Category: Overseas

Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Managing Director David Anderson has welcomed the launch of the Australian Government’s Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy (IPBS) which calls out ABC International as a leading implementation partner.

Pre-empting the release of the strategy, the Federal Government provided an additional $32 million over four years in the October 2022 budget for ABC International to expand content production, transmission, and media assistance across the Indo-Pacific region. In the May 2023 budget, the Government announced a further $8.5 million over four years for regional transmission and distribution.

The ABC has invested this new funding to support the key pillars of the IPBS by boosting the availability of Australian content, deepening media connections and strengthening the resilience of media outlets in the region. The ABC’s work in this area continues to support mutual understanding of Australia and our region.

ABC Managing Director David Anderson welcomed the Government’s release of the much-anticipated strategy and said the ABC is “well-placed to deliver on its key pillars.”

“No other Australian media organisation has the regional knowledge, relationships, distribution networks and platforms, and the development expertise necessary to fully deliver the IPBS’ aims that are in the national interest,” Mr Anderson said.

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said: “The additional funding provided by the Federal Government under the IPBS is already being invested across the Indo-Pacific region by ABC International in a range of key areas including enhanced distribution networks, premium bespoke content for international audiences and high-impact media development programs.”

To date, the ABC has made significant progress on many deliverables outlined in the IPBS. Examples include;

ENHANCED DISTRIBUTION

• Over the past year, ABC International has launched new ABC Radio Australia 24-hour FM services in six strategic locations including Palau, Nauru, Tuvalu, Pohnpei (Federated States of Micronesia), Kokopo (Papua New Guinea) and Gizo (Solomon Islands) and will deliver new services in a further six locations in the second half of 2024.
• In October 2023, ABC International divided the previously single ABC Australia broadcast service into two separate schedules: one for the Pacific region and one for Asia, allowing the ABC to better serve audiences with content and time slots tailored to the respective regions.

BESPOKE CONTENT

• In June 2023, ABC Radio Australia launched a new schedule, tripling its Pacific-focused content with bespoke programs including morning show Nesia Daily, sport show Nesian Footy, music shows In the Fale and On the Record, a special series of the popular podcast Days Like These and Stories from The Pacific, drawing audiences into the lives of Pacific Islanders who have seen and done amazing things.
• In the past 12 months, ABC International has delivered extensive multi-platform coverage across ABC Australia, ABC Radio Australia, ABC Pacific and ABC Asia of major elections in India, Indonesia, and the Solomon Islands, and coverage of regional events such as the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara and the 2024 Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture in Hawai’i.
• Additionally, ABC Australia has broadcast two special election series this year – Indonesia Decides and India Votes 2024 – which were produced by ABC News’ Asia Pacific Newsroom for international audiences, delving into voter concerns and key political figures and providing insights beyond the headlines.
• Also, this year, ABC Australia launched Kids Club, a brand-new lineup of kids’ programming specially curated for Pacific audiences, on its Pacific service.
• In April 2023, ABC Australia launched a flagship pan-Pacific current affairs program, The Pacific, which covers the major news events in the region through the year and looks at the rich culture and history of the region. The program is supported by a network of experienced local journalists across the Pacific region.
• Over the past 12 months, ABC Australia has delivered programming targeting Indo-Pacific audiences, including special editions of ABC favourites Gardening Australia, Foreign Correspondent, Compass, Backroads and Landline as well as documentaries The Cloud Under the Sea on undersea telecommunications cables, Price of Progress: Indonesia’s Nickel Rush, Running Dry on water scarcity in Asia, and the two-part series Project Wild.

MEDIA DEVELOPMENT

• Over the past 12 months, ABC International Development (ABCID), has launched the Indonesia Media Development Program focusing on digital storytelling, safety and resilience.
• ABCID has also launched the Timor-Leste Media Development Program to strengthen Timor-Leste’s media landscape. This program provides support to the media sector through technical and craft skills training. This support includes collaborating with the Timor-Leste Press Council and supporting the public broadcaster, Rádio e Televisão de Timor-Leste (RTTL), with the launch of a weekly English language news program.
• ABCID has developed the Media Education for Development and Information Access (MEDIA) platform, an invite-only online learning resource which offers modules on journalism, capacity-building courses and resources to individuals and partners across the Indo-Pacific, to complement in-person training and mentoring.

About ABC International Services

Since 1939, the ABC has been broadcasting to audiences overseas. The International division reaches an estimated 14,224,065 unique monthly overseas audiences through owned and operated platforms including ABC Australia, ABC Radio Australia and ABC websites and apps including ABC Pacific and ABC Asia. The ABC’s international audiences come from all corners of the globe. ABC Australia, the ABC’s international television service available in 37 markets throughout Asia and the Pacific, has a monthly viewership of at least 3,905,050. ABC Radio Australia, the ABC’s international radio service available via FM in the Pacific and Timor Leste, has a monthly listenership of at least 321,225. Outside Australia, ABC websites and apps have an average global monthly usership of 9,997,790 which includes approximately 7,505,085 users across the Americas, Europe and Africa and 1,865,655 users in Asia.

