30 November 1999

New community radio licence for Cessnock/Maitland

The Australian Broadcasting Authority has allocated a community radio licence for the Cessnock/Maitland area of New South Wales.

The licence was allocated to Central Hunter Community Broadcasters Inc. and the new service will broadcast on 96.5 MHz on the FM band.

The licensee has 12 months to get the new service up and running.

"The proposed service will add to the range and diversity of services in the Central Huner region" said Professor David Flint, ABA Chairman. "The applicant satisfied the ABA it would meet the existing and perceived future needs of the general community in the Cessnock/Maitland area."

The ABA has allocated this licence after consulting with the people of the local community to seek their views on what additional broadcasting services were needed in their area.

The new community radio licence was advertised in the Maitland Mercury on 5 August and the Advertiser on 11 August 1999. One application was received and the ABA whether the proposed service would meet existing and future community needs.

Central Hunter Community Broadcasters Inc. currently operates a full time service under a temporary community broadcasting licence. The service features a wide range of programming which is intended to appeal to the general community.

To contact the new licensee, call Mr John Nicol , on (02) 4991 1286.

BACKGROUNDER

Lower Hunter region

Cessnock and Maitland are in the Lower Hunter region of New South Wales and lie within the Newcastle commercial radio and television licence areas.

The area is currently served by ABC and SBS television in addition to three commercial television services. Radio services include five ABC services: 2ABCRN, 2ABCFM, 2JJJ, 2NC and 2PB; an SBS service 2EA, and four commercial radio services: 2HD, 2NEW, 2KKO and 2XXX.

In the radio licence area plan for Newcastle region, released on 9 October 1998, the ABA determined one new community FM radio broadcasting licence be made available to provide a service to the Cessnock/Maitland area.

Community licence allocation

Part 6 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, provides for the allocation of community broadcasting licences.

The ABA uses a merit-based allocation process where applicants compete on the basis of merit for the licence. The process includes opportunity for the public to comment on applications received.

The ABA must also have regard to:

(a) the extent to which the proposed service would meet the existing and perceived future needs of the community within the licence area of the proposed service; and

(b) the nature and diversity of the interests of that community; and

(c) the nature and diversity of other broadcasting services (including national broadcasting services) available within that licence area; and

(d) the capacity of the applicant to provide the proposed service; and

(e) the undesirability of one person being in a position to exercise control of more than one community broadcasting licence that is a broadcasting services bands licence in the same licence area; and

(f) the undesirability of the Commonwealth, a State or Territory or a political party being in a position to exercise control of a community broadcasting licence.

The Minister may also give directions to the ABA to give priority to a particular community interest or interests.

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