They said they’d do it. And they have. SYN Media has switched off both their analogue and digital radio services to demonstrate the future of community broadcasting if the Federal Government does not address the shortfall in digital community radio funding.

From 4pm SYN replaced all regular programming with a repeating message that explains why the future of community radio is under threat.

The switch off comes after a full day of campaigning online and in the streets of Melbourne. 

SYN Broadcaster and Producer Brad Guy (pictured below) has led the campaign dressed as a dinosaur to represent the possible extinction of community broadcasting if Senator Conroy does not address a $1.4 million shortfall for community digital radio services.

Brad’s first stop was Senator Conroy’s office, who was (surprise, surprise) unavailable to meet.

“Ok, Conroy was not at his office so I left a letter! His security guard was actually really nice and accommodating,” Brad reported on Twitter.

SYN General Manager Tahlia Azaria says with the Federal budget just one week away, time is running out.

“We need to do everything we can to get the message about the Commit to Community Radio campaign out there. So far over 41,000 people have pledged their support for a digital future but Senator Conroy isn’t one of them, and we don’t think that’s good enough”, says Azaria.

Azaria says the shortfall in funding not only affects community radio’s future, but the future of youth driven media.

“Young media makers are going to be the ones that inherit the outcomes of this lack of funding. Cuts to digital radio services in the community broadcasting sector will be a huge backward step and it will be future generations that suffer” says Azaria.

SYN provides media training and broadcast opportunities to over 1000 young people each year.

More information about the Commit to Community Radio campaign can be found at committocommunityradio.org.au.