Community leaders have united behind a campaign to bring digital radio services to Northern Tasmania.
Advocates claim the region has been left behind, despite the technology being available in Hobart since 2018.
The ABC and the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia launched collaborative tests of DAB+ Digital Radio technology across the Launceston CBD in 2023, as revealed by Pulse at the time.
Launceston community radio stations City Park Radio, Way FM and Print Radio Tasmania have now joined forces to get an administrative ‘tick of approval’ from the federal communications regulator, so that they can go live with the technology permanently.
Local commercial radio stations Chilli FM and LAFM have not expressed their interest in launching digital services, which means the not-for-profit community stations have to take their fight to Canberra alone.
“Digital radio receivers are standard in over 80% of all new cars sold in Australia,” said City Park Radio Public Officer Chris Ball.
“Next year marks our 40th anniversary of community broadcasting here in Launceston, and wouldn’t it be great to give the gift of DAB radio to the north of the state on our 40th anniversary.”
The digital radio service would be transmitted from high atop Mt Barrow, providing coverage similar to existing commercial and ABC FM radio services – particularly around the north-east, Midlands, Tamar Valley and Meander Valley.
The stations say the increased in-car coverage as a result, compared to their analog FM services transmitted from inner-city towers at Trevallyn and West Launceston, would help widen their appeal in a modern era.
Federal funding for shared transmission facilities has already been allocated through the community radio industry body, while the stations themselves say their side of the deal is ready to go.
“All we need to do is get ACMA to tick a box and say, yes, go ahead,” Ball said.
“We’ve got the equipment, it’s all set up in the room here, all ready to go. All we’ve got to do is flick a switch and it’s there.”
Liberal incumbent Bridget Archer and Labor candidate Jess Teesdale have now both committed to advocating for digital radio if elected at this weekend’s election.
“I will … work to ensure that ACMA urgently takes the regulatory steps necessary to enable permanent free-to-air digital radio services,” said Teesdale.
The ABC and SBS have been operating permanent low-power DAB+ transmissions in the Launceston CBD since late 2024, which would be expanded to cover the broader northern region along with the community radio stations.
