AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY
Broadcasting Services (Applications for Renewal of Licence under Subsection 46(2) of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992) Notice – 7 November 2025
In accordance with subsection 46(2) of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (the Act), the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) gives notice that the companies listed below have lodged applications for the renewal of the following commercial broadcasting service licences:
Commercial Broadcasting Licensees | SL No | Service Area | State |
Try Media Concepts No.2 Pty Ltd | 1130310 | MELBOURNE S40 | VIC |
Today FM Sydney Pty Ltd | 3032 | SYDNEY RA1 | NSW |
Nova 100 Pty Ltd | 1150693 | MELBOURNE RA1 | VIC |
Mid-Districts Radio Pty Ltd | 10008 | MERREDIN RA1 | WA |
Esperance Broadcasters Pty Ltd | 10320 | ESPERANCE RA1 | WA |
Regional Broadcasters Australia Pty Limited | 10006 | KALGOORLIE RA1 | WA |
Radio West Coast Pty Ltd Pty Ltd | 10311 | QUEENSTOWN RA1 | TAS |
Northern Territory Broadcasters Pty Ltd | 10168 | DARWIN RA1 | NT |
Bathurst Broadcasters Pty Ltd | 10276 | BATHURST RA1 | NSW |
Radio 2GZ Pty Ltd | 10286 | ORANGE RA1 | NSW |
Radio Ballarat Pty Ltd | 10284 | BALLARAT RA1 | VIC |
Burnie Broadcasting Service Pty Ltd | 4219 | BURNIE RA1 | TAS |
Northern Tasmania Broadcasters Pty Ltd | 4218 | DEVONPORT RA1 | TAS |
North East Tasmanian Radio Broadcasters Pty Ltd | 4223 | SCOTTSDALE RA1 | TAS |
East Coast Radio Pty Ltd | 10306 | BEGA RA1 | NSW |
Radio 2RG Pty Limited | 10310 | GRIFFITH RA1 | NSW |
Western Broadcasters Pty Ltd | 10054 | DUBBO RA1 | NSW |
ACE Radio Broadcasters Pty Ltd | 4152 | HAMILTON RA1 | VIC |
North East Broadcasters Pty Ltd | 10391 | WANGARATTA RA1 | VIC |
Mudgee Broadcasting Company Pty Ltd | 10101 | Mudgee RA3 | NSW |
Parkes Broadcasting Company Pty Ltd | 10056 | PARKES RA1 | NSW |
Radio 3MA Pty Ltd | 10096 | MILDURA RA1 | VIC |
The ACMA is required to renew these licences unless it decides that an applicant is no longer a suitable licensee. A company is a suitable licensee if the ACMA has not decided that subsection 41(2) of the Act applies to the company.
The ACMA may decide that subsection 41(2) of the Act applies to a licensee if it is satisfied that allowing the licensee to provide or continue to provide a commercial broadcasting service under a licence would lead to a significant risk of:
- an offence against the Act or the regulations being committed;
- a breach of a civil penalty provision occurring; or
- a breach of the conditions of the licence occurring.
In deciding whether subsection 41(2) of the Act applies, the ACMA is required by subsection 41(3) to take into account: (a) the business record of the company; (b) the company's record in situations requiring trust and candour; (c) the business record of each person who is, or would be, if a licence were allocated to the applicant, in a position to control the licence; (d) the record in situations requiring trust and candour of each such person; (e) whether the company, or a person referred to in paragraph (c) or (d), has been convicted of an offence against the Act or the regulations; and (f) whether a civil penalty order has been made against the company or a person referred to in paragraph (c) or (d).
The Act does not require the ACMA to hold an investigation or a hearing into whether a commercial broadcasting service licence should be renewed (subsection 47(3)).
Overview
The Broadcasting Services Act 1992, enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament, was introduced to regulate broadcasting services in Australia, ensuring they meet certain standards and conditions. The Act provides a framework for the regulation and oversight of broadcasting services, including the issuance and renewal of broadcasting service licences. The Act aims to ensure that broadcasting services are provided in a manner that is consistent with the broadcasting standards and that the licensees are suitable to hold such licences. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), established under the Act, is responsible for administering the licensing process and ensuring compliance with the Act's provisions. The ACMA's role in renewing broadcasting service licences is to determine whether the applicant remains a suitable licensee, taking into account various factors such as the applicant's business and personal records, and any previous breaches of the Act or its regulations.
Scope and Application
The Broadcasting Services Act 1992 applies to entities seeking to provide commercial broadcasting services in Australia, including the companies listed in the notice issued by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). The Act applies to these companies as they have lodged applications for the renewal of their commercial broadcasting service licences. The geographic reach of the Act is national, covering all states and territories of Australia, as evidenced by the diverse locations of the listed licensees. The Act does not specify exclusions, but it provides for exemptions and thresholds in determining whether a licensee is suitable, focusing on factors such as business and personal records, past convictions, and breaches of the Act or its regulations. The application and interpretation of the Act may be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, although the primary notice does not detail these instruments. The ACMA is mandated to renew the licences unless it decides that the applicant is no longer suitable, following a stringent assessment process outlined in the Act.
Key Provisions
The Broadcasting Services (Applications for Renewal of Licence under Subsection 46(2) of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992) Notice, dated 7 November 2025, outlines the companies that have applied for the renewal of their commercial broadcasting service licences. The listed companies, such as Try Media Concepts No.2 Pty Ltd, Today FM Sydney Pty Ltd, and Nova 100 Pty Ltd, have all submitted applications for licence renewal. These applications pertain to various service areas across different states in Australia, including Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Darwin, and others (subsection 46(2)).
The obligations imposed on these companies under the Act include the submission of detailed applications to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) for licence renewal. The ACMA is tasked with evaluating these applications to determine whether each applicant remains a suitable licensee. A company is deemed suitable if the ACMA has not concluded that subsection 41(2) of the Act applies to it. To make this determination, the ACMA must consider several factors, including the business record of the company, its record in situations requiring trust and candour, the records of individuals in control of the licence, and any past convictions or civil penalty orders against the company or its controlling individuals (subsection 41(3)).
In cases where the ACMA decides that subsection 41(2) of the Act applies, it may determine that the company is no longer a suitable licensee. This determination can be based on the potential for the company to commit an offence against the Act or regulations, breach civil penalty provisions, or violate the conditions of the licence. The ACMA is not required to hold an investigation or a hearing as part of this process (subsection 47(3)). Breaches of the Act or its regulations can lead to significant legal and financial consequences for the companies involved, including the possibility of their licences not being renewed.