Waterford was home to three long-running stations – Suirside, ABC Radio and WLR-FM, the latter winning the franchise to run the legal station for the Waterford City and County area after the competition run in early 1989 (following the introduction of the Radio and Television Act, 1988). ABC Radio which began operation in the nearby coastal town Tramore in 1982 had a distinct UK flavour with many English DJs and a notably slicker high tempo style than the other two. Later that same year they imported a high power professional medium wave transmitter from the US, enabling it to cover Waterford City with a strong signal and, due to its coastal location, also provide a strong signal as far as Dungarvan and Rosslare. ABC Radio moved to a new studio in Waterford City in 1984.