It has just become official.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has just provided a media release today
December 6 regarding the future of both Radio Australia and the Northern
Territory Shortwave Services. Put bluntly, there is no future. It all closes
from January 31, 2017.
Here's the media release in
full:
ABC Exits Shortwave Radio
Transmission
06 December 2016
The ABC will end its shortwave
transmission service in the Northern Territory and to international audiences
from 31 January 2017.
The move is in line with the national
broadcaster’s commitment to dispense with outdated technology and to expand its
digital content offerings including DAB+ digital radio, online and mobile
services, together with FM services for international
audiences.
The majority of ABC audiences in the
Northern Territory currently access ABC services via AM and FM and all ABC radio
and digital radio services are available on the VAST satellite
service.
ABC International’s shortwave services
currently broadcast to PNG and the Pacific. Savings realised through
decommissioning this service will be reinvested in a more robust FM transmitter
network and an expanded content offering for the region that will include
English and in-language audio content.
Michael Mason, ABC’s Director of Radio
said, “While shortwave technology has served audiences well for many decades, it
is now nearly a century old and serves a very limited audience. The ABC is
seeking efficiencies and will instead service this audience through modern
technology”.
The ABC, working alongside SBS, is
planning to extend its digital radio services in Darwin and Hobart, and to make
permanent its current digital radio trial in Canberra. Extending DAB+ into the
nation’s eight capital cities will ensure ABC digital radio services can reach
an additional 700,000 people, increasing the overall reach of ABC digital radio
to 60% of the Australian population.
ABC Radio is also investigating
transmission improvements to address reception gaps in the existing five DAB+
markets. It aims to ensure a resilient DAB+ service in every capital city, with
enhanced bitrates and infill where necessary.
“Extending our DAB+ offer will allow
audiences in every capital city in Australia equal access to our digital radio
offering, as well as representing an ongoing broadcast cost saving owing to
lower transmission costs,” added Michael Mason.
ABC International’s Chief Executive
Officer Lynley Marshall said the reinvestment from closing international
shortwave services would maximise the ABC’s broadcast capabilities in the
region.
“In considering how best to serve our
Pacific regional audiences into the future we will move away from the legacy of
shortwave radio distribution,” Ms Marshall said. “An ever-growing number of
people in the region now have access to mobile phones with FM receivers and the
ABC will redirect funds towards an extended content offering and a robust FM
distribution network to better serve audiences into the
future.”
Once international shortwave ceases
transmission, international listeners can continue to access ABC International
services via:
• the web stream at: http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/listen
• in-country FM transmitters: see Radio Australia’s
‘Ways to Listen’ at:http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/waystolisten/fiji
• the Australia Plus expats app (available in both
iOS and Android)
• partner websites and apps
such as www.tunein.com and www.vtuner.com.
Audiences can access further
information via the reception advice line 1300 139 994, online atabc.net.au/shortwave, or via ABC Local Radio (Darwin and Alice
Springs).
