Community Broadcasting Association of Australia
Encyclopedia
The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) is a peak body and the national representative organisation for community radio
and television stations in Australia
. The CBAA provide leadership, advocacy and support for members to actively provide independent broadcasting services and to build and strengthen local communities. The organisation provides advice and support to community broadcaster
s regarding a variety of issues.
The CBAA has also become a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), able to oversee accredited training for the sector.
In addition to this, it also offers a national satellite network, the Community Radio Network
that allows community broadcasters to share and syndicate their content.
This service has been expanded in recent years with the addition of the Digital Delivery Network (DDN). This project has allowed community radio stations to record and replay programs, interviews, and music from contributing stations within the network.
Recently the association has launched a podcast
hosting service, C pod.
The organisation also runs an annual Conference, which brings together representatives from the around Australia.
The station types include:
In most cases, each licensee is the operator of a single station, in some cases with translators and repeaters to provide services in otherwise poor reception areas.
The CBAA also consults with its members on matters including broadcast licencing, the relevant Code of Practice (Community Radio), and provides training and legal advice.
Association of Australia (PBAA). That organisation was founded during the 1970s in response to the rapidly developing sector.
However, changes in funding for the sector during the 1980s sparked a crisis. As government funding was re-directed, the stations were less able to support themselves, or the peak body. This pressure culminated in near bankruptcy for the PBAA.
In the early 1980s, the PBAA was dissolved and from its ashes, the new CBAA arose, under strict financial management, and a focus on membership support.
Community radio
Community radio is a type of radio service, that offers a third model of radio broadcasting beyond commercial broadcasting and public broadcasting. Community stations can serve geographic communities and communities of interest...
and television stations in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The CBAA provide leadership, advocacy and support for members to actively provide independent broadcasting services and to build and strengthen local communities. The organisation provides advice and support to community broadcaster
Community radio
Community radio is a type of radio service, that offers a third model of radio broadcasting beyond commercial broadcasting and public broadcasting. Community stations can serve geographic communities and communities of interest...
s regarding a variety of issues.
The CBAA has also become a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), able to oversee accredited training for the sector.
In addition to this, it also offers a national satellite network, the Community Radio Network
Community Radio Network (Australia)
The Community Radio Network in Australia is a satellite program feed available to subscribing community radio stations. It was created and is managed by the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia . The CRN does not produce the programs that are broadcast on the feed, but acts as a...
that allows community broadcasters to share and syndicate their content.
This service has been expanded in recent years with the addition of the Digital Delivery Network (DDN). This project has allowed community radio stations to record and replay programs, interviews, and music from contributing stations within the network.
Recently the association has launched a podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
hosting service, C pod.
The organisation also runs an annual Conference, which brings together representatives from the around Australia.
Member Stations
The CBAA, as the currently recognised peak body for community broadcasting in Australia, has members from a diverse range of independently operated not-for-profit community based radio stations.The station types include:
- General Community (Geographical Area based stations)
- Christian / Religious (Religious stations, usually Christian, now includes Muslim services)
- Youth (Student and general youth stations)
- Indigenous (Indigenous / Aboriginal / Torres Strait Islands)
- Print Handicapped (RPH and affiliates)
- Specialist Music (Broad or specific genre stations - eg: Classical, jazz etc)
- Progressive (used to describe Left leaning, mainly talk based radio services)
- Senior Citizens (Over 60's - oldies music for senior citizens)
- Sport
In most cases, each licensee is the operator of a single station, in some cases with translators and repeaters to provide services in otherwise poor reception areas.
Member Services
The CBAA operates to provide advice and representation to the members. It also offers insurance plans for volunteers, music broadcasting rights and news copyright fees at discounted rates for its members.The CBAA also consults with its members on matters including broadcast licencing, the relevant Code of Practice (Community Radio), and provides training and legal advice.
History
The CBAA was born out of the Public BroadcastingPublic broadcasting
Public broadcasting includes radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing and commercial financing.Public broadcasting may be...
Association of Australia (PBAA). That organisation was founded during the 1970s in response to the rapidly developing sector.
However, changes in funding for the sector during the 1980s sparked a crisis. As government funding was re-directed, the stations were less able to support themselves, or the peak body. This pressure culminated in near bankruptcy for the PBAA.
In the early 1980s, the PBAA was dissolved and from its ashes, the new CBAA arose, under strict financial management, and a focus on membership support.
External links
Further reading
- Broadcasting Australia - Public Broadcasting Association of Australia. ISSN 0312-5009 Vol. 1, no. 1 (Oct. 1975)-no. 8 (Nov. 1981)
See also
- Community Broadcasting FoundationCommunity Broadcasting FoundationThe Community Broadcasting Foundation is an independent non-profit funding organisation based in Melbourne. The CBF solicits and then distributes funds that assist with the maintenance and development of community broadcasting in Australia....
- National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters CouncilNational Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters CouncilThe National Ethnic & Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council is the peak body for Australia’s ethnic and multilingual community broadcasters. The NEMBC develops national policy, advocates and lobbies on behalf of its members and organises an annual national conference. The council also provides a...
- Radio Print Handicapped NetworkRadio Print Handicapped NetworkRPH Australia is the national peak representative organisaion for a unique Australian network of radio reading service designed to meet the daily information needs of people who, for any reason, are unable to access normal printed material...
- Australian Indigenous Communications AssociationAustralian Indigenous Communications AssociationThe Australian Indigenous Communications Association is the peak body for Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander broadcasters. The AICA aims to represent all indigenous people and organisations in the media, communications and entertainment industry...