{"id":22797,"date":"2016-12-13T08:37:03","date_gmt":"2016-12-13T12:37:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=22797"},"modified":"2016-12-13T08:37:03","modified_gmt":"2016-12-13T12:37:03","slug":"abc-news-end-of-shortwave-radio-service-could-be-life-threatening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/12\/abc-news-end-of-shortwave-radio-service-could-be-life-threatening\/","title":{"rendered":"ABC News: End of shortwave radio service ‘could be life threatening’"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

(Source: ABC News<\/a>\u00a0via Richard Cuff)<\/p>\n

An Indigenous ranger group in the Northern Territory says the ABC’s decision to end its shortwave radio service could be life threatening.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The ABC announced this week its three HF shortwave radio transmitters at Katherine, Tennant Creek and Roe Creek (Alice Springs), would be switched off on January 31, 2017.<\/p>\n

ABC Radio will continue to broadcast on FM and AM bands, via the viewer access satellite television (VAST) service, streaming online and via the mobile phone application.<\/p>\n

Mark Crocombe from the Thamarrurr Rangers, in the remote community of Wadeye, said the rangers spent days and sometimes weeks at a time away in the bush and out on sea patrols.<\/p>\n

He said the group relied on the ABC’s shortwave radio for weather reports and emergency information.<\/p>\n

“Otherwise you have to call back to the base on the HF radio to ask people [there], but then you can’t listen to the report yourself, you are relying on someone else’s second-hand report,” Mr Crocombe said.<\/p>\n

Mr Crocombe said on previous bush trips he had received warnings of cyclones via the ABC’s shortwave service, without which he would not have had any notice.<\/p>\n

“Sure, it is expensive to keep the shortwave radio service going, but during cyclones, for the bush camps and people on boats, that is their only way of getting the weather reports,” he said.<\/p>\n

“It could be life threatening, if you are out and you don’t know a cyclone is coming.”<\/p>\n

Mr Crocombe said the VAST service did not work during cloudy weather, especially during monsoons and cyclones.<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

[Northern Territory Cattleman’s Association] President Tom Stockwell, who lives on Sunday Creek Station with no access to AM or FM radio or mobile phone coverage, said the ABC’s decision to focus on digital transmission ignored people in the bush.<\/p>\n

“It affects a big area of Australia and it affects those people that are remote from other forms of communication that rely on radio network,” he said.<\/p>\n

“The ABC argument that it’s a 100-year-old technology doesn’t stack up. Electricity is 100-years-old \u2014 is the ABC going to get rid of electricity as well?” […]<\/p>\n

Click here to continue reading an the ABC News website.<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Source: ABC News\u00a0via Richard Cuff) An Indigenous ranger group in the Northern Territory says the ABC’s decision to end its shortwave radio service could be life threatening. The ABC announced this week its three HF shortwave radio transmitters at Katherine, Tennant Creek and Roe Creek (Alice Springs), would be switched off on January 31, 2017. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[56,960,3,43],"tags":[86,2924,368,1920,2795,2796,5708],"class_list":["post-22797","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-broadcasters","category-international-broadcasting","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","tag-abc","tag-abc-cuts","tag-radio-australia","tag-radio-australia-cuts","tag-radio-australia-north-america","tag-radio-australia-shortwave","tag-radio-australia-shortwave-closure"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-5VH","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":22920,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/12\/abc-will-stand-by-decision-to-axe-shortwave-service\/","url_meta":{"origin":22797,"position":0},"title":"ABC will stand by decision to axe NT shortwave service","author":"Thomas","date":"December 20, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: ABC News via Trevor R) The ABC has defended the axing of its Northern Territory's long-distance radio service, despite calls from federal representatives to reverse the decision. This month the broadcaster announced its HF shortwave radio transmitters at Katherine, Tennant Creek and Roe Creek (Alice Springs) would be switched\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/NorthernTerritory-Australia.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/NorthernTerritory-Australia.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/NorthernTerritory-Australia.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/NorthernTerritory-Australia.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":25275,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/04\/radioworld-despite-fears-abc-shuts-down-shortwave-broadcasts\/","url_meta":{"origin":22797,"position":1},"title":"RadioWorld: Despite Fears, ABC Shuts Down Shortwave Broadcasts","author":"Thomas","date":"April 17, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: RadioWorld) The ABC has turned off its shortwave radio transmitters, leaving Australians in remote areas without easy access to lifeline radio OTTAWA \u2014 On Jan. 31, state-owned Australian Broadcasting Corp. shut down its shortwave radio transmitters; ending both international broadcasts of Radio Australia and the ABC\u2019s domestic service in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/NorthernTerritory-Australia.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/NorthernTerritory-Australia.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/NorthernTerritory-Australia.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/NorthernTerritory-Australia.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":25023,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/04\/radio-outbackistan-the-next-shortwave-broadcaster-for-rural-australia\/","url_meta":{"origin":22797,"position":2},"title":"Radio Outbackistan: “the next shortwave broadcaster for rural Australia”–?","author":"Thomas","date":"April 3, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: ABC Rural via London Shortwave) Could Radio Outbackistan be the next shortwave broadcaster for rural Australia? In response to the ABC abolishing its HF shortwave radio service, the Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association (NTCA) president has turned to humour to propose his own broadcast alternative. On Friday, in front of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Radio-Outbackistan.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Radio-Outbackistan.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Radio-Outbackistan.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Radio-Outbackistan.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27603,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/abc-scolded-for-cutting-shortwave-service\/","url_meta":{"origin":22797,"position":3},"title":"ABC scolded for cutting shortwave service","author":"Thomas","date":"August 17, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: news.com.au via Trevor R) The ABC has been slammed by all sides of politics over its \"foolish\" decision to cut the transmission of shortwave radio to remote Australia and the Pacific Islands. The Senate debated a private bill on Thursday by crossbench senator Nick Xenophon to force the ABC\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/ATS-405-9580kHz-1024x576.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/ATS-405-9580kHz-1024x576.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/ATS-405-9580kHz-1024x576.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":22887,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/12\/labor-mps-want-to-protect-abc-northern-territory-shortwave-service\/","url_meta":{"origin":22797,"position":4},"title":"Labor MPs want to protect ABC Northern Territory shortwave service","author":"Thomas","date":"December 19, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ian P, who comments with this link to an article in News.com.au: Shortwave radio cuts risk NT lives: Labor Two federal Labor MPs have demanded the national broadcaster reverse a decision to switch off its radio shortwave service in the Northern Territory, which they\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/NorthernTerritory-Australia.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/NorthernTerritory-Australia.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/NorthernTerritory-Australia.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/NorthernTerritory-Australia.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":23822,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/01\/radio-australia-shortwave-services-silenced-like-listening-to-our-old-aunt-passing-away\/","url_meta":{"origin":22797,"position":5},"title":"Radio Australia shortwave services silenced: “Like listening to our old aunt passing away”","author":"Thomas","date":"January 31, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dennis Dura, who shares the following report via ABC News 24 on Twitter: The ABC has shut down its shortwave radio service to remote parts of Northern Australia and the Pacific. @MaddocksThomas reports pic.twitter.com\/VPD3deSR9Z \u2014 ABC News 24 (@ABCNews24) January 31, 2017 Click here\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/End-of-Radio-Australia.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22797","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22797"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22797\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22797"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22797"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22797"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}