Community radio broadcast capacity doubles

Eight Sydney community radio stations have launched their digital transmission service, improving audio quality and doubling their broadcast capacity.

The newly launched digital radio stations 2RPH Digital, 2SER Digital, FBi Radio, Inspire Digital, Koori RadiOO, 2MBS Fine Music, 2MFM Muslim DR, 2000Languages are part of a nation-wide rollout of digital transmission services for all community radio stations. Phase one of the rollout is nearly complete with 33 capital city stations already transmitting digitally. Regional areas will follow.

Melanie Withnall, manager of Sydney’s 2SER said feedback has been good from listeners so far.

“The feedback that we have had is that people are listening to us on digital. We sound really nice and clear,” she said.

“The music sounds better and it does have that CD quality sound.”

Quality improvements for stations that broadcast in AM should be particularly noticeable.

Ms Withnall said going digital will give listeners more choice.

“One of the beauties of digital radio is that we do have that option now to say we’re still 2SER with the same great content, with the same interesting programs and music, but you can listen to us either on our website, FM radio, or on digital radio, or podcast us.”

According to Adrian Basso, head of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia, transmitting in digital will double broadcast capacity for community stations. One of the benefits will be greater access to broadcast for multicultural stations that service niche communities.

“Often there wasn’t enough space, or if there was space it was late at night,” Mr Basso said.

“So this gives new avenues for those emerging communities.”

Most stations will start by ‘simulcasting’ – broadcasting in both mediums at the same time – and slowly introducing a wider variety based on listener feedback.

Ms Withnall is excited by 2SER’s ability to offer special features on the digital service, having already transmitted one special feature program on digital that was not available on FM.

“With special features it is quite hard to give over your whole station. WomAdelaide was something that we could put an extended version on our digital service and say to people “if you want more, here it is”.”

Stations can also choose to time-shift, offering similar content at different times.

Many community radio stations will also use the same transmission multiplex, allowing stations across Australia to share content, for example broadcasting the same show in different capital cities.

Mr Basso said: “We’ve built a backbone, where one radio station could do an outside broadcast and feed it through the chain, and all stations can pick it up and broadcast it.

“I know there are a few stations that will share and do some networking,” he said.

According to Basso, the audience for community radio is larger than many people realise.

“We reach 26% of Australian listeners every week. That’s pretty significant.”

On the future of community digital radio, Mr Basso said: “It’s not meant to replace AM or FM, it’s a supplementary service. This whole technology is so young that I think there are a lot of things that people haven’t thought of yet that will become a reality in the future.

“I think whatever happens community radio will be there pushing for the grassroots stuff and work out ways to really promote that with new technology.”

By Christina Goodman