Digital radio in Australia


Digital broadcast radio in Australia uses the DAB+ standard and is available in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Darwin and Hobart. However, after nine years regional large cities like Townsville still do not have DAB. The national government owned television/radio networks, the ABC and SBS, and the commercial radio stations in each market provide many of their services and a few digital-only services on the digital platform. Australia uses the AAC+ codec provided with upgraded DAB+ standard.

History

Despite testing in Sydney and Melbourne from as early as 1999, the first genuine plan for digital broadcast radio was released in October 2005, as Helen Coonan, the then Australian Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, announced that Australia would adopt the Eureka 147 system. The Australian Government had set a launch date for digital broadcast radio in the six state capital cities, originally 1 January 2009, but this launch date was subsequently shifted back to no later than 1 July 2009 and the list of cities starting digital broadcast radio excluded Hobart. The peak industry body, Commercial Radio Australia, began coordinating the tests as well as organising the commercial multiplexes. The Australian Film Television and Radio School supported the development of digital radio by holding training seminars and test broadcasts in various cities, organised by then Head of Radio Steve Ahern.
The major radio networks commenced a staged roll-out of commercial DAB+ services during May 2009 with Perth launching on 4 May 2009; Melbourne on 11 May 2009; Adelaide on 20 May 2009; Brisbane on 25 May 2009; and Sydney on 30 May 2009. The roll-out of DAB+ services by the Government-owned ABC and SBS networks was delayed until 1 July 2009 due to funding delays and management issues. Testing has been planned for other major cities, with a trial multiplex in Canberra commencing broadcasting on 14 July 2010, and a trial multiplex running in Darwin since 13 August 2010. Similar trials are being considered for Townsville and Hobart, and, as of December 2010, commercial broadcasters in regional markets have begun planning to introduce digital broadcast radio into regional population centres, possibly as soon as 2011 or 2012. However, it is expected that it will be some years before digital broadcast radio is extended to the bulk of the Australian continent. Australia's vast distances and low population density are not well suited to the propagation characteristics of DAB+ and it is therefore likely that a standard other than DAB+ will be adopted for serving areas outside the major cities.
Community digital broadcast radio services were rolled out to capital cities in late 2010 to May 2011 and were formally launched in May 2011. The roll out of community digital broadcast radio services represents the largest ever infrastructure project conducted by the community broadcasting sector in Australia. The project was managed by the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia.
On 14 December 2017, the ABC and SBS services in Canberra moved to a separate multiplex providing the same services as in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. Services in Hobart began in 2019, as a national multiplex for ABC and SBS stations launched on 19 March 2018 and commercial multiplex launched on 3 April 2019. On 23 December 2019, two commercial stations in Mandurah launched its digital service on a new multiplex 8C, becoming the first market in regional Australia to have DAB services.

Current services

National broadcasters

The ABC and SBS operate digital broadcast radio services in all current DAB+ broadcasting markets on frequency block 9C. While most services are national, the ABC provides local ABC Local Radio stations for their respective locations.
The local radio services are mostly a simulcast of their AM radio equivalents ; however, alternate programming is aired pre-empting most sports coverage. This programming is also on the ABC's online streams, where sporting rights may prevent international coverage. The ABC also has a number of digital-only radio stations, including ABC Jazz, Double J, ABC Country, and special-events station ABC Extra, which is used to provide additional coverage for special events which may otherwise not be able to be covered.
Station NameFormatDetailsOwnerService IDBitrate
ABC Classic FMClassical musicFM SimulcastABC0x300780kbit/s
ABC CountryCountry musicDAB+, ABC0x300380kbit/s
ABC ExtraSpecial-event radioDigital OnlyABC0x300472kbit/s
ABC GrandstandLive sports coverageDigital OnlyABC0x300840kbit/s
ABC JazzJazz musicDAB+, DTV, ABC0x300280kbit/s
ABC Kids ListenChildren’s radioDigital OnlyABC72kbit/s
ABC Local RadioTalk, news, music and more.Labelled as the name of the local station, e.g., 702 ABC Sydney or 891 ABC AdelaideABC0x300564kbit/s
ABC NEWSNews and parliamentary broadcastsAM SimulcastABC0x300048kbit/s
ABCRadioNationalNational talk and arts radioAM SimulcastABC0x300664kbit/s
Double JAdult contemporary musicDAB+, DTV, ABC0x300180kbit/s
Triple JYouth-focused music stationFM SimulcastABC0x300980kbit/s
triplej UnearthedAustralian independent music stationDigital OnlyABC0x300A72kbit/s
SBS Arabic24News and information in ArabicDigital OnlySBS0x380448kbit/s
SBS ChillWorld chillout musicDigital OnlySBS0x380272kbit/s
SBS PopAsiaAsian pop musicDigital OnlySBS0x380372kbit/s
SBS PopDesiSouth Asian pop musicDigital OnlySBS0x380564kbit/s
SBS Radio 1Multilingual radioSBS AM Service, AM 1485, DAB+, DTVSBS0x380040kbit/s
SBS Radio 2Multilingual radioSBS FM Service, AM 1035, DAB+, DTVSBS0x380140kbit/s
SBS Radio 3BBC World Service simulcastDAB+, DTVSBS0x380648kbit/s

