ACMA - ABA - NR21/2005

3 March 2005

New community radio licence for Charleville, Queensland

The Australian Broadcasting Authority has allocated one new community radio licence in Charleville, Queensland to Bidjara Media & Broadcasting Company Ltd (BM&B).

The Charleville service will broadcast on 105.7 MHz on the F M band. BM&B is currently broadcasting on 105.7 MHz under a temporary community broadcasting licence that expires on 6 March 2005. The permanent community radio broadcasting licence will commence on 7 March 2005.

‘The proposed service will add to the range and diversity of services in the Charleville area,’ said Lyn Maddock, ABA Chair. ‘The applicant satisfied the ABA that its service would meet the existing and perceived future needs of the indigenous community in the licence area.’

The ABA made this licence available after a process of consultation with the people of the local community to seek their views on what additional broadcasting services were needed.

BM&B was the only applicant for the Charleville licence. Its application was assessed with particular regard to whether the proposed indigenous service would meet the existing and perceived future needs of the community in the Charleville area.

BM&B currently operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The proposed service will provide programs that will cover a wide range of local issues that will appeal to the general community in Charleville.

To contact the new licensee, call Karen Russell on (07) 4654 1112.

Media contact Donald Robertson, ABA Manager Media and PR on (02) 9334 7980.

Backgrounder

Charleville, Queensland

The Charleville area is currently served by two national radio services: 4CH and 4ABCRN; two commercial radio services: 4CCC and 4VL; and one open narrowcasting service Unitab. It is also served by one national television service ABC, as well as one commercial television service: QQQ10.

In February 2004 the ABA finalised a variation to the Charleville radio licence area plan. It determined that one new community radio broadcasting licence be made available to serve Charleville.

Community licence allocation

Part 6 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 provides for the allocation of community broadcasting licences.

The ABA uses a merit based allocation process where applicants compete on the basis of merit for the licence. The process includes opportunity for the public to comment on applications received.

The ABA must also have regard to:

(a) the extent to which the proposed service would meet the existing and perceived future needs of the community within the licence area of the proposed service; and

(b) the nature and diversity of the interests of that community; and

(c) the nature and diversity of other broadcasting services (including national broadcasting services) available within that licence area; and

(d) the capacity of the applicant to provide the proposed service; and

(e) the undesirability of one person being in a position to exercise control of more than one community broadcasting licence that is a broadcasting services bands licence in the same licence area; and

(f) the undesirability of the Commonwealth, a State or Territory or a political party being in a position to exercise control of a community broadcasting licence.

The Minister may also give directions to the ABA to give priority to a particular community interest or interests.