United Christian Broadcasters has achieved its aim of securing more narrowcast licences in the latest ABA auction.

UCB was the highest bidder for eight of the thirteen open narrowcasting licences auctioned today, securing licences in Walgett NSW, Tully Qld, Albany and Newman in WA and the Victorian towns of Casterton,
St Arnaud, Terang and Warracknabeal.

Victorian Racing Radio 3UZ was the highest bidder in the three areas it was interested in, with boss Noel Crowe securing new transmission frequencies in Lakes Entrance, Orbost and Yarram.

A total of $178,000 was bid for the thirteen licences. The breakdown is as follows:

New South Wales

Walgett 97.9 – $4000

Northern Territory

Darwin East 90.7 – $44,000

Queensland

Port Douglas 106.3 – $17,000 and
Tully 92.7 – $12,000

Western Australia

Albany 93.7 – $24,000 and
Newman 96.9 – $10,000

Victoria

Casterton 104.5 – $8000, Lakes Entrance
89.9 – $17,000, Orbost 95.5 – $7000,
St Arnaud 106.1 – $8000, Terang
90.5 – $4000, Warracknabeal
100.5 – $9000, Yarram 92.7 – $14,000

The two licences not bought by UCB or 3UZ were Port Douglas, which was purchased by Martin Fineberg, and Darwin East, which was bought by Anna Trabucco for Gumnut nominees.

Open narrowcasting licences are services where reception is limited by being targeted to special interest groups, or by being intended only for limited locations, or by being provided during a limited period or to cover a special event, or because they provide programs of limited appeal.

The majority of narrowcasting services already licensed by the ABA are racing or tourist information services.

Successful purchasers have 24 hours to pay for the licences and 6 months to get them on air.