Australia X-Band Narrowband Area Services 1611-1701 AM July 2011 There is continued interest in this area of the Australian AM dial. All these stations use a transmitter power of 400w unless specified and the location shown is usually the larger urban area within which the transmitter site is located. On some frequencies, combined transmitter powers carrying common programs approach 1-2kW providing good signal strength with reception confirmed possible as far distant as Scandinavia and Canada. Freq: Location State Station Notes 1611 Newcastle NSW Francis Greenway High School Local low power Grafton NSW Radio 16 The Goanna Country Griffith NSW Rete Italia Italian Sydney NSW 2GW Sydney West Local Tamworth NSW Radio 16 The Goanna Country Wee Waa NSW 1611 Gold AM 50w Chiltern VIC Vision Radio Network Christian Melbourne VIC Vision Radio Network Christian Mildura VIC Old Gold Local Goondiwindi QLD Hot Country Country Roma QLD Hot Country Country St.George QLD Hot Country Country Emerald QLD Hot Country Country Karumba QLD 4KZ [300w] relay 4KZ 531AM Croydon QLD KIK-FM [50w] relay KIK-FM 88.7 Adelaide SA Vision Radio Network Christian Willetton WA Willetton State Senior High School Local low power Margaret River WA Vision Radio Network Christian Wagin WA 6GS Local Albany WA Gold Mix Local Esperance WA Rete Italia Italian Kalgoorlie WA Rete Italia Italian Margaret River WA Vision Radio Network Christian Devonport TAS Rete Italia Italian Hobart TAS Rete Italia Italian Launceston TAS Rete Italia Italian 1620 Canberra ACT Rete Italia Italian Sydney NSW 2MORO Arabic Melbourne VIC 3CW Chinese relay 3CW 1341AM Wangaratta VIC Rete Italia Italian Gold Coast QLD Rete Italia Italian Toowoomba QLD Rete Italia Italian Sunshine Coast QLD Rete Italia Italian Gladstone QLD Rete Italia Italian Rockhampton QLD Rete Italia Italian Taylors Beach QLD 4KZ [500w] relay 4KZ 531AM Perth WA Monitored Chinese 1629 Canberra ACT Rete Italia Italian Dubbo NSW Radio 16 The Goanna Country Newcastle NSW Newcastle Hospital Radio Local 100w Melbourne VIC 3CW Chinese relay 3CW 1341AM Shepparton VIC Rete Italia Italian Dalby QLD Hot Country Country Mackay QLD Rete Italia Italian Adelaide SA Rete Italia Italian Mt.Gambier SA Rete Italia Italian Albany WA Rete Italia Italian Busselton WA 3ABN Christian Perth WA 3ABN Christian Mundaring WA Rete Italia Italian 1638 Sydney NSW 2ME Arabic Armidale NSW Radio 16 The Goanna Country Melbourne VIC 2ME Arabic Darwin NT 2ME Arabic 1647 Canberra ACT China Radio International relay Beijing Brisbane QLD 2ME Arabic Mackay QLD Vision Radio Network Christian Adelaide SA 2ME Arabic 1656 Sydney NSW 2MM Greek Broken Hill NSW The Axe Local 50w Brisbane QLD The Voice of the Australian Chinese Chinese Adelaide SA Willunga High School Local low power Perth WA 2ME Arabic 1665 Sydney NSW 2MM Greek Melbourne VIC Vision Radio Network Christian 1674 Brisbane QLD Vision Radio Network Christian 1683 Sydney NSW Club AM Greek 1692 Nanango QLD Vision Radio Network Christian 1701 Sydney NSW Voice of Charity [VOC] Christian-Lebanese Melbourne VIC Islamic Voice Radio Islam-Arabic Brisbane QLD Radio Brisvaani Hindi With the departure of the nationwide Radio 2 network several years ago and with a couple of major exceptions, it’s compelling to argue that the on-air situation on 1611-1701 kHz is relatively very little changed from that nearly 20 years ago when ethnic and niche formats [mainly Arabic, Greek and dance music] predominated. Rete Italia’s Italian language network continues to gain ground as the main non- English language broadcaster, anchored with a growing number of full power HPON [High Powered Open Narrowcast] outlets in the standard AM and FM bands and online streaming. In fact, Rete Italia can now be said to clearly dominate the use of this narrowcast spectrum in Australia with programs connecting to a widely scattered and older market group of Italian immigrants and descendents more familiar with AM radio. Queensland based Vision Radio Network is expanding in 2011 with new stations in Melbourne and Brisbane and others scheduled. They operate many hundreds of low power FM stations plus a growing number of full-power HPON outlets in the standard AM and FM bands. Their use of these AM frequencies tends to be targeted at the state capitals whilst their FM services reach suburban and country locations. The Sydney based Arabic language network 2ME has services across several state capitals, backed by DRM digital broadcasts and online streaming. Recently, Chinese programmed 3CW Geelong has expanded coverage into the narrowcast zone, joined by China Radio International in English from Beijing in Canberra. A common feature of Rete Italia, Vision Radio Network, 2ME and 3CW is their use of considerable talk and news programming rather than a focus just on music. Country music is fading as a potentially successful niche format with Hot Country in Queensland stalled at just a handful of stations and The Goanna 16AM Country dropping coverage to a few outlets centred in Tamworth and central NSW. Music, usually of the ‘Gold’ variety targeted at babyboomers still features on local stations in isolated communities. However, a number are merely relays of full power AM or FM stations with which often feature talk program segments. Moves continue within the fringe radio industry groups to rebuild the 1611-1701 stations as a stronger broadcasting force. This includes encouraging licence holders to cease hoarding unused licences and growth in satellite and on-line program distribution. This update draws on previous reports, recent monitoring within Australia and analysis of on-line information. © Radio Heritage Foundation 2011 www.radioheritage.com .