It is vexing when all the equipment is set up ready to go, testing has been done and funding is in place and yet six years after DAB+ was switched on in Hobart, Launceston, Tasmania‘s second largest city, still is waiting for the ACMA to give the go ahead.
In part the delay is due to the local commercial stations LAFM, Chilli FM and SEN Track deciding not to obtain their own digital licences, which has meant community stations City Park Radio, WayFM 105.3 and Print Radio Tasmania have joined forces to appeal directly to the candidates hoping to win the seat of Bass in this weekend’s Federal election to get them the ACMA tick of approval.
City Park Radio volunteers
The group outlined the reasons for DAB+ services in the city in a media conference held on the 28th of April:
- Digital radio receivers are standard in over 80% of new cars sold in Australia, providing a major improvement over analogue AM and FM.
- As well as quality audio, digital radio delivers more services, extra information to screens, and has valuable emergency facilities.
- Digital radio does not rely on mobile phone reception, nor internet costs. There is no user-tracking or user-pays. It is free.
- DAB+ Digital Radio can overcome block-program limitations, allowing greater access to more diverse programs and services.
- The only impediment to Northern DAB+ Digital Radio is minor and administrative.
Bass Liberal candidate and sitting member Bridget Archer and Jess Teesdale, the Bass Labor candidate both confirmed that:
“If elected, I will advocate with the next Federal Minister for Communications to work to ensure that ACMA urgently takes the regulatory steps necessary to enable permanent free-to-air digital radio services to be introduced by the community broadcasters in Launceston and Northern Tasmania.”
Lyons candidate Rebecca White added:
“I believe the community and regional media in Tasmania would know I am a strong supporter and ally”.
Rosemary Armitage MLC said:
“In a place like Northern Tasmania, extending digital radio services will help keep our listeners and northern community connected, with the best and clearest coverage possible. It’s now time for Northern Tasmania to catch up with the rest of the state as digital radio services have been available in Hobart and Southern Tasmania since 2019. Support for our local radio stations is support for our community”.
The campaign also received support from other civic and business leaders in the region.
The next step post election will be to meet with the new Minister for Communications and to state their case to them. Next year is Launceston’s 40th Anniversary of community broadcasting. The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA)‘s conference and awards ceremony for 2025 is being held in Hobart from October 23-25.
Jen Seyderhelm is a writer, editor and podcaster for Radioinfo.