{"id":41514,"date":"2020-01-08T07:30:47","date_gmt":"2020-01-08T11:30:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=41514"},"modified":"2020-01-08T14:10:08","modified_gmt":"2020-01-08T18:10:08","slug":"radioifo-fires-hit-abc-radios-batemans-bay-transmitter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/radioifo-fires-hit-abc-radios-batemans-bay-transmitter\/","title":{"rendered":"RadioInfo: “Fires hit ABC Radio’s Batemans Bay transmitter”"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Photo by Benjamin Lizardo<\/p><\/div>\n

Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributor, Michael Bird, who shares the following story from RadioInfo.com.au<\/a>:<\/p>\n

In an example of radio industry cooperation during adversity, commercial network Grant Broadcasters is working with the ABC on the South Coast of NSW to keep transmissions on air during the fires in that area.<\/p>\n

As fires raged through the area last week, the ABC\u2019s Mt Wandera transmission site at Bateman’s Bay was disabled by flames (see pictures below) and is expected to take some time to repair.<\/p>\n

The ABC, through its transmission provider Broadcast Australia (recently\u00a0renamed<\/a>\u00a0BAI Communications) asked if it could share Grant Broadcasters\u2019 nearby transmission mast and infrastructure, and has now combined its transmissions onto the Grant Broadcasters antenna.<\/p>\n

Local radio services, including\u00a0ABC South Coast<\/a>, are now back on air, but operating at reduced power. The ABC\u2019s television transmitter on the site is also off air.<\/p>\n

BAI has also established additional temporary low power facilities at Batemans Hill for ABC Local Radio (operating on 101.9 MHz) and ABC television (operating on Channel 41).\u00a0 As this facility operates from a lower altitude and at lower power than those at Mt Wandera, its coverage will be largely limited within the town of Batemans Bay.<\/p>\n

On the South Coast, the Grant Broadcasters\u00a0stations<\/a>\u00a02EC and Power FM\u00a0 had \u201cno issues with transmission coverage\u201d and have so far remained on full power. Diesel generators have 4-5 days capacity and are being refuelled continuously.<\/p>\n

[…]Communications Minister <\/span>Paul Fletcher<\/strong>\u00a0has commended media and transmission providers for their efforts to keep services operating:<\/span><\/p>\n

“I commend the network operators\u2019 efforts in responding, which has included deploying temporary facilities to restore communications services for impacted communities, particularly those that are isolated. Many of the outages are due to power supplies being cut off, and in some cases are the direct impact of fire on network infrastructure. The current fire situations across Australia have made access difficult and unsafe at some sites to assess and restore services…<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIn many cases, a portable transistor radio with a spare set of batteries is a vital way to receive emergency information, in the event there is a loss of mains power or mobile coverage.<\/p>\n

“The ABC and other local radio stations are doing an excellent job transmitting vital emergency information to Australian communities. Telstra and Optus are offering targeted relief packages in affected regions in NSW and Victoria, including free use of payphones, call diversions from affected lines and other financial assistance.”[…]<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Read the full article and view photos at RadioInfo.com.au.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Michael Bird, who shares the following story from RadioInfo.com.au: In an example of radio industry cooperation during adversity, commercial network Grant Broadcasters is working with the ABC on the South Coast of NSW to keep transmissions on air during the fires in that area. As fires raged through the […]<\/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":[373,3781,3],"tags":[887,8242,7554,2638,102],"class_list":["post-41514","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-am","category-fm","category-news","tag-australia","tag-australia-fires","tag-michael-bird","tag-radioinfo","tag-why-radio"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-aNA","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":41610,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/community-radio-stations-help-inform-those-affected-by-fires-in-australia\/","url_meta":{"origin":41514,"position":0},"title":"Community radio stations help inform those affected by fires in Australia","author":"Thomas","date":"January 15, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source Radio.info via Michael Bird) Nearly 80 community radio stations are broadcasting in fire affected areas of Australia. With around 450 stations in the sector, community broadcasters are represented in most larger towns in Australia. Many of them are staffed by small handfuls of volunteers who keep the station on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/benjamin-lizardo-fire.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/benjamin-lizardo-fire.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/benjamin-lizardo-fire.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/benjamin-lizardo-fire.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":33525,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/08\/australian-foreign-minister-says-her-party-did-not-support-shutting-down-shortwave\/","url_meta":{"origin":41514,"position":1},"title":"Australian Foreign Minister says her party did not support shutting down shortwave","author":"Thomas","date":"August 11, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: RadioInfo via William Lee and Dennis Dura) Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has told [ ABC's Radio National ] RN's Fran Kelly that her party did not support the ABC's decision to switch off short wave services in the Pacific. \"It is not a decision of the Australian government,\"\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\/05\/Shepparton-10.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Shepparton-10.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Shepparton-10.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":41071,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/12\/abcs-review-of-shortwave-broadcasting-released\/","url_meta":{"origin":41514,"position":2},"title":"ABC’s review of shortwave broadcasting released","author":"Thomas","date":"December 5, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Michael Bird, who shares a link to RadioInfo that summarizes the recently-released \"Review of Australian Broadcasting Services in the Asia Pacific\" by the ABC. Micheal notes: So what do we take from this report? No recommendations. The status quo continues although there were many\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International Broadcasting"","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Shepparton.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Shepparton.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Shepparton.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":36688,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/03\/a-shorten-government-will-bring-short-wave-radio-back-to-the-northern-territory\/","url_meta":{"origin":41514,"position":3},"title":"“A Shorten Government will bring short-wave radio back to the Northern Territory”","author":"Thomas","date":"March 26, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: RadioInfo via Michael Bird) The Shadow Minister for Financial Services, Clare O\u2019Neil, has told ABC Radio Darwin that a Shorten Government will bring short-wave radio back to the Northern Territory, after it was disbanded by the ABC in 2017, saying restoring the service \u201cis actually crucially important for safety\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Digitech-AR1780-Front-Angle-SW-AM-mode-1024x702.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Digitech-AR1780-Front-Angle-SW-AM-mode-1024x702.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Digitech-AR1780-Front-Angle-SW-AM-mode-1024x702.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3936,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2012\/07\/a-little-more-saturday-night-country-via-radio-australia\/","url_meta":{"origin":41514,"position":4},"title":"A little more Saturday Night Country via Radio Australia","author":"Thomas","date":"July 22, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"I've mentioned before how much I love this show--you don't even need to be a fan of country music to have a true appreciation for it. Saturday Night Country should be on your shortwave listening schedule. If you live in North America, you'll find the signal out of Shepparton, Australia\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\/2012\/07\/1-robpottsfelicityurqhartdierksbentley-300x238.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":34006,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/09\/new-zealand-invests-in-free-to-air-broadcasts-to-pacific\/","url_meta":{"origin":41514,"position":5},"title":"New Zealand invests in free-to-air broadcasts to Pacific","author":"Thomas","date":"September 7, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: RadioInfo via William Lee) NZ gives $10 million for Pacific Broadcasting While Australia\u2019s ABC is cutting shortwave Radio Australia broadcasts to the Pacific, the New Zealand government has just announced a NZ$10 million grant for an enhanced free-to-air Pasifika TV service across the region. NZ foreign minister Winston Peters\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\/2018\/09\/tower-closeup-fm.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/tower-closeup-fm.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/tower-closeup-fm.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/tower-closeup-fm.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41514","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=41514"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41514\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41514"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41514"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41514"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}