Media Release: CBAA applauds new content funding for the community broadcasting sector

The CBAA welcomes the announcement in the Federal Government budget of an additional $12.5 million funding over four years to community broadcasting for content development.

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has announced that this new funding will deliver an additional $3 million in 2011-12 and represents a 25% funding increase on 2010-11 funding levels. The additional funding will be used to establish a new Community Radio Content Development Fund and also deliver dedicated funding for the development of new content for Indigenous, Ethnic and Multicultural, and Radio for the Print Handicapped community broadcasting sectors.

This is a significant increase in funding for community broadcasting and a much needed boost to the sector’s capacity to develop locally produced content and for stations to service their communities of interest. Over 30% of community radio stations in regional areas are the sole broadcast outlet for locally produced community information and issues.

CBAA General Manager, Kath Letch says:
‘This a substantial funding increase to community broadcasting and delivered at a critical time for the sector in supporting content development for local community services. It will increase the resources available to stations to develop content and support the 20,000 volunteers involved nationally in presenting community broadcasting programs.

The Federal Labor Government has delivered not only fresh funding but also fresh hope that after 40 years the role of community broadcasting in Australia will be given greater recognition and support as many of the over 430 licensed community radio and television stations nationally are currently struggling to survive.

The Australian community broadcasting sector is unique in the world for its scale, and its breadth and depth of local broadcasting services that are valued by over 9 million listeners nationally in an average month in metropolitan, regional and remote communities.’

For more information contact: 02 9310 2999 or [email protected]