Following today’s radioinfo report regarding a possible sale of 2BS and BRock Bathurst, a statement from ACMA chair Nerida O’Loughlin has confirmed that a proposal has been issued by 2BS Gold which would see the station swap its AM frequency to FM, moving from 1503 AM to 95.1 FM. 

‘FM radio provides improved audio quality for listeners in regional areas and can be more cost-effective to operate than AM radio,’ said O’Loughlin

‘A number of regional commercial radio stations are seeking to convert their services to FM under an industry-led conversion program. ACMA will facilitate a conversion if we are satisfied that audiences in regional areas do not lose important radio services under the proposal.’ 

‘We now want to hear from the local Bathurst audience their views on the conversion proposal,’ O’Loughlin said

Submissions on the Bathurst proposal are due by 8 June, 2018. More information about AM-FM conversion is available here.

If the ACMA decides to approve the conversion, the timing of the transition would be up to the broadcaster.

As reported in radioinfo, Ron and Stephanie Camplin, owners of 2BS and BRock Bathurst, are likely to sell their stations in the near future.

radioinfo sources say a sale of 2BS and BRock Bathurst is imminent, with the most likely buyer thought to be Southern Cross Austereo.

If the stations are sold to SCA, a new 2BS FM will be rebranded to Triple M, and BRock will become part of the Hit Network.