*Figures based on the ABC 2022-23 Annual Report

About ABC International Development 

​ABC International Development (ABCID) is the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s media development unit. ABCID supports partner organisations in the Indo-Pacific region to pursue quality journalism, tell engaging stories and build strong connections with their communities. It leverages ABC regional expertise and sources the best Australian and Indo-Pacific talent in journalism, program-making, thematic content, organisational development and research to support capacity building in media organisations across the Indo-Pacific region.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has launched ABC Radio Australia on FM in Tuvalu for the first time, marking another milestone in the network’s expansion in the Pacific. Tuvalu audiences can now enjoy ABC Radio Australia’s full suite of Pacific-focused news, music, sport and cultural programming on 102FM.

The ABC has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Tuvalu Broadcasting Corporation (TVBC), demonstrating the ongoing partnership between the two public broadcasters. The MOU supports future opportunities for the ABC and TVBC to share technical knowledge and content, and recognises each organisation’s respective role providing public interest broadcasting services to their national audiences.

The ABC and TVBC signed the MOU and celebrated the historic launch of the new service at a ceremony in Funafuti, Tuvalu.

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman, who co-hosted the ceremony, said: “We are incredibly excited to be commemorating the collaboration between the ABC and TVBC in launching ABC Radio Australia in Tuvalu and welcome everyone to enjoy the new FM radio service. The MOU between the ABC and TVBC also marks an important milestone in our partnership, and I look forward to future opportunities for us both to work together in supporting our audiences across Tuvalu and Australia.”

TVBC Managing Director Yvette D’Unienville Isaac, who also co-hosted the ceremony, said: “We welcome the new ABC Radio Australia FM service with open arms and are thrilled to be formalising the excellent relationship that TVBC enjoys with the ABC. We hope the new MOU leads to a greater cross-cultural exchange of ideas and information and deepens the connections and friendships between our countries.”

ABC Radio Australia has recently expanded its FM transmission footprint to include Nauru, Palau, Pohnpei (Federated States of Micronesia), Kokopo (Papua New Guinea) and Gizo (Solomon Islands) and plans to launch in more new locations in coming months including Kiribati, the Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Lorengau in Papua New Guinea, and Buka in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

WAYS TO LISTEN:

Tuvalu residents can now listen on 102FM to high quality ABC Radio Australia programming including Pacific Beat, Nesia Daily, Climate Mana, Culture Compass, Pacific Pulse, Pacific Soul, Stories from the Pacific, Fresh Off The Field , Nesian Footy, Island Music and Sista Sounds.

There are multiple ways to listen to ABC Radio Australia – live via internet streaming or in your area through 24-hour FM stations, or catch up with full episodes on ABC Pacific online.

About ABC International Services

Since 1939, the ABC has been broadcasting to audiences overseas. The International division reaches an estimated 14,224,065 unique monthly overseas audiences through owned and operated platforms including ABC Australia, ABC Radio Australia and ABC websites and apps including ABC Pacific and ABC Asia. The ABC’s international audiences come from all corners of the globe. ABC Australia, the ABC’s international television service available in 37 markets throughout Asia and the Pacific, has a monthly viewership of at least 3,905,050. ABC Radio Australia, the ABC’s international radio service available via FM in the Pacific and Timor Leste, has a monthly listenership of at least 321,225. Outside Australia, ABC websites and apps have an average global monthly usership of 9,997,790 which includes approximately 7,505,085 users across the Americas, Europe and Africa and 1,865,655 users in Asia.

​

*Figures based on the ABC 2022-23 Annual Report

Pushing the boundaries of digital storytelling, SBS Spice is for Gen Y with a South Asian heritage who want to shape their own cultural narratives and be informed and entertained via social media.

SBS Spice is an exciting new English language digital offering for South Asian Australians aged 20-34, spicing things up with unique perspectives on hot topics ranging from pop culture to politics, aimed at exploring identity, belonging and social change.

Amplifying diverse voices and showcasing South Asian storytelling through a contemporary Australian lens, SBS Spice will lead progressive, thought-provoking and tongue-in-cheek conversations to cultivate a vibrant and inclusive community for young South Asian Australians born here as well as newly arrived.

SBS Spice is for the young and curious with a South Asian heritage who are active on social media, and interested in culturally shaping the narratives of where we come from and where we’re headed in a forward-looking Australia,” said Dilpreet Kaur Taggar, Executive Producer of SBS Spice, who is an Indian-born journalist, founder of South Asian Today and known for probing social nuances and amplifying diverse perspectives.

