Good grief .. this idiot government won’t rest until they trash the ABC .. and
cease much goodwill for our world region. Idiots
“China takes over Radio Australia frequencies after ABC drops shortwave”
A Chinese station has taken over some of the shortwave radio frequencies once
used by the ABC in the Pacific region, following the broadcaster's decision to
end shortwave services.
Key points:
The ABC chose to end shortwave radio broadcasts in early 2017
China's state-owned broadcaster now uses Radio Australia's old frequencies
Australia's overseas broadcasting in the Asia Pacific is being reviewed
Radio Australia switched off its shortwave transmissions to remote parts of
northern Australia and across the Pacific in January 2017.
The ABC insisted at the time the shortwave technology was out of date and it
would save $1.9 million by cutting the service, which it said would be
reinvested in expanding content and services.
The decision was met by an outcry from affected listeners, and there has been
continued agitation to bring the service back.
The Australian newspaper has reported Radio Australia's former shortwave
frequencies are now being used by China Radio International, the countrgavey's
state-owned overseas broadcaster.
Claire Moore, Labor's spokeswoman for international development and the
Pacific, said she was not surprised Chinese services snapped up Australia's old
frequencies.
"People in the Pacific were telling us that shortwave was a tried and true
mechanism in their parts of the world, they relied on it and they knew about
it," Ms Moore said.
Ms Moore said the Government had, "dropped the ball in the Pacific, at great
cost to our national interest" by allowing the ABC to give up its shortwave
broadcasts.
Asked why the Government should take responsibility for the ABC's decision, she
said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade accepted the broadcaster's
decision, and did not believe it was necessary to inject more resources into
maintaining the service.
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