Going digital
Submitted by debritz on June 8, 2008 - 16:33.
In this interview Fairfax chief David Kirk reveals, among other things, agrees that digital radio is "good for AM stations". It means his network, which includes 2UE, 3AW and 4BC, will at last be able to broadcast in the same quality as the FM stations. Although Kirk doesn't give too much away, it's obvious that all the radio networks are well advanced with their plans for digital radio, which will also allow them extra frequencies to create new stations. But will the drawn-out digital switchover benefit listeners? Will it deliver fantastic niche stations, or will it just be more of the same? The record shows that I'm cynical about all this, but I hope it's the former.
Brett, the big advantage of
Brett, the big advantage of digital radio is the better sound quality and more choices right? This will allow stations like 4KQ and B105 to vary their formats (e.g clean feeds, song information even, pictures.) But also some old legends of Brisbane's AM radio scene could be "revived" as spinoff digital only brands for existing stations (4IP (classic rock) for 4KQ and 4BK (80's music) for B105)
But Brett there is a big downside to all this. For example Austereo.
Austereo could end up moving playout for all of its digital FM stations (i.e both Triple M and Today networks) to Sydney in a digital radio future, with the other stations only being staffed by local announcers and advertising staff. these semi-automated stations would have no libraries of music but would have instead, a fibre optic connection to the network server in Sydney (which would have the library for the entire network including digital sub-stations.) in which local advertising then can be placed.
More choice V Less of a "human touch" in commercial radio.
Brett, You be the judge.
I know the management at
I know the management at 4KQ is very excited about the upgrade in quality.
I think you'll find the music in radio stations is already stored on a central server, be it in Sydney or anywhere else.
As for reviving old formats, I think that'd be great - but how about some new ones too?
The networks are all very tight-lipped about what they are going to offer, and - as I said - I fear it won't be a lot.
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