SBS EXPANDS DIGITAL SERVICES IN RURAL AND REMOTE AUSTRALIA
Thursday 29 August, 2013
SBS today welcomed a Federal Government announcement to deliver SBS digital television services to 95 additional locations across Australia in the largest expansion of the network’s television services since its establishment in the 1970s.
The expansion will deliver the suite of SBS digital television services for the first time to the homes of at least 130,000 more Australians living in regional and remote communities.
It includes areas which have never before received SBS digital television services and areas where SBS will take over a community-run facility and provide SBS digital services as part of its national network.
The expansion addresses a long-term inequity between SBS’s rural and remote coverage and the ABC and other commercial broadcasters, bringing SBS into line with their reach for the first time in the organisation’s 35 year history.
Full rollout of the expansion will take some time due to the number of services involved but some communities are already benefitting from new SBS digital television services including in Bruce Rock, Carnamah, Kununurra East, Kojonup, Merredin and Norseman in Western Australia.
SBS Managing Director Michael Ebeid said: “This announcement is exciting news for Australians living in rural and remote communities and a significant milestone in SBS’s evolution. It means more people will receive SBS digital television than ever before.
“The expansion of digital television services will enable SBS to use its unique position within the Australian media landscape to contribute to social cohesion, by telling stories which truly explore and celebrate our diversity in a way only SBS can.”
Access to the suite of SBS digital services means people can also listen to the multilingual radio services of SBS through their digital television.
Sites that will receive the suite of SBS digital television services for the first time are:
1. Augusta, WA
2. Bicheno, TAS
3. Binalong Bay, TAS
4. Bombala, NSW
5. Bonalbo, NSW
6. Bordertown, SA
7. Cann River, VIC
8. Casterton, VIC
9. Coffin Bay, SA
10. Cooma/ Monaro, NSW
11. Corryong, VIC
12. Genoa, VIC
13. Halls Gap, VIC
14. Hopetoun, VIC
15. Kalbarri, WA
16. Keith, SA
17. King Island, TAS
18. Kyogle, NSW
19. Lameroo, SA
20. Mallacoota, VIC
21. Miles, QLD
22. Mingenew, WA
23. Mitchell, QLD
24. Murgon, QLD
25. Nannup, WA
26. Nyngan, NSW
27. Orbost, VIC
28. Pinnaroo, SA
29. Rosebery, TAS
30. St Marys, TAS
31. Strahan, TAS
32. Swansea, TAS
33. Tara, QLD
34. Walcha, NSW
35. Walgett, NSW
36. Waratah,TAS
37. Wilcannia, NSW
38. Sunshine Coast South, QLD
Sites that previously had a self-help service and will now have a funded permanent SBS digital service are:
1. Adelong
2. Balranald, NSW
3. Barcaldine, QLD
4. Batchelor, NT
5. Batlow, NSW
6. Blackall, QLD
7. Bourke Town, NSW
8. Brewarrina, NSW
9. Bridgetown, WA
10. Bruce Rock, NSW
11. Burra, SA
12. Carnamah, WA
13. Captains Flat, NSW
14. Cardwell, QLD
15. Cloncurry, QL
16. Coober Pedy, SA
17. Cooktown, QLD
18. Cunnamulla, QLD
19. Dampier, WA
20. Derby, TAS
21. Fitzroy Crossing, WA
22. Glenden, QLD
23. Halls Creek, WA
24. Hughenden, QLD
25. Jabiru, NT
26. Kambalda, WA
27. Kandos, NSW
28. Khancoban, NSW
29. Kojonup, WA
30. Kununurra East, WA
31. Lightning Ridge, NSW
32. Maydena, TAS
33. Meekatharra, WA
34. Merredin, WA
35. Merriwa, NSW
36. Moora, WA
37. Morawa, WA
38. Mount Magnet, WA
39. Mullewa, WA
40. Murrurundi, NSW
41. Norseman, WA
42. Pannawonica, WA
43. Paraburdoo, WA
44. Pemberton, WA
45. Quorn, SA
46. Roebourne, WA
47. Southern Cross Town, WA
48. Springsure, QLD
49. St Helens, TAS
50. Talbingo, NSW
51. Tawonga South, VIC
52. Thursday Island, QLD
53. Tumbarumba, NSW
54. Walwa/Jingellic
55. Weipa
56. Winton
57. Wyndham
ENDS.