Will digital kill the radio star?
Negotiations are underway for both the commercial and community radio sectors to sign up to digital radio. Battling complex legislation requiring community stations around the country to form Digital radio Companies – DRC’s which then need to form Joint Venture Companies – JVC’s with commercial stations, community radio has had to come up with thousands of dollars to sign up to a deal that sees them get only 2/9ths of the bandwidth and then have to share that 2/9ths among all stations. The deadline for forming the JVC’s was yesterday, and the deal fell in a heap when commercial radio refused to accept a request from community stations to subject future funding requirements to funding from the federal govt. Community radio has met with stony silence from Minister Stephen Conroy, who has ignored a plea to help the sector get on board the digital train.