Source The Australian: MACQUARIE Radio Network is looking at ways to boost the signal strength of its Melbourne Talk Radio venture as part of investment plans for the three-week-old station.
MRN yesterday upgraded its 2009-10 fiscal year forecast for earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation from $8 million to $9.5m due to stronger advertising sales at its market-leading 2GB talk station in Sydney. Read the entire article
4 May 2010
Radio News
www.radionews.com.au
Thanks for the info about surveys. I wondered how often they occur (I’m pretty new to the finer points of the rating wars on radio – for most of my life all I did was listen to it….without any thoughts about licencing, demographics, ratings etc).
It irked me when Magic changed frequency (no I can’t get it at all nowadays, drat it) – it was a great pity to lose the station. I thought, well, at least there was still 3MP. Now with 3MP gone as well, as far as good music is concerned, frankly I feel somewhat betrayed. Clearly listeners of my generation (and taste in music) are irrelevant. I suppose I shouldn’t be all that surprised.
I have noticed things have gone quiet, publicity-wise. I suppose they are waiting for the results of the survey – ready to praise them to the rafters or stick the knife in….depending on the results.
I know what result I’m hoping for!
I tried searching on Google re MTR’s coverage but I don’t think I had the right key words. As I said, I’m new to all this. It’s probably the first time I’ve ever cared enough about listening to the radio to put my thoughts to print.
TD, a bit of Googling might give you an idea of the actual coverage area in terms of a viewable footprint.
You are right…MTR won’t make a dent in rivals. They wont rate any better than 3mp and that’s just not viable….see if I’m wrong.
Have you noticed after the first weeks blaze of publicity…Herald Sun etc MTR seem to have dropped off the radar.
Survey’s are out every 6 weeks. Usualy a link posted on this web site and also John Blackman’s.
TD, Sorry you can’t get MAGIC too well if at all,it’s a good reliable,consistant well programmed station with a huge playlist that has achieved a great niche in a sea of music radio “sameness”[fm]with experianced announcers who talk “to” you..not “at” you..eg, Ward Everradt. Their transmitter is at Heidelberg. It’s a shame the Mornington Peninsula has lost it’s own station in 3mp. I’m at a loss as to how this was allowed to happen given that it’s licence was granted back in ’75 do be just that.
I understand MTR’s output to the rest of Melbourne would be hampered by the original 3MP licence restrictions, rather than technical considerations. I probably should have made clear that it was referring to the vagaries of my el cheapo clock radio and its dodgy tuning when I said MTR was still easy to pick up.
My comment about Tullamarine still applies I think. Under the licence agreement I’d imagine it’s unlikely to be heard on that side of the city. Maybe they want to suggest Greater Melbourne is listening to their station?
Marconi (great name BTW), do you know what area 3MP/MTR’s licence actually covers? How far north of the peninsula into Melbourne would be interesting to know. If it is only a narrow area I don’t see how they could get the listening numbers to put a dent into rival talk back stations.
The point is being missed here. It’s not a matter of “juggling the sticks”. It’s not just a technical issue!!It’s a matter of the licence conditions which govern the direction. This is an issue for the Australian and Communications Media Authority.[ ACMA] The 3mp licence was set up for the Mornington Peninsula not Melbourne Metro!! It is NOT and was never intended to serve Greater Melbourne..same as K-Rock and Bay-FM on the other side.
Marconi – since Magic changed frequency I can’t get it – neither at home nor at work. Believe me, it would be my station of choice if only it were possible – I used to listen to Magic at work all the time. They play my kind of music! I don’t listen to 3AW because I don’t like that station much.
News on time at work is not an issue, which is why I don’t mind listening to Gold. It’s only at home, before I go to work that I like to ensure I’m on schedule. My old clock radio is pretty basic, and as per the comments about directional signals, MTR still comes through loud and clear so it was easier to go back to it for just the news and weather. It’s the only time I listen to the radio at home – which is also why I haven’t dashed out and bought a digital (clock) radio. That and the cost of course…
MTR in their weather reports always mentions the temperature at Tullamarine – I wonder if they can even get MTR at Tulla?
