Fiji Shuts Down ABC Radio Australia Broadcasts

Fiji Shuts Down ABC Radio Australia Broadcasts

Wednesday, 15 April 2009

MELBOURNE – Radio Australia’s FM transmitters in Suva and Nadi were shutdown early this morning by officers from Fiji’s Ministry of Information.

Radio Australia has broadcast uninterrupted on FM in Fiji since 2004 and for seventy years on shortwave. Radio Australia has become a reliable source of news and information to local listeners. According to a 2008 survey conducted by Fijian-based Tebbutt Research, 22.5% of Fijians have listened to Radio Australia within the last week.

Despite the shutdown of its FM transmitters, Radio Australia will maintain this essential service online at www.radioaustralia.net.au and over the following shortwave radio frequencies and times:

9580, 11880 kHz - 5am – 8am (Pacific Beat 6am)

11660 kHz - 8am – 10am (Pacific Beat 8am – 9am)

13630 kHz - 9am – 11am (AM 9.10am – 9.40am)

15560 kHz - 10am - noon (Connect Asia 11am - noon)

17715, 17795 kHz - Noon – 2pm (Breakfast Club)

15515 kHz - 2pm – 5pm (TWT 2pm – 3pm)

15160, 13630 kHz - 5pm – 8pm (Pacific Beat 5pm – 6pm RNZI Dateline 6.30pm – 7pm)

9580 kHz - 8pm – 2am (PM from 8pm rpt 11pm, Asia Pacific from 10pm)

7240 kHz – 2am – 5am

Australia Network television, part of the ABC International division with Radio Australia, continues to broadcast throughout the region on cable and through local free to air stations.

The Director ABC International, Murray Green, said “The closing of Radio Australia in Suva and Nadi is most regrettable. Fiji has had a strong tradition of independent journalism and Radio Australia has been part of that for seventy years. Our Pacific correspondent Sean Dorney was deported yesterday. Now we are off the air. We look forward to a Fiji, where an independent media, committed to fairness and accuracy, can thrive”.

ENDS

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