No joy for digital community radio in budget, better news for ABC and SBS

SBS and ABC Radio have received small increases in funding for digital radio transmission, while money for the community sector is nowhere to be found in tonight’s federal budget.

CBAA President Adrian Basso says the government has “jeopardised” the future of community digital radio: “This is a disappointing outcome for all the communities who rely on community radio to provide the information, opinion and music commercial stations and the national broadcasters can’t or don’t.”

The community sector will now consult with its members and is seriously contemplating turning off services or networking nationally. While some in the sector will think this is a good lobbying tactic, other major stations already on digital will be less than happy with the idea of giving up their right to spectrum or backing one nationally networked feed. Competitors in the other sectors may however be happy if community radio switches off, because it will leave more space for them on the new transmission platform.

 

According to data in the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy’s budget portfolio statements, ABC Radio will receive $3.705 million to fund digital radio, a slight increase on the $3.658 million spent on digital last financial year.

There is no money specifically listed for Canberra or Darwin’s digital radio services, or for regional areas.

 

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SBS Radio will receive $2.064 million for digital radio, up from 2.030 million last financial year.

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Despite its lobbying campaign, the Community Radio sector has not received any money for digital radio in the budget.

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“The Australian public wants community radio to have a future. The government says it is committed as well, yet this budget does not properly deliver on that commitment,” says Basso.

“Addressing the mere $1.4million shortfall is all that is required to keep community digital radio services up and running. For a government that says it’s committed to media diversity, it’s done a pretty good job of stifling it.

“A quarter of Australian radio listeners turn to community radio stations every week for services that include specialist music, Indigenous media, multicultural and ethnic language programs, religious, educational and youth services, print disability reading services, and community access programs. The digital community radio services that provide this essential content are now facing a very uncertain future.”

 

Commercial Radio did not ask for any digital radio money or concessions in this budget. The commercial sector is conducting a strong lobbying campaign to expand digital radio to regional areas, focusing its efforts on the next federal election.

 

In other budget news:

ABC Radio’s base funding is up from $337.6m last year to $348.5m in 2013/14.

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SBS Radio’s base government funding will rise from $28.7m to $31.8m on a total of $40.4 m. SBS is allowed to earn commercial income to supplement its base funding.

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Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said:

“This additional funding will allow the ABC and the SBS to continue to innovate and keep pace with the changing media environment and continue to reflect Australian culture and diversity.

“Unlike Malcolm Turnbull, who has admitted he would cut funding to the ABC and SBS, the Gillard Government is committed to supporting our national broadcasters and ensuring they are adequately funded.

The Government will provide the ABC with $89.4 million in additional funding over the next three years to expand ABC news and current affairs services and for digital delivery of ABC programs…

“The Government is also providing the ABC with a loan of $90.0 million over three years so it can consolidate the majority of its Melbourne-based operations at its Southbank site…

“The SBS will receive $20.0 million in new funding over the next triennium to build on the success of its digital initiatives and to continue to develop its programming and services to reflect and promote multicultural and Indigenous Australia.”

The funding in the 2013-14 Budget is in addition to what the Government will provide to the national broadcasters through the next triennium funding agreements. The Government will provide base funding of $2.5 billion to the ABC and $568.7 million to the SBS over the next triennium funding period.

The Government is also providing $2.7 million over four years to help communities in regional and remote Australia access an increased range of radio services on the Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) service.

“The VAST service is being deployed across Australia to provide digital television and radio services in remote and regional areas, replacing the Aurora satellite platform, which will cease transmission at the end of 2013,” Senator Conroy said.

 

Money for community broadcasting comes through the Department of Communications (DBCDE). In 2013/14 the department has increased its allocation for community broadcasting from $14.8m to $16.9m, to deliver the promised resumption of AMRAP funding and other items already expected by the sector.

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For further coverage of Australia’s expected $18 billion deficit next financial year, see ABC News’ coverage here.

For the full Communications portfolio statements, click here.