Austar has begun retransmitting ABC local and metropolitan and SBS radio services on a state by state basis to its half million rural and regional satellite and cable customers.

The move follows a similar expansion of digital radio services, offered on tv screens by Foxtel recently.

The ABC has realised that digital radio broadcasting has to be platform neutral to achieve the best coverage and has been working with the pay tv providers to get all its rado services on their new digital broadcast platforms.

The ABC’s strategy means that if it chooses to enhance its audio services with pictures or test, consumers already have a screen to view that material on.

State based feeds of ABC Radio give consumers access to the ABC’s national networks, triple j, Radio National, NewsRadio and Classic FM, as well as the appropriate local radio programs in their area. SBS Radio’s FM and AM channels are also being offered.

Austar CEO, John Porter, says the additional programming is an example of Austar being able to provide more regionalised services and ads.

ABC Managing Director, Russell Balding, is committed to making all of its programs available to
all people, and the Austar agreement allows him to further pursue this goal.

Head of SBS Radio, Quang Luu, says: “Geography is no longer a hindrance to accessing multicultural and multilingual radio broadcasts in regional and rural areas. Many more Australians, including those from non-English speaking backgrounds, will be able to take advantage of SBS
Radio’s informative, educational and entertaining content.”