Time for ABC to switch frequencies?
Questioning radio’s reliance on AM. Also: Dave Hughes’ dilemma and Singo’s big call.
Clarification: Yes, I do know that radio stations are already available online from phones and other mobile devices. I’m saying that they may prove in future to be more reliable than broadcast radio in an emergency situation. (And, yes, batteries are an issue, but power banks and ever-improving battery tech can help overcome that.)
Further update: I’m also not saying let’s get rid of FM and DAB+, I’m just saying let’s have a rethink of not just the best way to deliver emergency broadcasts, but how to deliver all radio content in the future. My solution may not be right, but the discussion must be had.
Final update (before I move on): Here’s what radio futurologist (and friend of Mister Brisbane) James Cridland has to say.
I have been a huge defender of AM radio, compared to its broadcast alternatives. While it doesn’t have the best available audio quality, AM does have a much better range than FM or, especially, digital (DAB+) — which makes it useful in regional and remote Australia.
When it comes to reaching more people, and people in far-flung places, AM is king.
I also used to make the argument that AM’s biggest advantage was in emergency situations.
Now I’m not so sure — because the ABC Brisbane AM signal dropped out* during its important cyclone-flood coverage over the weekend.
Happily for those people with analogue radios and no access to DAB+ or internet streaming, Aunty had had the foresight to set up a simulcast on the FM band, taking over the ABC Classic frequency of 106.1 for a few days.
I now reluctantly join those who say AM is going the way of the dodo and that the bandwidth it occupies could be much more efficiently used.
While I’m sure there are a few disgruntled classical music fans who’ve expressed their displeasure, I’m equally sure that the ABC will be taking heed of what happened over the weekend and considering whether it’s time to transition the Brisbane station to the FM band, as is the case with some of its other local stations.
FM and DAB+ will be around for a while, but radio delivered over the internet via mobile phone towers is the future (in my opinion).
With broadcast radio, if the transmitter goes out, the entire signal is lost. But there are hundreds of phone towers, providing redundancy and reliability, and portable versions can be set up very quickly where required.
AM may remain useful in the bush, but its days in the big city could well be numbered.
*Update: As a point of clarification, the issue that took 612 off air was with a generator at the site, not a fault with the AM technology per se.
Singo says No
The Australian’s Media Diary has contacted John Singleton for his comment on runours (which I reported here) that he is planning to buy back what is now Nine Radio to regain control of talk stations including 3AW, 2GB and Brisbane’s 4BC.
Asked if the rumours were true, Singo simply said No.
Of course, that doesn’t mean Nine Radio is not for sale — and many are still suggesting that American outfit Newsmax, which recently purchased some regional TV licences from Southern Cross Austereo, might be an interested party.
However, as I’ve opined elsewhere, the radio division could be a very valuable asset for Nine if it were better managed and integrated more closely with the television, print and online divisions.
Riddle me this
Dave Hughes has become the latest comic to boot some hecklers* out of a gig. It happened at the Adelaide Fringe a few nights ago and you can read about it here.
I know people will take sides on this, and some attitudes will be influenced by whether they happen to like Hughes and his particular brand of comedy.
One thing to bear in mind is that many comics encourage hecklers these days so they can use footage of their audience encounters to make lucrative online videos without using up their original material. Jimmy Carr is among those who does very well out of this.
Perhaps seeing those clips on YouTube, Reels or TikTok has emboldened some people at live gigs who, in another era, would have just been passive observers.
As far as I know, Hughes did not invite the unwanted interruption and, from the clip online, it seemed persistent to the point that it would try anybody’s patience.
How he handled this situation may be up for debate, but the bottom line is that relentless heckling, or chatting among yourselves during a show, is bad manners and ruins the enjoyment of other paying audience members.
If you dislike a comedian, why book tickets in the first place? And if you like the comic (or thought you did) but hate the show, you should be the one to leave voluntarily. You can haggle about getting your money back later.
*Perhaps they were just noisy rather than actual hecklers, but the point’s the same.
P.S.
My thoughts are with those still suffering the aftereffects of Cyclone Alfred. For me, it’s been an inconvenience, but others have suffered immensely. My heartfelt thanks to those who have kept us informed and, especially, those who have put themselves in harm’s way to help others.
Switch to FM? No. Also broadcast on FM? Yes.