Driving video content and conversations on Instagram, YouTube and via podcasts, SBS Spice will tackle complex issues such as identity, gender equality and mental health, as well as provide entertainment and the latest in pop culture. Hosted by Taggar and Suhayla Sharif, a Bollywood obsessed Australian-Fijian journalist, it will feature the following audio-visual segments:

• Scan – short explainer series that delves behind the headlines of local and global issues to explore different viewpoints.
• Two Chillies in a Pod – long-form podcasts featuring first-person interviews with South Asian disruptors and game changers from Australia and abroad, including former Editor of Vogue India, Megha Kapoor; traveller Priya Sharma; content creator Jeremy Franco; social worker Amar Singh; and actors Shahana Goswami and Ayesha Madon.
• Spice Express – short-form podcasts focused on community check-ins to understand what issues are making South Asians click or feel ick.

The launch of SBS Spice coincides with SBS rebranding its PopDesi channel to SBS South Asian, a single destination channel for all things South Asian. Locally produced content in 10 languages is available live and on demand across broadcast radio, live streaming, digital publishing and podcasting, including a new dedicated YouTube channel offering a complete audio visualisation experience.

“SBS is proud to continue delivering on the outcomes of our Language Services Review, which is conducted every five years in line with the national Census to ensure SBS’s offering reflects a diverse and contemporary Australia and helps build a sense of inclusion and belonging for everyone,” said Pamela Cook, Acting Director of SBS Audio.

“South Asians are the fastest growing migrant population in Australia, with more than 1.5 million Australians speaking a sub continental language at home. SBS is uniquely placed to capture this depth and diversity across first, second and third generation migrants who belong and enrich the fabric of contemporary Australia,” said Manpreet Kaur Singh, Program Manager for SBS South Asian including SBS Spice.

SBS South Asian’s language programs include Bangla, Gujarati, Hindi, Nepali, Malayalam, Punjabi, Sinhala, Tamil and Urdu, featuring all the latest news, current affairs, entertainment and community stories broadcast live from 11:00AM to 6:00PM on weekdays, and 5:00PM to 6:00PM on weekends. At other times, enjoy extensive music playlists featuring all the best Bollywood (Hindi), Bhangra (Punjabi) and Nepali hits, with music in other languages to be added to the schedule progressively. A Telugu language offering launched last year is also available via podcast, website and social media.

For migrants newly arrived in Australia, SBS further provides essential services available free and online. Australia Explained offers practical information to assist with participating in everyday social and civic life, with topics ranging from tips on how to find a job to the cultural protocols of attending a BBQ, and translated into over 30 languages including Bangla, Gujarati, Hindi, Malayalam, Nepali, Punjabi, Sinhala, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.

While Punjabi and Hindi are now among the top 10 languages spoken in Australian households, Nepali is the fastest growing. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census data, the number of people speaking Punjabi is 239,033, Hindi 197,132, Nepali 133,068, Urdu 111,873, Tamil 95,404. Sinhala 85,869, Gujarati 81,334, Malayalam 78,738, Bangla 70,116 and Telugu 59,406.

SBS Spice is available via the SBS Audio App, website, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and most places where you consume your podcasts. Sample the trailer here. SBS South Asian is available on DAB, digital TV (Channel 305), and its own dedicated YouTube channel, as well as the SBS Audio App and website. Each SBS South Asian language program also has its own Facebook page and a bilingual website, with audio offerings available at most places where you consume your podcasts.

In a first for the northern Pacific region, residents of Palau can now enjoy ABC Radio Australia’s full service on 91.5FM.

The service launch comes after a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed in 2023 between the ABC and the Republic of Palau’s national radio broadcaster, Eco Paradise FM (EPFM). It is the first time since 2014 that ABC Radio Australia has been available as a full channel service to northern Pacific audiences.

Attended by Palau’s Vice President, the Hon. Uduch Sengebau Senior, the launch event at EPFM’s Koror headquarters on Friday 3 May coincided with International Press Freedom Day.

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said: “The Palau launch marks another important milestone in the ongoing expansion of ABC Radio Australia’s FM footprint in the Pacific and cements our collaboration with EPFM and the people of Palau.”

ABC Radio Australia head Justine Kelly, who co-hosted the launch event, said: “I’m excited that audiences in Palau will now have access to the very best of Pacific news, music, sports, culture and health programming, all day, every day via the new service.”

Australian Ambassador to Palau, Richelle Turner, also attended the launch event and Gorman acknowledged the Australian Embassy in Palau’s support in brokering the 2023 MOU with EPFM.

Acting Director of the Palau Bureau Archives and Media, Linda Ngirameketii, who co-hosted the launch event, added: “I express my wholehearted support for today’s ABC Radio Australia launch in Palau in partnership with EPFM 87.9, Ngerel Belau AM 1584 and the Palau Division of Media & Information Services (DMIS). I am so happy to see ABC Radio Australia return to the Palau airwaves, bridging the distances for many listeners near and far. Through radio waves and the power of media, communities are united and vital information disseminated, reaching many in the Pacific region. We welcome this endeavour, knowing it will resonate far beyond the shores of Palau.”

