ABC Radio, which changed its name to 'ABC The Hot FM' in 1986, was the first station in Ireland to broadcast in FM Stereo (from its inception in 1982), and latterly developed a network of 6 FM transmitters and 2 AMs, covering counties Waterford and Wexford. ABC was also the first station outside Dublin to employ Optimod audio processors – which at the time gave the station a unique, loud, high quality sound. The station also experimented with AM Stereo on its 1 kW Gates transmitter. ABC closed at 3 pm on 29 December 1987 as legislation came into force on the 31st, and it would take all the following day to travel to every transmitter site and turn them off.