Commercial and community radio

Each region with access to digital broadcast radio has a number of multiplexes set aside for commercial and community radio services. In these multiplexes, two-ninths of the bandwidth are reserved for community broadcasters, while the rest is used for commercial broadcasters. Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane have been provided with two such multiplexes, which broadcast on frequency blocks 9A and 9B, allowing a greater number of stations, while other cities only use a single multiplex: 8C in Mandurah, 8D in Canberra, 9A in Darwin and Hobart, and 9B in Adelaide and Perth.
Commercial services on digital broadcast radio include simulcasts of both AM and FM stations, as well as new digital-only services. While most commercial radio services in Australia are provided by a small number of companies, there are no truly national commercial stations. However, since these commercial broadcasters have been given extra bandwidth on the digital platform, digital-only stations launched, including Triple M Classic Rock The Edge Digital and NovaNation,
Community Radio stations with a citywide licence have reserved spectrum, equalling 2/9s of the capacity on each commercial multiplex. The Federal Government promised $10.1 million in funding to help community broadcasters with the costs of beginning digital broadcasts. During late 2010 and early 2011 most of the eligible community stations in Melbourne and several in Sydney and Brisbane began test transmissions. Melbourne's community radio stations officially launched their digital services on 14 April 2011, followed by Adelaide's community radio stations on 15 April 2011, Brisbane's on 14 May 2011, and Sydney's on 24 May 2011. Services in Perth are broadcasting in digital. Community Digital Broadcast Radio services were formally launched by Senator the Hon. Stephen Conroy, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy on Friday 13 May 2011 in Melbourne.

Adelaide

Brisbane

Station NameFormatDetailsOwner
Triple MActive rockSimulcast of 104.5 FMSouthern Cross Austereo
Triple M Classic RockClassic rockDigital onlySouthern Cross Austereo
B105Top 40 / Classic hits radioSimulcast of 105.3 FMSouthern Cross Austereo
B105 BuddhaChill-out musicDigital onlySouthern Cross Austereo
B105 OldskoolHot adult contemporaryDigital onlySouthern Cross Austereo
B105 EasyEasy listeningDigital onlySouthern Cross Austereo
4BCTalk radioSimulcast of 1116 AMMacquarie
4BHMusicSimulcast of 882 AMMacquarie
4AAA 989 CountryIndigenousSimulcast of 98.9 FMCommunity
Zed DigitalIndependent musicDigital only, related to 4ZZZCommunity
4MBS LightClassical musicDigital onlyCommunity

Canberra

Station NameFormatDetailsOwner
2CAClassic hitsSimulcast of 1053 AMCapital Radio Network/Grant Broadcasters joint venture
2CCTalk radioSimulcast of 1206 AMCapital Radio Network/Grant Broadcasters joint venture
HIT104.7Contemporary hit radio / Top 40Simulcast of 104.7 FMCanberra FM Radio ARN/Southern Cross Austereo joint venture
Mix 106.3Hot adult contemporarySimulcast of 106.3 FMCanberra FM Radio ARN/Southern Cross Austereo joint venture
Country musicDigital onlyGrant Broadcasters
Easy listeningDigital onlyCapital Radio Network
Hit BuddhaChill-out musicDigital onlySouthern Cross Austereo
Snow DigitalContemporary hit radioSimulcast of Snow FM in the Snowy Mountains with Canberra advertising.Capital Radio Network
The Edge DigitalContemporary hit radioSimulcast of 96.1 FM Western Sydney digital-only in CanberraARN
Classic hits / Adult contemporaryDigital onlyNova Entertainment via leased space from Capital Radio Network
High energy gym musicDigital onlyCanberra FM Radio ARN/Southern Cross Austereo / Viva Leisure joint venture

