Republic of Palau will hear ABC Radio Australia for the first time in more than five years on the Republic of Palau’s national radio broadcaster, Eco Paradise FM (EPFM).
ABC International Services Head Claire Gorman acknowledged the support of the Australian Embassy in Koror for brokering the agreement and said:
“This new partnership is a first step towards the aim of establishing a full FM radio service in Palau, an ABC initiative funded under the Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy.”
Palau residents have access to ABC Radio Australia Pacific-focused content and under this agreement, including regional current affairs show Pacific Beat, Stories from the Pacific, Pacific Playtime and Island Music.
From Wednesday July 28 ABC Radio Australia will be available via EPFM on FM radio at 87.9FM and on EPFM Ngerel Belau AM Radio at 1584AM.
Radio Australia is transmitted on low power FM to give town sized coverage areas of;
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Nadi, Suva, Fiji
Port Vila, Luganville (Santo), Vanuatu
Honiara, Solomon Is
Port Moresby, Lae, Goroka, Mt Hagan, Arawa (Bougainville), New Guinea
Apia, Samoa
Dili, East Timor
Since the rest of the Pacific is a series of island some of which have impenetrable terrain for FM signals and those at sea cannot receive Radio Australia only Radio New Zealand Pacific and Chinese broadcasts.
These transmitters are fed using expensive satellite technology which often fails during cyclones.
The ABC stopped high frequency (SW) broadcasting in 2017. By comparison Radio New Zealand Pacific https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/listen is currently spending $AU 4 million to replace their 18 year old High Frequency transmitter which will continue to broadcast FM sound quality Digital Radio Mondiale signals. This can be received over all of the South Pacific not just a few towns.
Thus, any cyclone or tsunami warnings from our Bureau of Meteorology will not be heard during these events!
I have always believed that RA should be an SW service rather than rebroadcasting locally on FM.
If a program is not in accord with the host nation's views, the host country may switch off RA.
On the other hand, having a local presence by rebroadcasting RA may prevent the influence of other foreign powers.
It is in our interests that we maintain relations with our Pacific island neighbours.
Foreign aid is another strategy.
Thank you
Anthony, of strategic thinking Strathfield South, in the land of the Wangal and Darug Peoples of the Eora Nation