Community Broadcasting – Your Local Voice

Community Broadcasting is media owned and produced by communities for communities.
It is independent, not for profit and actively promotes access, participation and diversity.
Community broadcasters are located all over metropolitan, regional rural and remote Australia. This sector of the media has grown significantly in the last decade.

4 million Listeners a week The most recent McNair Anderson Survey (2006) showed that in an average month 47% of Australians aged 15+ listen to community radio. That’s more than 4 million listeners every week spread across: 228 licensed radio stations 31 temporary licensees

There are also 4 permanent Community TV stations + 7 associate or affiliate TV services, most based in capital cities

A Diverse Media Sector
Community broadcasting is the most diverse media sector in Australia:

480 licensed community services broadcast 44,000 program hours a week
53% of community radio stations serve a range of different communities of interest - Indigenous and Ethnic, Print Handicapped, young people, older people, arts/fine music, Christian & other religious groups, gay and lesbian

By contrast the 39 commercial media owners in Australian provide 279 services and the ABC 64 radio services.

Community Broadcasting’s Contribution to the Economy

23,000 volunteers commit their time and energy p/a - an estimated $212million worth of labour
CB develops transferable skills – especially ICT, spoken and written communication. It also enhances the confidence of its volunteers
Over 7500 people a year receive training in the sector
Community broadcasting provides many people with their first experience in media. The ABC acknowledges the important role CB plays as a training ground. Over the years a significant number of talented ABC people have come from CB. Commercial radio also benefits in this way.

Why do audiences listen to community metropolitan and regional radio?
A 2 year CBAA study found 5 main reasons:

1. Accessibility of the station – audiences feel they can ring up, wander in, participate in the station at any time
2. Presentation style – the tendency of community radio to use ‘ordinary people’ as presenters is loved and appreciated by audiences across the country
3. Provision of local news and information – community radio is able to provide more specialist local information or information of use to niche groups that public and commercial broadcasters do not provide.
4. Specialist or niche music formats – varying from an appreciation of local or Australian music, to jazz, classical, world music, alternative bands – music that audiences feel they cannot access anywhere else.
5. Diversity – audiences appreciate the diverse and unpredictable nature of some of the programming and while some audiences expressed distaste for certain programs, they overtly recognise that if the station does not broadcast rap or death metal programs, for example, they may also be unable to broadcast more favoured programs. This extends to include cultural diversity as well as music and social diversity.

$$$$$$$
Australia’s community broadcasting sector costs around $280million p/a to maintain. While the bulk of these costs are met by an in-kind contribution from its volunteers, it has obvious needs for cash.
Grants, fundraising, sponsorship (which is restricted) and listener support provide 93% of the income needed.
Less than 7% of the cash resources come from the Australian Federal Government and the amount has been falling.

The 2006 House of Representatives Standing Committee report into community broadcasting acknowledges that, given the sector’s significant contribution to Australian society, government investment in community broadcasting is not adequate. It has recommended a substantial increase, but no action has so far been taken.

Value our Voices – support our Campaign!
The CBAA is conducting a campaign during this Federal Election to convince which ever government is elected that its support is needed. Please do your bit and lobby local and senate candidates -
check in to www.valueour voices.org for more information

Basic information and statistics compiled by Dorin Hart from cbonline.org.au

10/07