Tech Stream
Update: Digital radio and the ABC
5 March 2009
Listen and download: MP3
In a follow up to our story earlier this week about digital radio in Australia, we heard yesterday that the ABC plans to be on air from July. Testing of DAB+ transmission will take place in May in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth. From 1 July ABC Radio will offer its five analogue services – ABC Local Radio, ABC Radio National, ABC Classic FM, ABC Newsradio and Triple J - plus internet stations DIG Music, Jazz and Country. All stations currently broadcast online of course. No word on whether domestic audiences will get Radio Australia on their digital boxes, although it seems unlikely.
Kate Dundas, acting Director of radio for the ABC ,spoke on air with Lindy Burns from 774 Melbourne about digital radio in Australia. Use the MP3 link at the top of this story to listen.
Patrick Maher
"...This sparks the 'ealy adopter' gene in my brain and switches on a bright light in a darkening world. I listen regularly to Dig Jazz and love it. So much looking forward to the new offerings and news on where to buy a digital radio for the house and one for the car. Idea: Take all your wonderful 'brain food' programs and stream them into one offering - writing, books, ideas, philosophy, science, the arts, theatre, education - minimal music, very minimal politics and minimal news. I would have a program stream like that switched on all the time...."
Ryan Egan
"...I agree Patrick, your idea sounds like my kind of radio as well! Maybe we can call it "Dig Think"? Actually, Radio National comes very close to the kind of network you are talking about, and a lot of their arts and talk programs are rebroadcast here on Radio Australia as well. The advent of podcasting has almost allowed us to create the kind of personal radio station that you are yearning for, with content tailored to our individual wants and needs. We can also access exciting, thoughtful radio from around the world on podcast too. But it is very much dependent on the end user doing a lot of the work (ie. finding programs, subscribing, managing the files and playback method etc). This isn't too difficult but it doesn't quite replicate the experience of turning on a normal radio and being pleasantly surprised by wonderful content. Thanks for your comment Patrick, and when digital radio does eventually start in Australia I look forward to your impression of the services on offer. I wonder if they'll live up to our expectations?..."
Tony Bryant
"...Hi Ryan Radio National and/or Radio Australia would be a nice complement to Coast FM here on QLD's Sunshine Coast, but neither can be recieved at my Nambour home. I've made my situation known to various ABC depts. over the years, but as I see it there is an easy fix, which is to add the National Channel to the Digital TV stream we all get, as per the two music channels. Much cheaper than putting up a new FM transmitter (not going to happen) or requiring everyone to have a PC on to listen to RN or RA on-line (very power-hungry and not everyone has broadband)...."
Ryan Egan
"...Hi Tony, Your idea re: putting Radio National on the digital TV spectrum is a good one, I'll pass on the suggestion to our audience feedback. I'm sure it's been investigated, maybe there is an issue with availability and it wouldn't surprise me if the commercial radio sector were none to happy about the idea either. No word yet on whether Radio Australia will be available on the new digital radio spectrum in Australia yet. We'll have to wait and see! Ryan..."
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