The Australian Broadcasting Authority has decided to allow the current digital radio trials in Sydney and Melbourne to continue for up to twelve months while the organization merges with the ACA and the parliament continues to deliberate the merits of finally bringing digital radio to Australia.

The Sydney trials of the Eureka 147 digital radio system are being conducted by Commercial Radio Australia and in Melbourne Broadcast Australia is running alternative test broadcasts.

Both rival operators are interested in continuing the trials, which make use of VHF Band III spectrum administered by the ABA. The trials were scheduled to expire in May this year, with their continuation subject to a possible call for other expressions of interest in using the spectrum in question.

It is likely the government will make a decision about permanent digital broadcasting by the end of the year, so, under those circumstances, Lyn Maddock the ABA has “no wish to disrupt current trial arrangements” at this time.

The ABA has a general policy of encouraging trials of digital radio and any other systems that make use of available broadcasting spectrum. The ABA will consider trial requests from any person for any proper purpose. Trial licences confer no longer-term rights over the spectrum according to the ABA.

The ABA also warns people considering purchasing digital radio receivers that they must understand the trial nature of current broadcasts and that no decisions have been made on the type of system or the spectrum to be used (eg VHF, L-Band) for digital radio in Australia. The future usefulness of any digital radio receiver will depend on these decisions.