How will they boost their signal? New site or new radiation pattern (ie. juggle the sticks around)?
1377 is a clear channel in Australia, 1368 in Goulburn to the North East; on much the same bearing, 1386 is reserved for Sydney (or thereabouts) but isn’t on air (and likely will never be).
5AA used to be on 1386, limiting 3MP in areas to the north west of the TX, which is the CBD and all suburbs in the northern and western quadrant beyond the CBD, so is there now room for a reshuffle of the sticks?
Doug your are spot on although it is not so much the signal strength of 5kw it’s the direction.. and that directon forms part of the 1377 licence. It was set up for the Mornington peninsula so trying to now be a “Melbourne” station is futile. I stand by my claim..MTR is a dead duck walking. Taking on 3AW and 774 has never worked. Kerry packer even tried it in the 80′s with 3AK and failed and it failed again 5 or 6 years ago with AK. What part of that failure and the reasons why don’t people understand?
And TD Frankston what are you talking about? Plenty of choice for on time news. 3AW and Magic for example are spot on for News times. The News reader must start at 6 seconds past the hour and half hour to accomadate both staions in tandum ..and relay stations. Magic use time pips. 774 are on time too as you would expect from ABC. If you listen to GOLD 104 or any other FM staion expect to get late news!
PS..Jason you’re a dill..no idea.
Some weeks on….
# I’ve had to go back to MTR for the news first thing in the morning – too many other radio stations think the 6am news starting at 6.03, 6.05 or whenever is OK. It isn’t! At that time of morning I’m on the clock.
# MTR include the weather forecast for Frankston again – I should think so too considering it’s probably the only suburb that can pick it up clearly.
# Whats-his-name who has the show from 6am onwards is a bore – but that’s good. No lingering to listen to ‘one more song’ before setting off for work. I now get to work early.
# Thanks to the rest of the non-stop blah-blah-blah/adverts/blah-blah-blah during the day I now listen to Gold FM at work. I’ve discovered it’s a good station. Thanks MTR!
Astounded that 1377 investors went into this radio station with such a poor signal strength expecting to be a success !
John, 3MP continues as ’3MP My MP’ on digital radio without announcers or advertisements. If you’d seen the other threads about 3MP/MTR, you would’ve seen my comments that 3MP continues on digital radio.
Jason, please reduce your rantings, you make next to no sense and your posts are illiterate. Don’t you think MRN know the 3MP signal isn’t the best? It’s called due dilligence. I’m sure they’re aware of it and will likely not spend $77.5 million to fix it.
Marconi, you might be right, at least they can complain about the signal strength if surveys don’t go well.
All the signal strength in the world won’t help.Nor will digital. There is not room for another talk station in the Melbourne market. as proven by 3AK attempt a few years ago. It went belly up and was morphed into bit player SEN. They are going to need AT LEAST a 6% audience share to be remotely viable. It aint going to happen. MTR will be a bit player like SEN. Watch the rest of the survey results unfold this year and see if I’m wrong. 2% at best. It’s a dead duck.
I would like to sat to MacQuarie Radio Network that 1377 needs to be stronger soon so that More people in Melbourne can Hear MTR.
I think MaQuarie Radio Network should invest $Million77.5 to make 1377 stronger as pf next week.
radio 3mp sadly missed where are 3mp announcers now,
could my email address please be removed off the list thanks
radio 3mp sadly missed where are 3mp announcers now
This is simple, forget AM, focus on digital.
How many of hundreds of thousands or millions could be spent on transmitter upgrades or relocation for a transmission that is not robust in these days of increased RFI in our homes, businesses and cars.
Simply more mentions per hour for digital (free) and import a container loads of base model digital radios and an easy to use car add-on (ie. not the Pure Highway or as I say, the Impure Goat Track) and make sure the MTR intended audience gets these devices in their hands.
Singo can be smart bloke when he puts his mind to it, so he’ll know the best way to get MTR listeners onto digital.
Caller to Luke Grant’s show last night from Essendon said he had unpacked his new digital radio as that was the only way he could listen to MTR, this is 30-35 km only away from the 3MP mast and there’s no AM reception? Crazy! Digital is only way to go.