[cma-l] Community radio and digital broadcasting developments in Australia

[Jaqui Devereux]

Digital Radio - Just the beginning

Author: CBOnline | Source: CBAA | Date: 05-08-09

Celebrations this week marking the launch of Digital Radio in Australia
are great, and the party is only just getting started. Community
broadcasting?s move to digital radio is on its way.

The President of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia,
Deborah Welch says, "It is fantastic to see Digital Radio getting off
the ground in Australia, and this is only the beginning. You'll see a
raft of new services coming through over the next year, and particularly
the innovations that always come from community radio."

Metropolitan community radio stations are starting later than their
commercial and government funded counterparts because infrastructure
funding, confirmed in the May 2009 budget, is arriving a year later than
first expected.

There are 37 community radio stations eligible to participate in the
first roll out of Digital Radio in Australia; like the ABC, SBS and
commercials it is limited by legislation at present to the metropolitan
audiences of Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. These
stations are drawing on the grassroots energy and creativity that powers
community broadcasting to bring new digital services on-air.

Deborah Welch says, "Digital Radio will bring huge benefits to some of
our listeners and greater choice to all. Listeners to our AM stations,
including the Radio for the Print Handicapped stations in each capital
city will particularly benefit from improved clarity and reception quality."

The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) is
co-ordinating a national project to purchase equipment and build the
infrastructure required to provide digital radio in the five capital
cities currently legislated to provide the service. With the capacity to
deliver audio, text and images to listeners on the move, at home, at the
footy or at the beach, Digital Radio opens new opportunities for
distributing content in a multi platform world.

There are more than 350 community radio stations around the country.
While some are getting started on the first stage of Digital Radio, the
broader sector keenly await the next phase of the roll out and looks
forward to the opportunity to introduce Digital Radio in regional
Australia and to sub metropolitan community radio services.

As the national representative body for community radio stations, the
CBAA has also begun work on the next stage for digital radio; the
planning for digital radio beyond the five capital cities.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Michele Bawden
CBAA General Manager
02 9310 2999
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