB+ installations
GSL will not be investing in DAB+ on the sunshine coast.
DAB+ is DEAD
3 Likes
Maybe future rollouts are dead, but it’s not in the metro areas. There’s no way operators will pull DAB+ in the metros for a very long time. At least until the vast majority of listening is online.
2 Likes
Agreed… Don’t know about “long time” I think with stations cutting costs to the bone it will become a target quicker than we think
2 Likes
Though DAB would be cheap to operate (equipment upgrade/maintenance costs aside).. and if they can continue to make money with ad spots for it, it will survive for a while yet (hopefully).
3 Likes
Possibly conversion of AM to FM I see the next major change. Maybe suburban community radio needs to move to make space in the cities. From the outside looking in its harder to make money in radio and maybe some territorial commercial radio stations could disappear in the next 10 years. I hope I am wrong.
2 Likes
Agree, this is likely to happen at some point as EVs rule the roost. Sydney would need to find 9 new high powered FM frequencies to accommodate the 4 ABC/SBS and 5 commercials, 7 could be freed up by moving suburban community radio to streaming or maybe DAB.
3 Likes
Someone would need to do the maths maybe community suburban radio could start from 87.5, 87.6 etc.
Leaving out upgrade and Maintenance costs and just putting OPex costs
- Power costs.. which are rising
- Site/Tower costs (TXA)
- Mux Administration costs
- Telstra IP network costs
I wouldn’t say cheap is the appropriate word 
2 Likes
I think 8 high powered frequencies could potentially be made available if C91.3 moves to a (probably) Newcastle co-channel frequency.. maybe 103.7… so perhaps it’s SBS AM (and 2RPH and any other HPONs like 1539) that potentially misses out and becomes DAB only. And if you allocate based on frequency order, it might potentially look like this
88.1 2RN
88.9 2PNN
89.7 2BL
90.5 2GB
91.3 2UE
99.3 2KY
100.1 2CH
100.9 2SM
A lot of other nearby markets like Lithgow would be impacted too and would need to be moved as well.
1 Like
Happened to be in the area, this is the Flow FM transmitter on 96.9 for the Meringur area, situated on the Yarrara grain silo elevator, roughly 30m AGL. The transmitter is fed via satellite.
4 Likes
Awesome! 
And although tx licenced for mixed polarisation, it’s clearly only using vertical pol antennae; note for dxers.
2 Likes
. You’d think it will only happen if the ABC decides to roll out their suite of stations first, and set up the initial DAB infrastructure so that it’s easier for the commercials to then join later.
Or, SCA could see an opportunity to save on royalties for some of their LiSTNR channels by putting them on DAB in Newcastle, like they’ve done with Hobart and the GC.
I’m not sure if ARN would have any interest in launching DAB on the Sunshine Coast or Wollongong but those markets would probably be the next in line if ARN chose to do a regional rollout.
1 Like
The only common part between the ABC and Commericals is the combiners and antenna, which ends up being owned by site owner, TXA or in some cases BAI
There are no free or easy rides for anybody… AND you have to deal with ABC’s rubbish as you do outages and testing.
As I was invovled with a DAB installation, In my view having the ABC involved makes things harder not easier.
5 Likes
Fair enough. Well, we can only speculate.
1 Like
Is it just me, or is the website for the Australian Music Report airplay chart (aumreport.com) currently offline?