Community Radio, Indigenous Media May 2011
Community Radio goes DIGITAL
Photo: Christina Goodman
Eight Sydney community radio stations have launched their digital transmission service, improving audio quality and doubling their broadcast capacity..
The newly launched digital radio stations 2RPH Digital, 2SER Digital, FBi Radio, Inspire Digital, Koori RadiOO, 2MBS Fine Music, 2MFM Muslim DR, 2000Languages are part of a nation-wide rollout of digital transmission services for all community radio stations. Phase one of the rollout is nearly complete with 33 capital city stations already transmitting digitally. Regional areas will follow.
Melanie Withnall, manager of Sydney’s 2SER said feedback has been good from listeners so far.
“The feedback that we have had is that people are listening to us on digital. We sound really nice and clear,” she said.
“The music sounds better and it does have that CD quality sound.”
Quality improvements for stations that broadcast in AM should be particularly noticeable.
Ms Withnall said going digital will give listeners more choice.
“One of the beauties of digital radio is that we do have that option now to say we’re still 2SER with the same great content, with the same interesting programs and music, but you can listen to us either on our website, FM radio, or on digital radio, or podcast us.”
According to Adrian Basso, head of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia, transmitting in digital will double broadcast capacity for community stations. One of the benefits will be greater access to broadcast for multicultural stations that service niche communities.
“Often there wasn’t enough space, or if there was space it was late at night,” Mr Basso said.
“So this gives new avenues for those emerging communities.”
Most stations will start by ‘simulcasting’ – broadcasting in both mediums at the same time – and slowly introducing a wider variety based on listener feedback.
Ms Withnall is excited by 2SER’s ability to offer special features on the digital service, having already transmitted one special feature program on digital that was not available on FM.
“With special features it is quite hard to give over your whole station. WomAdelaide was something that we could put an extended version on our digital service and say to people “if you want more, here it is”.”
Stations can also choose to time-shift, offering similar content at different times.
Many community radio stations will also use the same transmission multiplex, allowing stations across Australia to share content, for example broadcasting the same show in different capital cities.
Mr Basso said: “We’ve built a backbone, where one radio station could do an outside broadcast and feed it through the chain, and all stations can pick it up and broadcast it.
“I know there are a few stations that will share and do some networking,” he said.
According to Basso, the audience for community radio is larger than many people realise.
“We reach 26% of Australian listeners every week. That’s pretty significant.”
On the future of community digital radio, Mr Basso said: “It’s not meant to replace AM or FM, it’s a supplementary service. This whole technology is so young that I think there are a lot of things that people haven’t thought of yet that will become a reality in the future.
“I think whatever happens community radio will be there pushing for the grassroots stuff and work out ways to really promote that with new technology.”
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Community Radio, Indigenous Media May 2011
Community Radio goes DIGITAL
Photo: Christina Goodman
Eight Sydney community radio stations have launched their digital transmission service, improving audio quality and doubling their broadcast capacity..
The newly launched digital radio stations 2RPH Digital, 2SER Digital, FBi Radio, Inspire Digital, Koori RadiOO, 2MBS Fine Music, 2MFM Muslim DR, 2000Languages are part of a nation-wide rollout of digital transmission services for all community radio stations. Phase one of the rollout is nearly complete with 33 capital city stations already transmitting digitally. Regional areas will follow.
Melanie Withnall, manager of Sydney’s 2SER said feedback has been good from listeners so far.
“The feedback that we have had is that people are listening to us on digital. We sound really nice and clear,” she said.
“The music sounds better and it does have that CD quality sound.”
Quality improvements for stations that broadcast in AM should be particularly noticeable.
Ms Withnall said going digital will give listeners more choice.
“One of the beauties of digital radio is that we do have that option now to say we’re still 2SER with the same great content, with the same interesting programs and music, but you can listen to us either on our website, FM radio, or on digital radio, or podcast us.”
According to Adrian Basso, head of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia, transmitting in digital will double broadcast capacity for community stations. One of the benefits will be greater access to broadcast for multicultural stations that service niche communities.
“Often there wasn’t enough space, or if there was space it was late at night,” Mr Basso said.
“So this gives new avenues for those emerging communities.”
Most stations will start by ‘simulcasting’ – broadcasting in both mediums at the same time – and slowly introducing a wider variety based on listener feedback.
Ms Withnall is excited by 2SER’s ability to offer special features on the digital service, having already transmitted one special feature program on digital that was not available on FM.
“With special features it is quite hard to give over your whole station. WomAdelaide was something that we could put an extended version on our digital service and say to people “if you want more, here it is”.”
Stations can also choose to time-shift, offering similar content at different times.
Many community radio stations will also use the same transmission multiplex, allowing stations across Australia to share content, for example broadcasting the same show in different capital cities.