Darwin

Hobart

Mandurah

Melbourne

Station NameFormatDetailsOwnerBitrate
3AWTalkSimulcast of 693 AMMacquarie96kbit/s
3CRVariedSimulcast of 855 AMCommunity64kbit/s
3KNDIndigenousSimulcast of 1503 AMCommunity48kbit/s
Fox FMHot adult contemporarySimulcast of 101.9 FMSouthern Cross Austereo56kbit/s
Fox BuddhaChill-out musicDigital onlySouthern Cross Austereo40kbit/s
Fox DanceDance musicDigital onlySouthern Cross Austereo40kbit/s
Fox EasyEasy listeningDigital onlySouthern Cross Austereo40kbit/s
Fox OldskoolOld-school musicDigital onlySouthern Cross Austereo40kbit/s
Fox UrbanRhythmic / Classic hits radioDigital onlySouthern Cross Austereo40kbit/s
Chemist Warehouse RemixClassic hits / Hot adult contemporaryDigital onlyARN32kbit/s
Gold 104.3Better Music & More Of ItSimulcast of 104.3 FMARN64kbit/s
Gold '80s'80s musicDigital onlyARN32kbit/s
JoyLGBT-based / Hot adult contemporarySimulcast of 94.9 FMSub-metro Community assigned to CBAA spare spectrum48kbit/s
KIIS 101.1Top 40 CHRSimulcast of 101.1 FMARN64kbit/s
KIIS 90s'90s musicDigital onlyARN32kbit/s
Kinderling KidsChildren’s radioDigital onlyKinderling Kids Radio Pty Ltd via leased space from ARN32kbit/s
Magic 1278MusicSimulcast of 1278 AMMacquarie64kbit/s
News Talk Sport TalkDigital onlyMacquarie64kbit/s
PBS DigitalVariedSimulcast of 106.7 FMCommunity64kbit/s
SYNYouth / StudentSimulcast of 90.7 FMCommunity64kbit/s
The Edge DigitalRhythmic contemporaryDigital only, related to The Edge 96.ONEARN32kbit/s
Triple MActive rockSimulcast of 105.1 FMSouthern Cross Austereo56kbit/s
Triple M Greatest HitsClassic hitsDigital onlySouthern Cross Austereo40kbit/s
VAR digitalReading RadioSimulcast of 1179 AMCommunity32kbit/s

Perth

Sydney

Station NameFormatDetailsOwnerService IDBitrate
2GB 873TalkSimulcast of 873 AMMacquarie0x11D0128kbit/s
2CH 1170Classic hitsSimulcast of 1170 AMOceania Capital Partners0x11D1128kbit/s
smooth fm 95.3Easy listeningSimulcast of 95.3 FMNOVA Entertainment0x11BC64kbit/s
Nova 969Top 40 CHRSimulcast of 96.9 FMNOVA Entertainment0x11BD112kbit/s
Smooth ChillChill-out musicDigital onlyNOVA--
Smooth RelaxOldiesDigital onlyNOVA--
Coles RadioSupermarket radioDigital onlyNOVA Entertainment0x11BE40kbit/s
101.7 WSFMPreamble: Better Music & More Of ItSimulcast of 101.7 FMARN0x118048kbit/s
KIIS 1065Top 40 CHRSimulcast of 106.5 FMARN0x118148kbit/s
The EdgeRhythmic contemporarySimulcast of 96.1 FMARN0x118248kbit/s
WS 80s'80s MusicDigital onlyARN0x118532kbit/s
WS 90s'90s MusicDigital onlyARN0x118348kbit/s
WS 00s2000s MusicDigital onlyARN0x118532kbit/s
CW RemixClassic hits radio / Hot adult contemporaryDigital onlyARN0x118448kbit/s
Triple M CountryModern countryDigital onlySouthern Cross Austereo0x120848kbit/s
2MFM Muslim DRIslamic programmingSimulcast of 92.1 FMCommunity0x122232kbit/s
FBi RadioIndependent musicSimulcast of 94.5 FMCommunity0x122364kbit/s
2SER 107.3VariedSimulcast of 107.3 FMCommunity0x122164kbit/s
Inspire DigitalChristian musicDigital only—related to Hope 103.2 FMCommunity0x122048kbit/s
Hope 1032Hot adult contemporary / Easy listeningSimulcast of 103.2 FMCommunity0x122448kbit/s
ZedVariedSimulcast of various Melbourne community stationsCommunity0x122548kbit/s
Radio MariaReligiousChristianCommunity0x????48kbit/s