Community Radio Network (Australia)

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The Community Radio Network (CRN) in Australia is a satellite program feed available to subscribing community radio stations. It was created and is managed by the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA). The CRN does not produce the programs that are broadcast on the feed, but acts as a distributor of material supplied by member stations. [1] [2]

Contents

History

After more than a decade of exchanging programs between stations on tape via mail, the CBAA established the Community Radio Satellite, known as ComRadSat in 1993. [3] Four media organisations have co-operated to make the satellite service available to community radio stations all over Australia. These are the CBAA, the Australian Indigenous Communications Association, Radio Print Handicapped Network and the BBC World Service. Each organisation transmits their programs via Optus onto the C1 Satellite via the uplink site at Belrose. [4]

In December 2013, CRN, RPH, NIRS and BBC World Service shifted to VAST satellite platform.

Channels

The satellite feed is four distinct channels:

Channel 630

The Community Radio Network channel has a number of elements to the program feed.

Funding

The CBAA maintains the satellite service through a combination of station subscription fees, an operating grant from the Community Broadcasting Foundation and fundraising such as paid program time. The radio stations can apply for a specific grant from the Community Broadcasting Foundation to purchase and install the satellite receiving equipment. [6]

Digital Delivery Network

Another aspect to the CRN is the DDN. The Digital Delivery Network works alongside the CRN satellite feed through online applications. A radio station can select its preferred programs on the DDN website and the stations’ DDN-enabled computer will automatically record the selected programs. Three months worth of current music content in a variety of genres is also made available for stations to use. [7]

See also

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References

  1. Nicky Page (2000-05-17). "Hidden Assets in Community Radio" (PDF). Adult Learning Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 19, 2007. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
  2. Dr Bob Pymm (2008). "Satellite capture of broadcast material" (PDF). VALA]. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
  3. "What is it?". CBAA. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-07-19. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
  4. "The Satellite Story". CBAA. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-08-07. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
  5. "Screen Australia radio program". Screen Australia. 2008. Archived from the original on 2009-07-13. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
  6. "CBF guidelines for equipment grants". Community Broadcasting Foundation. 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
  7. "About DDN". CBAA. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-07-19. Retrieved 2008-07-18.