Pirate radio in Australia

Last updated

Australian radio audiences have had virtually no exposure to pirate radio. There were no broadcasts as part of the World War II propaganda campaigns and commercial as well as community stations alongside the taxpayer funded Australian Broadcasting Corporation were available during the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s - a period when the UK was experiencing a surge in illegal broadcasts during the early days of acid house and the Second Summer of Love. The absence of pirate radio in Australia is primarily attributed to the relatively large number of commercial licences that were issued, particularly after World War 2, as well as the existence of public (later renamed community) non-commercial broadcasting licences supported mainly by listener subscription. Additionally, the lack of availability of imported broadcasting equipment and the likely application of severe, legislated penalties including jail for offenders, would also have been a factor.

Contents

Amateur radio operators must obtain the appropriate licence of the 16 different types of radiocommunications transmitter (narrowcasting) licences [1] available from the Australian Communications and Media Authority to legally operate on a specific frequency. These licences range in cost from less than $50 up to several thousand dollars. [2]

Occurrences

A small number of the total pirate radio stations in Australia are documented. [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Very high frequency</span> Electromagnetic wave range of 30-300 MHz

Very high frequency (VHF) is the ITU designation for the range of radio frequency electromagnetic waves from 30 to 300 megahertz (MHz), with corresponding wavelengths of ten meters to one meter. Frequencies immediately below VHF are denoted high frequency (HF), and the next higher frequencies are known as ultra high frequency (UHF).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Television broadcasting in Australia</span>

Television broadcasting in Australia began officially on 16 September 1956, with the opening of TCN-9, quickly followed by national and commercial stations in Sydney and Melbourne, all these being in 625-line black and white. The commencement date was designed so as to provide coverage of the Olympic Games in Melbourne. It has now grown to be a nationwide system that includes a broad range of public, commercial, community, subscription, narrowcast, and amateur stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FM broadcast band</span> Radio broadcast band

The FM broadcast band is a range of radio frequencies used for FM broadcasting by radio stations. The range of frequencies used differs between different parts of the world. In Europe and Africa and in Australia and New Zealand, it spans from 87.5 to 108 megahertz (MHz) - also known as VHF Band II - while in the Americas it ranges from 88 to 108 MHz. The FM broadcast band in Japan uses 76 to 95 MHz, and in Brazil, 76 to 108 MHz. The International Radio and Television Organisation (OIRT) band in Eastern Europe is from 65.9 to 74.0 MHz, although these countries now primarily use the 87.5 to 108 MHz band, as in the case of Russia. Some other countries have already discontinued the OIRT band and have changed to the 87.5 to 108 MHz band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3MP</span> Commercial radio station in Melbourne, Australia

3MP is a commercial radio station, broadcast from Rowville and licensed to Melbourne, Australia. Owned and operated by Ace Radio from studios in South Melbourne, it broadcasts an easy listening music format on 1377 AM and DAB+ digital radio.

Pirate radio in Ireland has had a long history, with hundreds of pirate radio stations having operated within the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CHYK-FM</span> Radio station in Timmins, Ontario

CHYK-FM is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts at 104.1 FM in Timmins, Ontario. It broadcasts a francophone hot adult contemporary format for the city's Franco-Ontarian community. It is owned by Le5 Communications, and branded as Le Loup 104.1.

CBLA-FM is a non-commercial radio station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Owned and operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the station is the flagship station of the CBC Radio One network, broadcasting a mix of news and talk. In addition to the Toronto market, CBLA also reaches much of Central Ontario with a network of twelve rebroadcasters. The studios are in the Canadian Broadcasting Centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FM broadcasting</span> Radio transmission of audio by frequency modulation

FM broadcasting is a method of radio broadcasting that uses frequency modulation (FM) of the radio broadcast carrier wave. Invented in 1933 by American engineer Edwin Armstrong, wide-band FM is used worldwide to transmit high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. FM broadcasting offers higher fidelity—more accurate reproduction of the original program sound—than other broadcasting techniques, such as AM broadcasting. It is also less susceptible to common forms of interference, having less static and popping sounds than are often heard on AM. Therefore, FM is used for most broadcasts of music and general audio. FM radio stations use the very high frequency range of radio frequencies.

CBF-FM is a French-language radio station licensed to Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Groove 101.7FM</span> Radio station

Groove 101.7FM was a Western Australian community radio station broadcasting from studios located in Carlisle, owned and operated by the Youth Media Society of Western Australia Incorporated. First broadcast in March 2003, the station was closed in March 2008.

Independent National Radio (INR) is the official term for the three national commercial radio stations currently or previously broadcasting on analogue radio in the United Kingdom. The two stations currently or previously broadcasting on AM were allocated frequencies previously used by BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 1.

