Get ready, Perth! After over a century of broadcasting on the AM band, ABC Radio stations are making a monumental shift to FM in 2026. This move promises a significant upgrade in audio quality for listeners, marking a new chapter in the history of radio in Western Australia.
This decision, authorized by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), will see the three AM stations transition to FM. ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks is excited about the opportunity to enhance the listening experience for Perth audiences, acknowledging the long-standing challenges of AM reception in the city. With FM, listeners can look forward to richer, more reliable broadcasts, ensuring they stay connected to their favorite programs.
But here's where it gets controversial... or at least, interesting. The move isn't just about better sound; it's also about saving money. ABC Director of Audio Ben Latimer highlights that these new FM licenses will provide superior audio quality at a lower cost, offering better value to taxpayers, especially as the demand for AM radio declines in major cities. This change reaffirms the ABC's commitment to delivering top-notch radio services across the country.
So, why is AM reception in Perth such a headache?
The answer lies in the way AM frequencies are transmitted and Perth's notorious sandy soil. While radio waves travel through the air, AM signals rely on ground waves. Gavin Bowman, ABC's manager of transmission contracts, explains that AM signals work best with good ground propagation, which means the signal travels better through moist soil.
Perth's Swan coastal plain, however, is known for its dry, sandy soil, which isn't ideal for AM transmission.
AM Needs a Paddock in the City
AM radio requires a significant amount of land for its infrastructure. Since 1939, ABC Radio Perth's AM transmitter has been located in Hamersley, a northern suburb of Perth. Unlike FM, which can utilize towers on hills for line-of-sight propagation, AM needs a large area. The mast itself is just a small part of the infrastructure.
Additional wires are buried in the ground to extend the signal. These radial wires are essential for directing the signal efficiently. This setup requires a vast amount of land, often acres. In contrast, FM and TV stations can share infrastructure, reducing costs.
The Freeway Factor
And this is the part most people miss... As if the soil and land weren't enough, the expansion of Perth's railway network in the 1990s added another challenge. The electrified train lines along the Mitchell and Kwinana freeways cause interference, making it nearly impossible to listen to AM radio in cars while driving on these routes.
The interference from the trains has led many commuters to switch off their AM radios while on the freeways.
A Century of AM Radio
The move to FM marks the end of an era for ABC Radio Perth (originally 6WF, later 720), which began broadcasting on June 4, 1924. It was not founded by the ABC, but by Westralian Farmers Co-operative (now Wesfarmers) to combat isolation for people in the bush.
The station was established after John Thomson, from Wesfarmers, experienced a flat tire incident in the wheatbelt. This experience led him to believe that radio was the perfect solution for the isolation faced by rural communities.
Wesfarmers sold 6WF to the Commonwealth government four years later, which eventually became part of the ABC local radio network.
Mr. Latimer assured that the move to FM in Perth would not affect the ABC's regional radio services or its commitment to emergency broadcasting. The ABC has high-powered AM transmitters in areas near Perth to provide emergency broadcasts to areas outside the metropolitan area currently covered by the Perth AM signal.
What do you think? Will you miss AM radio? Do you think the move to FM is a positive change? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
