New South Wales-based radio station One Central West FM88 has been found to have breached a licence condition following an investigation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
One Central West FM88 holds a licence to provide an open narrowcasting service. These licences are issued for the purpose of niche broadcasting and must be limited in some way, such as being targeted to special interest groups or being provided for a limited period of time or for a special event.
An ACMA investigation found that One Central West was broadcasting a mix of content, including live-hosted and automated music programs, and news and weather bulletins that would likely appeal to a general audience in the broadcast area.
ACMA Chair, Nerida O’Loughlin, says, “One Central West FM88 was not providing open narrowcasting in accordance with its licence.
“All broadcasters must comply with their licence conditions at all times and there are potentially serious consequences for not doing so.”
The ACMA has accepted a court-enforceable undertaking from One Central West FM88 requiring it to change its programming so that the service is limited as required under the law.
The ACMA will monitor the broadcasts of the station over the next 12 months.
If the licensee fails to comply with the narrowcasting rules the ACMA may take steps to suspend or cancel their licence.
The ACMA has also decided to refuse to renew the community broadcasting licence for South Australia-based community radio station 5THE FM.
In August 2022, the ACMA accepted a late renewal application from 5THE FM, based in Millicent in South Australia.
After careful consideration of the application, the ACMA decided that it did not demonstrate that 5THE FM had the management or financial capacity to continue providing a service which would meet the needs of the community.
The ACMA has contacted 5THE FM and relevant parties to advise that the licence will not be renewed.
The ACMA is open for a company formed in Australia to apply for a Temporary Community Broadcasting Licence in the Millicent RA1 licence area.
In addition, within the next 12 months the ACMA expects to advertise for applications for a long term community broadcasting licence in the Millicent RA1 licence area.