The Business of Radio

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THE BUSINESS OF RADIO | BROADCASTERS
22 | WORLD RADIO DAY 2016 | CELEBRATING RADIO
RADIO AUSTRALIA
PARENT ORGANISATION ABC (AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION)
SERVICES
Radio Australia broadcasts across the Pacific through a
network of 12 24-hour FM transmitters, through partner
stations as well as via shortwave transmission in English,
French and Tok Pisin. In Asia, Radio Australia also
broadcasts across a network of 24 hour FM transmitters
in English, Khmer and Burmese. In recent years,
coverage of significant events included democratic
elections in Burma and the impact of Cyclone Pam in
Vanuatu. Special community messages in vernacular
were relayed to communities in Vanuatu’s outer islands
via shortwave as part of Radio Australia’s services in
the aftermath of Cyclone Pam. Community testimonials
demonstrated the value of this service when many
modes of communications had broken down.
KEY PROGRAMMES
English programmes broadcast on Radio Australia
include the Pacific Beatcurrent affairs programme and
ABC Radio’s flagship current affairs programmes AM,
PM, The World Today. Radio Australia also broadcasts
popular music and specialist radio programmes from
the ABC Radio networks.
Each weekday, Radio Australia’s Tok Pisin, Burmese,
Khmer and French programmes provide a mix of news
updates, current affairs features, special explainers
and English Language Learning modules.
PROFILE
ABC Radio Australia has been
broadcasting to audiences in Asia
and the Pacific for more than 75 years.
Today, Radio Australia remains a
key broadcast platform of ABC
International, which also provides
television and digital services
across the Asia Pacific, delivering
on the ABC Charter obligation:
“To transmit to countries outside
Australia broadcasting programmes of
news, current affairs, entertainment
and cultural enrichment that will:
• Encourage awareness of Australia
and an international understanding
of Australian attitudes on world
affairs; and
• Enable Australian citizens living
and travelling outside Australia to
obtain information about
Australian affairs and Australian
attitudes on world affairs “
Radio continues to be an
important source of information in
the Mekong countries of Asia as
well as the Pacific. The potential
audience of seven million in these
countries remain the focus of Radio
Australia’s broad range of
programming.
Radio programmes on the 24
hour service include:
• Australian and international
news and current affairs reporting
• Specialist programmes covering
health, the law, science & innovation,
music, sport, religious affairs issues
• Regional politics & governance
• Development issues
• Profiles of newsmakers and
influencers
• Community announcements and
emergency updates
Radio Australia also maintains a
strong online and social media
presence, which includes web
streaming of radio programmes
24/7. Radio Australia’s news and
current affairs content is provided
by the ABC’s Asia Pacific News
Centre – the biggest newsroom
dedicated to Asia Pacific news in
Australia – and features reports
from the ABC’s foreign
correspondents around the world.
Year of launch 1939
Our languages
English; Burmese; Tok Pisin;
French; Khmer
Target countries include
Papua New Guinea; Vanuatu;
Solomon Islands; Fiji;
Cambodia; Myanmar; New
Caledonia; Laos; French
Polynesia; Wallis & Futuna; Cook
Islands; Samoa; Kiribati; Tonga;
East Timor; Samoa; Tonga;
Tuvalu
Web traffic
Each month, the Radio Australia
website is visited by an average of
350,000 unique visitors
KEY CONTACT INFORMATION
LYNLEY MARSHALL
CEO, ABC International
ABC RADIO AUSTRALIA
ABC Southbank Centre
120 Southbank Boulevard
Southbank VIC 3006
Radio Australia presenters Ning Pan, Alex Khun, Mu Laing Thien and Same Seke