NTC’s Tamworth transmitter has once again been hit by vandals, just as the Country Music Festival began. It is the second time the Tx has been sabotaged.
The Oxley Vale hut for NTC’s 1611 transmitter was put off air when a warning sign was removed from a fence and forced into the transmitter’s spark gap, shutting down the transmitter.
NTC proprietor Sid Merhi believes it is no coincidence. The timing and method appear like sabotage according to Merhi: “They had to be pretty keen to make that extra effort to go through a flooded paddock alongside the Peel river where the tower is.”
He believes the method used to disable the station shows that the vandals knew something about transmitters. “It is disheartening to know that out of the 38 transmitters throughout Australia, Tamworth is the only one we’ve had any problems with.”
NTC was put off air in Tamworth by a similar incident in 2001. Federal Communications law makes the incident a criminal offence under the Communications Act.
Tamworth police are dealing with the incident, which could carry a half million dollar fine and 5 years in prison.
Merhi told radioinfo: “If this is the race for country music supremacy, then leave us out of it.”
Other radio country music broadcasters from all networks condemned the action, telling radioinfo they are disgusted with the unprofessional behaviour meted out to their professional rivals. One broadcaster said: “We all compete vigorously for the audience, but we want to win it fair and square, not by tactics like this.”
A reward is offered for information leading to an arrest. Call crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
In other news from the Tamworth Festival:
Travis Collins has won the Star Maker award, which includes a recording contract.
A special tribute to Slim Dusty will be held this week – the country music legend died earlier this year.
The Golden Guitar awards will happen next weekend.
The town is recovering from floods, which caused many campers to be moved from their tents, but most didn’t mind because the town desperately needed the rain after many months of drought.