ABC Radio bands with commercials to promote digital

The ABC will officially launch its digital radio stations this week in time for a nationwide event involving over 40 stations promoting DAB+.

Commercial and public broadcasters alike will host an outside broadcast on 6 August in five cities called Radio United, though Sydneysiders were close to missing out.

While digital radio in Sydney was due to go online in early June, poor weather prevented interference testing from being completed and the signal went full strength on 21 June.

Joan Warner, chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, said that Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide commercial digital stations were now all operating at full power and the industry is delighted with the broadcasts.

“Sydney commercial digital radio stations have been broadcasting at full power since last Friday and we plan to stay at full power,” said Warner.

The ABC and SBS are currently conducting “test broadcasts” after turning on several weeks later than the commercial stations.

The ABC will officially launch its five local stations (Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Sydney) Radio National, Country, dig, Triple J, Country Jazz and Grandstand on digital.

At present, the commercial stations are fully operational, and a spokesperson from ABC said they expected the signal to be up and running on the day.

“We have been plagued with poor weather conditions in Sydney, which caused issues with the finalisation of some aspects of the infrastructure build,” Warner said.

“Sydney’s unique topography has meant we remained in variable power mode for a little longer than in other states,” she said.

Sydney commercial digital radio stations 2GB, 2CH, 2UE, 2Day, Triple M, 2KY, WSFM, Mix 106.5, 2SM, Nova, Vega Radar, Pink Radio, Koffee, NovaNation and The Edge are now broadcasting at full power.

The Radio United outside broadcasts will be held from 5.30am till 9.00am in: Martin Place in Sydney, Federation Square in Melbourne, Reddacliff Place in Brisbane, Victoria Square in Adelaide and Forrest Place in Perth. For full details of the stations involved visit Digital Radio Plus.