Community Digital Radio will stay on the air thanks to an extra investment of $6 million over three years by the Federal Government. The recent announcement (Wednesday 26 June) shows that the Government has been willing to listen to the community and act, and for that we are all very grateful.
Thanks to the tens of thousands of people who stood up and showed just how important community radio is to people right across Australia, community radio now has a digital future. This is an important step forward for media diversity in the country.
Over 43,000 people signed up to the Commit to Community Radio campaign since it first launched just a matter of months ago – calling for action to address the shortfall in funding for digital community radio services. Tens of thousands of emails have been sent to politicians highlighting the importance of digital community radio services.
The government has had a long-standing commitment to media diversity and digital community radio services. We are glad to see the government confirm that commitment fulfilled.
A quarter of Australian radio listeners turn to community radio stations like PBS every week for specialist services, but also for Indigenous media, multicultural and ethnic language programs, religious, educational and youth services, print disability reading services, and community access programs.
Thanks to the funding announcement, those services now have the certainty of a digital future. The future of radio is digital and this announcement means that community radio services like PBS won’t be left behind.
For more information go to www.committocommunityradio.org.au