Mr Basso said: “We’ve built a backbone, where one radio station could do an outside broadcast and feed it through the chain, and all stations can pick it up and broadcast it.
“I know there are a few stations that will share and do some networking,” he said.
According to Basso, the audience for community radio is larger than many people realise.
“We reach 26% of Australian listeners every week. That’s pretty significant.”
On the future of community digital radio, Mr Basso said: “It’s not meant to replace AM or FM, it’s a supplementary service. This whole technology is so young that I think there are a lot of things that people haven’t thought of yet that will become a reality in the future.
“I think whatever happens community radio will be there pushing for the grassroots stuff and work out ways to really promote that with new technology.”
Source: Christina Goodman, Alternative Media
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Street Press December 2010
Street Press Drought Finally Over For Northern Queensland
With the demise of Cairns-based street press The Fly nearly five years ago, the people of Cairns, Townsville and Northern Queensland have lacked for a local arts and entertainment guide. That’s all changed with the launch of The Place, a free monthly paper with a print run of 32.000 distributed via 1150 outlets including venues, galleries, cafes, cinemas, TAFES and Universities.
Originally (and ambitiously launched as three separate titles– the paper recently relaunched as one title serving Cairns and Far North Queensland, Townsville and Mackay and inland.
The paper undertook a comprehensive survey of its readers in April 2010 and published the following results:
* 88% travel by plane to South East Queensland
* 50% work full time, while the rest work part-time/casual and/or attend university
* 63% purchased between 1 and 9 CDs in the last month
The Place has been successful in attracting advertising support from the local community and have now appointed Spots & Space to represent them national and for agency sales. General Manager for Spots & Space, Daniel Laforest said: The Place is a very professional paper, well run and with a team who are committed to offering a range of marketing services to advertisers. These services can include online promotion, poster distribution and e-blasts. We are very happy to be working for The Place. The fact that they’ve already put out 22 editions shows their staying power in this niche market.
With the addition of The Place, Spots & Space now represent 20 street press titles nationally and are well placed to assist advertisers to plan and excecute national campaigns.
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Youth Radio October 2010
Youth Radio, Jibba Jabba
A career in radio sounds like a pretty good idea to a group of kids learning to put their own community radio program to air.
Sarah found out there’s a rich history of radio broadcasting in Australia and its future is sounding solid with these DJs behind the microphone.
SARAH LARSEN, REPORTER: Wherever you are and whatever you’re doing you can always count on the radio to bring you news, laughs or your favourite tunes no matter what your taste.
But have you ever wondered what it would be like to work on the radio and hear your own voice coming from that speaker?
That’s something these guys are getting used to. They’re the stars of Jibba Jabba radio a show that’s by young people, for young people.
It looks easy sitting around here and talking. Is it easy?
KIDS: No, no don’t say that. Planning is so easy but once we get in here and actually start recording it’s like oh god what do we talk about now.
Jibba Jabba was started as a way of advertising events for young people. Community radio seemed perfect.
But it soon grew to a regular half hour show a way for these guys to get their voices heard while getting some valuable radio experience.
They meet weekly to plan and research their show.
REPORTER: What sorts of things do you put in the show?
KID: We do all sorts of things discussions, chat, jokes, celebrity news, etc.
Then they take it in turns to record. Today Tristan is in charge of all the dials and buttons.
TRISTAN: I control all the sound levels I make sure these lovely CD players play the music when we want to play it.
The show isn’t live so they have a chance to go through and make sure everything they’ve said is OK. Because you never know who could be listening.
DENISE, PBA FM CEO: They’re slowly building listenership and not just their friends oldies like me who want to know what young people are thinking.
There are community radio stations like this one all around the country. They’re designed to bring communities together and give them a voice. They’re also training grounds for people who want jobs in the media.
Compared with TV, radio has been around for a long time.
When radio first came to Australia in the 1920s there were only a few stations. And they were the main source of entertainment for anyone who could afford to tune in.
Instead of Neighbours or Home and Away whole families would gather round to listen to radio plays performed by actors in studios.
Sports matches were retold by commentators, complete with sound effects and the biggest news stories were heard first on the radio.
But in the 50s things changed.
“Welcome to television”
When television came along lots of people thought it would replace the radio.
But that’s not what happened.
SARAH: Radio still has a place in the world I think because when you’re on the go you can’t watch television while you’re driving so you flick on the radio you hear the news you hear what’s going on, celebrity news, the hottest songs.
Over the years radio has grown and changed. In the 70s we got FM stations with stereo sound. Then the government helped start up a whole bunch of community stations. Now there are more than 400 on the air.
Then there are the ABC’s four national and sixty local stations and there’re heaps of commercial ones too.
Now there’s digital radio which has more channels and even better sound so these guys can look forward to a future in an industry that’s proven it’s here to stay!
Source: http://www.abc.net.au/
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