Palau’s Acting Chief of the Media Division Rondy Ronny, who MC’d the launch event, said: “Radio Australia stands as a beacon of connectivity, illuminating the vast potential of the airwaves in the Pacific Ocean. Its opening here in Palau marks not just a milestone in broadcasting, but a testament to the power of media to unite, inform and inspire. I envision this new platform as a catalyst for innovation, education, and cultural exchange, enriching the Palau communities and advancing our collective understanding of our surrounding waters.”

In coming weeks and months, more countries and locations will also receive ABC Radio Australia’s service, including Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia, Kokopo in Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Kiribati, the Cook Islands, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands.

WAYS TO LISTEN:

There are multiple ways to listen to ABC Radio Australia – live via internet streaming or in your area through 24-hour FM stations or catch up with full episodes on ABC Pacific online.

ABC Radio Australia has expanded FM transmission services to the island of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), where residents can now access the station’s full suite of programs via the frequency 89.1FM.

The launch of the FM service is part of an historic expansion of ABC Radio Australia’s FM footprint in the Pacific and follows the recent launch of the service in Palau, a first for the northern Pacific region.

In coming weeks and months, more countries and locations will also receive the service including Kokopo in Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Tuvalu, Kiribati, the Cook Islands and the Marshall Islands.

ABC International Services Head Claire M. Gorman said: “The launch of ABC Radio Australia in Pohnpei marks another important step in the expansion of our transmission footprint in the northern Pacific and we welcome our new audiences in the Federated States of Micronesia to explore the extensive range of Pacific-focused programs.”

Australian Ambassador to FSM Jenny Grant-Curnow co-hosted a launch event to mark the occasion which was attended by Pohnpei State Governor the Hon. Stevenson A. Joseph and ABC Radio Australia Content Director Faleagafulu Inga Stünzner.

According to Faleagafulu: “Our increasing engagement with Pohnpei and Micronesia via the launch of the ABC Radio Australia service will lead to expanded coverage of this beautiful region in our programming, as well as bringing stories from right across the Pacific to the people of Pohnpei.”

ABC Radio Australia can now be heard on 89.1FM in Pohnpei, including recently launched programs Sista Sounds, Pacific Pulse, Pacific Soul and the afternoon edition of Nesia Daily.

WAYS TO LISTEN:

There are multiple ways to listen to ABC Radio Australia – live via internet streaming or in your area through 24-hour FM stations or catch up with full episodes on ABC Pacific online.

The Central Pacific state of Nauru is the latest location in the expansion of ABC Radio Australia’s FM transmission service, now available for residents on 90.0FM.

In partnership with the Nauru Media Bureau (NMB), ABC Radio Australia has launched its full FM radio service, featuring a growing schedule of programs including the latest in Pacific news, music and sports, as well as conversations about culture, health, faith and science.

The ABC has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the NMB, building on a long history of engagement between the organisations, including the sharing of ABC NEWS on Nauru Radio and the transmission of ABC Australia television content on Nauru TV.

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said: “After many years of partnership with Nauru and the NMB, we’re proud to announce an MOU with NMB and the launch of a 24-hour dedicated ABC Radio Australia FM service, showcasing the comprehensive range of Pacific news and content that ABC Radio Australia has to offer.”

ABC International Services Manager Nesryn Bouziane, who co-hosted a launch and MOU signing ceremony in Nauru with the NMB, said: “We’re excited for new audiences across Nauru to hear and engage with ABC Radio Australia. The launch of the new FM service and the ABC’s MOU with NMB will lead to greater cross-cultural exchange of ideas and information, deepening connections and friendships between the people of Australia and Nauru.”

Nauru Minister for Media the Hon. Shadlog Bernicke, who co-hosted the launch and signing of the MOU, said: “I am extremely proud to announce the new MOU between Nauru Media Bureau & ABC Radio, further strengthening the longstanding relationship we share with the ABC family. We are committed to always bringing the best services and content to the people of Nauru and the launch of this new FM service is a testimony to our commitment. We are excited to share the fantastic array of content that the ABC has to offer with our beloved audience.”

The new Nauru service follows recent ABC Radio Australia launches in Palau and Pohnpei in Micronesia in the northern Pacific. Further Pacific locations will be added to ABC Radio Australia’s FM footprint in coming months including Tuvalu, Kiribati, the Cook Islands and the Marshall Islands.

WAYS TO LISTEN:

There are multiple ways to listen to ABC Radio Australia – live via internet streaming or in your area through 24-hour FM stations or catch up with full episodes on ABC Pacific online.