The community broadcasting sector is planning a big event next week to launch the results of a listener survey which is expected to send shockwaves through the industry.

While the results will not be publicly disclosed until the launch, radioinfo understands that the outcome will show significantly larger community sector listening all around the country than previously thought, particularly in central and western states and regional areas.

While previous smaller surveys have been conducted by the community sector, this one is based on large national samples and follows recognised industry methodology.

South Australian premier Mike Rann let the cat out of the bag about results for that state last month when addressing the state’s SACBA communty radio conference, where he disclosed that weekly community radio listening in South Australia is about 30% of the population.

The timing of the survey release, which falls within the election campaign, will reinforce the already heavy lobbying by the community radio sector for increased recognition and funding.

The launch of the results is next Wednesday 15 September at the offices of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia in Alexandria.

The National Listener Survey was funded by the Australian Government through
the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts and
conducted by McNair Ingenuity Research.