Radio licences up for grabs

New radio services will be introduced in the South West under changes planned by the Australian Communications and Media Authority.

The improvements will see commercial radio broadcasting services 6TZ and 6BUN Bunbury increase their coverage area, with new highpowered open narrowcasting services at Collie and Bunbury to be auctioned to the highest bidder.

The ACMA has also changed the category of service for a planned but yet to be allocated community radio broadcasting service to be based in Bunbury to a high powered open narrowcasting service.

ACMA Chairman Chris Chapmansaid the authority endeavoured to provide a diverse range of radio services to regional Australia.

"The addition of new radio services will significantly increase the vailability of information and entertainment to the people of the Bunbury region," Mr Chapman said.

Radio Planning manager at ACMA John May said growing regional areas such as Bunbury were where most of the changes and improvements were being made.