CBC Radio One in Sydney: Question about conversion to FM

[Davros2006]

From what I've read on Wikipedia, the conversion of CBC Radio 1 in Sydney has yet to occur. It was supposed to go from 1140 AM to 97.1 FM but does anyone know if there's some sort of problem?

I can provide one possibility: The move to 97.1 FM would result in interference caused by the OZ-FM signal on 96.9 FM across the Cabot Strait. If that's the reason, then CBC should either force OZ-FM to move to another frequency or the CBC would have to find a new one for themselves.

 

[Dan Sys]

From what I read last Fall the CBC put the CBI flip to FM on hold due to the terrain resulting in potential holes with their coverage in Big Harbour, Englishtown, and Ingonish (areas that currently receive CBI 1140 loud & clear). The CBC will either be applying for rebroadcasters in these void areas or go ahead and flip CBI to 97.1 but keep 1140 on the air (much like they did in Vancouver with CBU 690 & 88.1).

 

[mjlarochelle]

They should just keep CBI on the air.

 

[mimo]

These AM to FM flips are getting ridiculous. Especially with Radio 1. It's pointless to move a station that's primarily talk to FM. Signal dropouts and less coverage area are huge disadvantages. I don't listen to Radio 1 here in Ottawa because it's not a dependable signal when I'm out moving around in the city. I get frustrated with losing bits of information, especially the most important details in a news cast.

In the Yukon they're REALLY fighting to prevent the move of radio 1 to FM there. 90% of it's listeners will lose it if that happens.

The areas that Dan mentioned are not small potatoes when it comes to potential audience loss. A nested repeater like what they're doing in Western Canada sounds like the best solution.

 

[Dan Sys]

I don't really understand the CBC's obsession with moving Radio One & Premiere Chaine facilities to FM (in mono) either. I'm sure the numbers would be a lot higher at their flagship outlets in Toronto & Montreal if they had have followed the "nested repeater" route, not to mention Ottawa, Halifax, etc. Out here in Vancouver several years ago the CBC had applied to flip CBU 690 outright to 88.1 FM. There was such a stink raised by people up the coast who would have potentially lost Radio One service and by the maritime industry that relies heavily on 690 for weather information that the CRTC ordered the CBC to keep 690 on the air (while giving the go ahead for a nested repeater on 88.1).

The most bizarre recent example of an AM to FM flip gone wrong occurred in Seattle. KIRO 710 has always had a very successful News-Talk format (usually #1 or #2 in the market). Along comes some "no-mind" consultant who suggested they move to FM. The Oldies format on sister station KBSG 97.3 was killed to make way for the all new KIRO FM. Well, the latest book released 2 weeks ago showed that KIRO 97.3 has been flushed right down the toilet to the #19 spot in the ratings.....from #1 to #19 in one book. Perhaps the lesson to be learnt from this is that News-Talk formats don't belong on FM and maybe these "know nothing" consultants should think about a career change.

 

[mimo]

I grew up on the west coast so Vancouver and Seattle radio have a soft spot in my heart. I've been reading about the KIRO fiasco. At first it almost sounded like a go0d idea, but the numbers (as Dan has stated) have indicated otherwise. The action taken by CBU listeners showed what enough public pressure can do. Maybe those who will lose CBI can take a page out of the bo0ks of the Vancouver and Yukon CBC listeners and Radio 1 will stay on 1140.