First, it signals the end of Ron Camplin's remarkable 70-year radio career.

Mr Camplin remains a proud Bathurstian and his contribution to the city is reflected in the introduction of the Ron Camplin Award, which recognises residents who have made an extraordinary contribution to Bathurst.

Second, though, the sale also marks the end of independence for one of the few privately-owned radio stations left in the country, with 2BS now joining Bill Caralis' Super Radio Network stable.

And the impact on programming was immediate, with 2BS listeners who tuned in to hear Ray Hadley last Monday morning instead finding themselves listening to radio veteran John Laws.

Other syndicated programs remain, for now, but Mr Hadley is gone.

It's well-known within radio circles that Mr Caralis has little time for Mr Hadley after the king of morning radio savaged him on-air about a decade ago for defending Mr Laws, who had also been on the end of one of Mr Hadley's colourful outbursts.

Many in Bathurst will not be sad to no longer have Mr Hadley on the local airwaves, but it's clear that many are. Social media comments suggest plenty of Bathurst listeners plan to keep listening to Mr Hadley through MMM in Orange and advertisers are also said to be considering their positions.

Which actually illustrates one of the difficulties facing all local media at present.

The Western Advocate will also come under new ownership from July 1 and it is too early to say what, if any, impact that will have on how we do our jobs.

But commercial local media outlets are businesses, not community service organisations, and are subject to the same commercial pressures as other local businesses.

In addition, the incredible changes in media over the past two decades - particularly the rise of the internet - have created challenges not dreamed of 20 years ago.

There are now more places than ever to spend advertising dollars, more places to listen to music or your favourite broadcaster, and more places to read the news.

Those changes mean local media outlets have also been forced to change, and sometimes that's not easier or popular.

But if local media doesn't change then it won't survive, and that would be a far worse outcome for Bathurst.