Narrowcast auctions gain $1.2 million

The Australian Broadcasting Authority has announced the successful bidders for a range of open narrowcast services around the country. A total of $1.205 million was raised from the sale.

In Eastern and Central Australia 13 new open narrowcasting licences were auctioned and a further 22 advertised licences received only one application each and were allocated without auction. In a separate auction for Western Australian licences, Perth’s 3 licences were auctioned and a further 7 advertised licences received one application each.

The licences were purchased by a diverse range of groups. Commercial broadcasters RG Capital and Janet Cameron’s Grant Broadcasters bought quite a few licences, United Christian Broadcasters bought some to extend the reach of their existing Christian radio programs, and a range of small businesses bought licences to begin or expand current narrowcast formats. The full list of purchases is below.

TAB owned Racing Radio stations were not bidders in this current round of auctions, but have in the past purchased many narrowcast licences to extend the reach of racing radio coverage. The range of format options open to narrowcasters was recently tightened up after a review of narrowcast formats by the ABA.

What is the value of a narrowcast licences and what are they useful for? radioinfo spoke to RG Capital Radio’s CEO Rhys Holleran about that question:

radioinfo Why are you interested in narrowcast licences?

RH: We own some already and we have trialled a number of formats with varying success , we have an all Australian country format and an all comedy channel.

We bought these licences because they became available. We don’t agree they should have been issued, but since they have been we felt it best to participate in them. It does allow us to experiment with some ideas.

I am quite keen to try 0-5 radio for the very young, we could have the all Wiggles hour , or the Hi-Five nap time

radioinfo What is the benefit of narrowcast licences compared with commercial or community licences?

RH: Not sure there is a huge benefit, but there seems to be a lot more horse racing heard as a result.

radioinfo Did you buy them as a defensive move to keep other players out of your markets?

RH: Not really , as one operator quipped to me, its hard enough making money with a commercial licence let alone a narrowcast licence.

radioinfo How will you make them viable?

RH: If you know please let me know! Seriously its about trying ideas – you can’t make money with them.

radioinfo Will you join ASTRA?

RH: No

radioinfo Are there potential problems for a commercial player also owning narrowcast licences?

RH: No. In fact they have more chance of getting to air if they are owned by incumbents.

List of narrowcast licence purchases:

Location / Frequency / Successful applicant / Amount / Contact

New South Wales

Murwillumbah 1593 kHz Town and Coastal Broadcasters Australia Pty Ltd $4,000 Rhys Holleran

Penrith 1476 kHz Kizhage Pty Ltd $54,000 Angy Nacson

Northern Territory

Alice Springs 107.1 MHz Wiseguy Pty Ltd $18,000 David Bruce

Katherine 96.5 MHz Antenna Radio Pty Ltd $4,000 George Leoudis

Queensland

Brisbane 1053 kHz Gumnut Nominees Pty Ltd $104,000 Anna Trabucco

Charters Towers 96.7 MHz United Christian Broadcasters Australia Ltd $4,000 Ian Worby

Emerald 92.3 MHz United Christian Broadcasters Australia Ltd $4,000 Ian Worby

Mitchell 102.1 MHz Radio 4GG Gold Coast Pty Ltd $4,000 Mark Chapman Smith

Prosperine 96.3 MHz Town and Coastal Broadcasters Australia Pty Ltd $4,000 Rhys Holleran

Roma 95.9 MHz Radio 4GG Gold Coast Pty Ltd $4,000 Mark Chapman Smith

Sarina 93.5 MHz Town and Coastal Broadcasters Australia Pty Ltd $4,000 Rhys Holleran

St George 102.1 MHz United Christian Broadcasters Australia Ltd $4,000 Ian Worby

Victoria

Ararat 92.9 MHz United Christian Broadcasters Australia Ltd $4,000 Ian Worby

Bairnsdale 97.5 MHz United Christian Broadcasters Australia Ltd $4,000 Ian Worby

Euroa 99.3 MHz Town and Coastal Broadcasters Australia Pty Ltd $4,000 Rhys Holleran

Hamilton 102.1 MHz United Christian Broadcasters Australia Ltd $4,000 Ian Worby

Horsham 102.9 MHz United Christian Broadcasters Australia Ltd $4,000 Ian Worby

Portland 105.3 MHz United Christian Broadcasters Australia Ltd $4,000 Ian Worby

Sale 90.3 MHz United Christian Broadcasters Australia Ltd $4,000 Ian Worby

Stawell 93.7 MHz United Christian Broadcasters Australia Ltd $4,000 Ian Worby

Warrnambool 100.9 MHz United Christian Broadcasters Australia Ltd $4,000 Ian Worby

Benalla 99.3 MHz Town and Coastal Broadcasters Australia Pty Ltd $7,000 Rhys Holleran

Geelong 89.3 MHz Southern Narrowcasters Pty Ltd $86,000 Grant Cameron

Latrobe Valley 91.9 MHz Town and Coastal Broadcasters Australia Pty Ltd $50,000 Rhys Holleran

Leongatha 91.3 MHz Town and Coastal Broadcasters Australia Pty Ltd $7,000 Rhys Holleran

South Australia

Adelaide 531 kHz Maria Donato $400,000 Maria Donato

Barossa Valley 90.5 MHz Ambersky Pty Ltd $18,000 Dugold Cameron

Tasmania

Burnie 97.7 MHz Tasradio Pty Ltd $11,000 Barry Davidson

Devonport 101.3 MHz Town and Coastal Broadcasters Australia Pty Ltd $44,000 Rhys Holleran

Western Australia

Perth 657 kHz Gumnut Nominees Pty Ltd $210,000 (Anna Trabucco)

Perth City 103.3 MHz SEQ Broadcasters Pty Ltd $30,000 (Grant Cameron)

Perth City 104.9 MHz Gumnut Nominees Pty Ltd $42,000 (Anna Trabucco)

Bunbury 1017 kHz United Christian Broadcasters Australia Ltd $4,000 Mr Ian Worby

Dampier 93.7 MHz Norsat Communications Pty Ltd $4,000 Mr David McGowan
Derby 101.1 MHz Mr Phill Rogers $4,000 Mr Phillip Rogers

Geraldton 1008 kHz Geraldton Newspapers Limited $4,000 Mr Malcolm Smith

Halls Creek 101.3 MHz Mr Phill Rogers $4,000 Mr Phillip Rogers

Kalgoorlie 1431 kHz United Christian Broadcasters Australia Ltd $4,000 Mr Ian Worby

Warmun 99.1 MHz Mr Phill Rogers $4,000 Mr Phillip Rogers

Dampier 93.7 MHz Norsat Communications Pty Ltd $4,000 David McGowan

Derby 101.1 MHz Mr Phill Rogers $4,000 Phillip Rogers

Geraldton 1008 kHz Geraldton Newspapers Limited $4,000 Malcolm Smith

Halls Creek 101.3 MHz Mr Phill Rogers $4,000 Phillip Rogers

Kalgoorlie 1431 kHz United Christian Broadcasters Australia Ltd $4,000 Ian Worby

Warmun 99.1 MHz Mr Phill Rogers $4,000 Phillip Rogers