Television frequency allocation has evolved since the start of television in Australia in 1956, and later in New Zealand in 1960. There was no coordination between the national spectrum management authorities in either country to establish the frequency allocations. The management of the spectrum in both countries is largely the product of their economical and political situation. New Zealand didn't start to develop television service until 1965 due to World War 2 and its economic harm in the country's economy.

4MBS Classic FM is an Australian community radio station which broadcasts classical music from Brisbane at a frequency of 103.7 MHz, as well as on digital radio and online.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3WBC</span> Radio station in Box Hill, Australia

3WBC FM is a local radio station in Melbourne, Australia with a frequency of 94.1 MHz. The station is operated under licence by Whitehorse-Boroondara Community FM Radio Incorporated. It often involves local school students in its programs and is developing a larger audience. Discussion topics include current events such as global warming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">87.8 UCFM</span> Radio station in Canberra

87.8 UCFM is an independent student radio station transmitting from the campus of the University of Canberra. It broadcasts a professionally consulted College Radio niche music format - 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with a mix of news and current affairs. The radio station's studios are located within the lower level of "The Hub" complex on the university's Bruce campus, in Australia's capital city - Canberra.

6AR was a community radio station based in Perth, Western Australia. It was operated by the Western Australian Aboriginal Media Association and was on air between 1994 and 2006.

Digital broadcast radio in Australia uses the DAB+ standard and is available in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Darwin and Hobart. However, after 11 years, regional large cities such as Townsville and Ballarat still do not have DAB. The national government owned television/radio networks, the ABC and SBS, and the commercial radio stations in each market provide many of their services and a few digital-only services on the digital platform. Australia uses the AAC+ codec provided with upgraded DAB+ standard.

Mount Helen FM was a community radio station, serving the Hunter Valley and Liverpool Plains areas of New South Wales. It operated studios in Willow Tree and Muswellbrook, and operated from transmitters serving both areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melbourne Jewish Radio</span> Radio station in Werribee South, Australia

Melbourne Jewish Radio was a timeshared radio station formerly broadcast on 1674 kHz in the AM narrowband from Werribee South in Melbourne's west. The station aired between 12noon Sundays and 12noon Fridays, with Surf City Sound broadcasting on the same frequency during the Shabbat period. During 2010 and 2011, Lion FM held a Temporary Community Broadcasting Licence, and broadcast from the Melbourne CBD.

References

  1. Find out what licence you need. The Australian Communications and Media Authority. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  2. Apparatus Licence Fee Schedule. The Australian Communications and Media Authority. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  3. David Rood (29 July 2012). "Pirates plunder the high Cs". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  4. ""CRUSADER" FINED £30 FOR ILLEGAL RADIO". The Argus (Melbourne) . No. 31, 743. Victoria, Australia. 28 May 1948. p. 5. Retrieved 27 September 2022 via National Library of Australia.
  5. "THIS RADIO WAS SEIZED". The Herald . No. 22, 151. Victoria, Australia. 20 May 1948. p. 1. Retrieved 27 September 2022 via National Library of Australia.
  6. "They're Hunting a radio Pirate". The Daily News . Vol. LXVI, no. 22, 804. Western Australia. 13 May 1948. p. 2 (FINAL). Retrieved 27 September 2022 via National Library of Australia.
  7. "Secret Radio On Air Again". Barrier Miner . Vol. LXI, no. 17, 536. New South Wales, Australia. 5 May 1948. p. 3. Retrieved 27 September 2022 via National Library of Australia.
  8. How Did Jands Get Its Name?. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  9. South Australia's Pirate Radio PROSH 'Piracy on the Airwaves'. Radio Heritage Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  10. (18 June 2017). . Radio Uranus recording on crossbandradio.com. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  11. Info, Radio (10 January 2013). "From radio pirate to AFTRS student". Radio Info. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  12. (30 September 2013). More unlicensed broadcasting stations shut down. The Australian Communications and Media Authority. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  13. (31 March 2012). Illegal broadcasters caught. Amateur Radio Victoria. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  14. (6 August 2013). In the field - latest reports from ACMA Field Operations. The Australian Communications and Media Authority. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  15. (29 July 2012). Pirates Plunder the High Cs. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  16. "Pirate radio station near Portland shut down, operator fined - ABC Ne…". archive.ph. 26 April 2022. Archived from the original on 26 April 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  17. Levy, Greta (11 January 2016). "Meet Australia's Preeminent Jamaican Pirate Radio Broadcaster".
  18. TONKIN, SHANNON (14 July 2016). "Wollongong’s pirate radio station shut down, DJ fined". Illawarra Mercury.
  19. (5 February 2017). . Youtube channel by VK3YE. Retrieved 5 February 2017.