FM broadcasting in Australia
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FM radio broadcasting started in Australia in 1947 but did not catch on and was shut down in 1961 to expand the television band and not reopened until 1975 when Australia's FM allocation was aligned with most of the rest of the world (Initially it was envisaged that FM broadcasting would take place on UHF but this idea was abandoned as impractical and uneconomic). During the 1980s, FM broadcasting developed very slowly as many frequencies were still occupied by television transmitters, but by the 1990s these had been reallocated to other bands.
During this time many AM stations transferred to FM because of its superior sound quality. Today, as elsewhere in the developed world, most Australian broadcasting is on FM - although AM talk stations are still very popular.
Significant FM networks
- ABC Radio
- CAAMA
- SBS Radio
- Southern Cross Media Group
- Austereo
- Australian Radio Network
- Mix Network
- Classic Hits Network
- DMG Radio Australia
- United Christian Broadcasters
- Raw FM
