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Last-minute government funding averts community radio switch-off Last-minute government funding averts community radio switch-off
(3 months later)
A mass switch-off of community digital radio in Australia has been averted after the federal government made an 11th-hour commitment to provide an extra $6 million to the sector.A mass switch-off of community digital radio in Australia has been averted after the federal government made an 11th-hour commitment to provide an extra $6 million to the sector.
Stephen Conroy, the communications minister, has announced that an additional $6 million will be given to not-for-profit stations in the five mainland capital cities over the next three years to enable them to broadcast digitally.Stephen Conroy, the communications minister, has announced that an additional $6 million will be given to not-for-profit stations in the five mainland capital cities over the next three years to enable them to broadcast digitally.
The funding follows a vigorous community radio campaign that has attracted more than 43,000 supporters in its efforts to lobby MPs over the issue.The funding follows a vigorous community radio campaign that has attracted more than 43,000 supporters in its efforts to lobby MPs over the issue.
The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia http://cbaa.org.au, the peak body for commercial radio, had reacted with dismay to the federal budget in May, which it claims delivered a 40% shortfall in funding to keep digital services on air.The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia http://cbaa.org.au, the peak body for commercial radio, had reacted with dismay to the federal budget in May, which it claims delivered a 40% shortfall in funding to keep digital services on air.
Community radio was assigned $15.5 million by the government for 2013-14, of which $2.3 million was set aside for digital.Community radio was assigned $15.5 million by the government for 2013-14, of which $2.3 million was set aside for digital.
The CBAA, which handles digital infrastructure upgrades on behalf of more than 350 stations across Australia, said the budget allocation was $1.4 million short of what it requires each year.The CBAA, which handles digital infrastructure upgrades on behalf of more than 350 stations across Australia, said the budget allocation was $1.4 million short of what it requires each year.
Adrian Basso, president of the CBAA, and station manager at Melbourne station PBS, told Guardian Australia he was relieved at the funding pledge.Adrian Basso, president of the CBAA, and station manager at Melbourne station PBS, told Guardian Australia he was relieved at the funding pledge.
"It's a great result and we are very grateful to the Gillard government for doing this," he said. "There were a lot of emails sent to senators and MPs and plenty of meetings behind the scenes. I think the government paid attention to that sustained effort."It's a great result and we are very grateful to the Gillard government for doing this," he said. "There were a lot of emails sent to senators and MPs and plenty of meetings behind the scenes. I think the government paid attention to that sustained effort.
"We kept up a dialogue with senator Conroy after the budget and we remained optimistic. But it would've been very difficult if we didn't get a result. We would've lost services. Many of these stations run on the smell of an oily rag, so it's important that the government committed to this.""We kept up a dialogue with senator Conroy after the budget and we remained optimistic. But it would've been very difficult if we didn't get a result. We would've lost services. Many of these stations run on the smell of an oily rag, so it's important that the government committed to this."
"We are in a world of convergence where everything is going digital. If we don't follow others, we aren't broadcasters anymore. Consumers need us to be there.""We are in a world of convergence where everything is going digital. If we don't follow others, we aren't broadcasters anymore. Consumers need us to be there."
The funding will bolster the 37 community stations that broadcast to Australia's capital cities. However, Basso said it would be "several years" before all stations in regional areas have the same capability.The funding will bolster the 37 community stations that broadcast to Australia's capital cities. However, Basso said it would be "several years" before all stations in regional areas have the same capability.
Community radio has a storied history in Australia, with a swathe of stations launching in the 1970s following the release of community broadcasting licences by the government. 5UV, now known as Radio Adelaide, was established in 1972 and claims to be the first community station in Australia.Community radio has a storied history in Australia, with a swathe of stations launching in the 1970s following the release of community broadcasting licences by the government. 5UV, now known as Radio Adelaide, was established in 1972 and claims to be the first community station in Australia.
Australia's diverse range of community stations, which focus on various musical genres or topics such as Ingenious or gay and lesbian issues, reach 4.4 million listeners each week.Australia's diverse range of community stations, which focus on various musical genres or topics such as Ingenious or gay and lesbian issues, reach 4.4 million listeners each week.
"The world looks to Australia when it comes to community broadcasting," said Basso. "The community really values it. Having a local, independent voice is very important, especially in a media landscape that is owned by just a few people. In some regional areas, community radio is the only media source that people have.""The world looks to Australia when it comes to community broadcasting," said Basso. "The community really values it. Having a local, independent voice is very important, especially in a media landscape that is owned by just a few people. In some regional areas, community radio is the only media source that people have."
"It's a day-to-day struggle for community stations. But it's a vibrant sector and this decision really buoys us.""It's a day-to-day struggle for community stations. But it's a vibrant sector and this decision really buoys us."
Dave Houchin, station manager at 3RRR, a Melbourne station that started in 1976 and now has more than 800 volunteers and 14,000 subscribers, said that the funding shortfall had united the sector.Dave Houchin, station manager at 3RRR, a Melbourne station that started in 1976 and now has more than 800 volunteers and 14,000 subscribers, said that the funding shortfall had united the sector.
"The campaign has really galvanised listeners and brought everyone together," he said. "I'm positive that we can move beyond this scare and embrace the future with digital broadcasting."The campaign has really galvanised listeners and brought everyone together," he said. "I'm positive that we can move beyond this scare and embrace the future with digital broadcasting.
"In Australia, there is not much independence in the mainstream media, which plays to the strengths of community radio. The only people we pay on the station are the breakfast team as it's hard to ask people to get up at 4am for nothing."In Australia, there is not much independence in the mainstream media, which plays to the strengths of community radio. The only people we pay on the station are the breakfast team as it's hard to ask people to get up at 4am for nothing.
"People know they are getting a genuine and, hopefully, well-informed opinion. No one is paid to provide certain music or opinions, unlike some mainstream outlets. The presenters play and say what they want. That gives us real credibility."People know they are getting a genuine and, hopefully, well-informed opinion. No one is paid to provide certain music or opinions, unlike some mainstream outlets. The presenters play and say what they want. That gives us real credibility.
"People know that we are broadcasting live to them from down the street in Brunswick, so there's also a real fondness for the localness of community radio.""People know that we are broadcasting live to them from down the street in Brunswick, so there's also a real fondness for the localness of community radio."
In a statement, Conroy said: "This new funding will help community radio stations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth to continue broadcasting, upgrade their equipment and improve their digital radio services.In a statement, Conroy said: "This new funding will help community radio stations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth to continue broadcasting, upgrade their equipment and improve their digital radio services.
"It builds on the government's unequalled track record of supporting community broadcasting and addresses concerns that some community digital radio services might go off air."It builds on the government's unequalled track record of supporting community broadcasting and addresses concerns that some community digital radio services might go off air.
"Radio stations like FBI Radio in Sydney, 3RRR in Melbourne, Perth's RTRFM, Fresh Digital in Adelaide and Brisbane's ZED Digital are critical independent voices in the radio landscape whose future is now secured.""Radio stations like FBI Radio in Sydney, 3RRR in Melbourne, Perth's RTRFM, Fresh Digital in Adelaide and Brisbane's ZED Digital are critical independent voices in the radio landscape whose future is now secured."
Declaration: Oliver Milman is a subscriber of PBS.Declaration: Oliver Milman is a subscriber of PBS.
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