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Radio in New England
Radio in New England works in much the same way as television. There are four radio networks, each operating in four separate regions with localised news and information based out of the major regional centres of New England. Radio has remained analogue, as the cost of going to digital was not considered to be viable. All radio broadcasting is on the FM band between 87.9 and 107.9 MHz.
The commercial network stations are numbered according to their location and network. Each station starts with one of four letters; A, C, P or V (Armidale, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie and Inverell) and has three letters denoting the network. At present, the four radio networks are:
- RTNE - Radio Television New England (Public)
- Radio One - 92.1 - 92.7 MHz
- Radio Two - 92.9 - 93.5 MHz
- Radio Three - 93.7 - 94.3 MHz
- Radio Four - 94.5 - 95.1 MHz
- IRN - Independent Radio Network (Commercial)
- A-SCR 95.5 MHz
- C-SCR 95.9 MHz
- P-SCR 96.3 MHz
- V-SCR 96.7 MHz
- NEB - New England Broadcasting (Commercial)
- A-NER 97.1 MHz
- C-NER 97.5 MHz
- P-NER 97.9 MHz
- V-NER 98.3 MHz
- NTR - News Talk Radio (Commercial)
- A-NTR 98.7 MHz
- C-NTR 99.1 MHz
- P-NTR 99.5 MHz
- V-NTR 99.9 MHz
Additionally, information, community and emergency information is usually broadcast on the lower end of the FM dial:
- Tourist Information - 88.1 MHz
- Civil Defence Information and Warnings - 88.5 MHz
- Community Service Radio - 88.9 MHz
New England also has a number of Community Radio stations. These stations all have transmitters of less than 100W, and must be operated by non-profit organisations. Community radio is most often operated by special interest groups and operates on the FM band from 105.1 - 107.9 MHz
Services
Radio 1 - RTNE's principal news and current affairs network, Radio 1 broadcasts a wide variety of spoken word programmes including news, current affairs, drama, comedy, science and history. Radio 1 is the successor of ABC Radio National
, and began broadcasting in February 2014 with a mixed news and entertainment until 2022 when entertainment was hived off to the other networks. With ratings at around 17.7%, Radio 1 is the second most popular domestic radio station after Regional Radio.
Radio 2 - A youth and alternative music network, Radio 2 is the most popular domestic radio station in New England. Two is largely the successor of the ABC Triple J network, but plays a broader mix of new music, as well as older hits over the last one hundred years. Two plays a diverse mix of current and older songs, including alternative, rock, electronica, punk, world and some pop. The station's appeal is both broad and deep, with a mixture of accessible daytime programming and specialist programming for enthusiasts of particular types or eras of modern music.
Radio 3 - A live news, information and sports network, three was created in 2022 as a means of broadcasting the live proceedings of parliament and sporting fixtures without interfering on the regular programming of the other networks. The successor of ABC NewsRadio, Radio 3 broadcasts continous news bulletins every weekday morning and afternoons, as well as extended reports from local and international news sources. In addition, 3 provides live coverage and analysis of events in the House of Assembly when it is in session.
Radio 4 - Featuring a range of classical music, arts and indigenous programming Radio 4 is the successor of ABC Classic FM. The service began broadcasting in March 2022 and features classical music, opera, theatrical drama, and jazz. The station plays a central role in classical music in New England, broadcasting concerts, promoting young musicians, and commissioning a number of new compositions. The Armidale Symphony Orchestra is operated as part of Radio 4, and often performs on the network.
Regional Radio - With a mix of news, current affairs, talkback, entertainment, sport, music and local issues, Regional Radio is the most popular radio network in New England. Regional Radio operates four autonomous stations in the major urban centres of Armidale, Coffs Harbour, Inverell and Port Macquarie and their surrounding districts. All have a similar format comprised of locally-presented content, with some national programming for news, sport and overnight. Regional Radio is the direct successor of ABC Local Radio, and is indeed older than RTNE itself, with broadcasting beginning in 2011.
