ABC set to lose emergency broadcast monopoly
Jul 02
The Herald Sun reports that the ABC is likely to lose its monopoly on emergency broadcasting in the aftermath of the Victorian bushfires earlier this year, in a bid by the State Government to improve the distribution of information in the case of emergencies.
Although Aunty will remain an emergency broadcaster, it will be subject to new protocols and will likely have to share coverage of the event with commercial operators who may be able to reach thousands more potential listeners.
A government submission to the Royal Commission on the bushfires said that private stations would also be able to take on the role of emergency broadcasters following complaints amongst some communities that ABC Radio was sometimes slow or inaccurate in covering events in their area.
Related articles:
- Silence from FTA over emergency broadcasts
- AFL going regional in new broadcast deal
- State government “scandalously inactive” on bushfire warnings
TGIF July 2nd 2009