The History of Australian Community Broadcasting

Engineers from Marconi in UK erect experimental radio transmitters in Devonport and Point Lonsdale. Wireless & Telegraphy act passed by Parliament.

The first Australian radio station 2SB (later 2BL, and now ABC Radio Sydney) starts broadcasting in Sydney.

Read the ABC's retrospective from 2023.

The Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) begins radio broadcasting.

First FM radio test broadcasts in  Australia by PMG.

First TV broadcast by TCN 9, showing Olympic Games held in Melbourne.

VL2UV at University of NSW begins first non-commercial, non-government service, transmitting course related programs, just off the broadcast band at 1900 kHz. 

UNSW starts low power UHF educational TV transmission.

3DR (Draft Resistor) pirate radio broadcasts from Melbourne University. Station closed after police raid a few days later.

VL5UV, the precursor to 5UV (later Radio Adelaide) at Adelaide University starts, off the broadcast band at 1710 kHz.

Public broadcasters’ conference convened by Peter Pockley. Decision taken to form Public Broadcasting Association of Australia (PBAA, now the CBAA).

Cabinet decides to offer W&T Act experimental FM licences to NSW and Victorian music Broadcasting Societies and loosen restrictions on 5UV licence and bring it onto the main AM broadcasting band – making 5UV (also known as Radio Adelaide) the first community radio station in Australia.

Colour television begins.

4ZZZ at Queensland University Union starts broadcasting with experimental licence.

Experimental radio licences issued for 2EA (Sydney) and 3EA (Melbourne) to promote Government’s new Medibank policy to migrant communities.

Read on here to find out how these formed the basis for the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS).

Fine music station 3MBS starts in Melbourne.

Minister for the Media Moss Cass offers 12 W&T Act licences to educational institutions, and 2 restricted commercial licences.

2MCE starts in Bathurst - Australia's first regional community station.

Government sets up Green Inquiry into broadcasting planning, control and licensing.

2XX at ANU in Canberra launched.

3CR starts broadcasting in Melbourne.

Find out more about 3CR's history by reading Radical Radio - Celebrating 40 years of 3CR.

6NR at Curtin University in Perth begins broadcasting.

3RRR goes to air in Melbourne, originally as 3RMT.

The Broadcasting and Television Act replaces the Australian Broadcasting Control Board with the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal and provides for licensing of public broadcasting.

Government directs ABC to shut down 3ZZ.

Hope FM begins in Sydney, originally as 2CBA, Christian Broadcasting Association.

Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA) formed and begins production of programs for broadcast on 8CCC.

National Aboriginal and Islander Broadcasting Association (NAIBA) set up.

For  more information on the timeline of Australian Indigenous Media visit First Nations Media Australia's website.

National Program Service set up by Public Broadcasting Assocation of Australia to exchange and distribute programs.

Territory FM starts broadcasting in Darwin, originally as 8TOP.

Australian Council for Radio for the Print Handicapped set up (now Disability Media Australia).

First meeting of the Board  of the Public Broadcasting Foundation.

National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters Council (NEMBC) formed.

2XX, 3CR, 3RRR, 4ZZZ and 2RSR form the Progressive Radio Association (PRA).

PBAA sets up National Sponsorship Scheme.

First Broadcasting for Remote Aboriginal Communities Scheme (BRACS) unit installed at Jigalong in WA.

Led initially by station manager Berzanskis, this station went on to become 94.7 The Pulse.

Community TV test transmissions in Sydney and Melbourne.

First 100 community  radio stations licenced.

3RPH, now part of Vision Australia Radio, starts broadcasting on main AM band with full metropolitan coverage.

Satellite distribution of community radio programs begins, first via SBS and BBC.

Public Broadcasting Association of Australia (PBAA) changes its name to Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA). 

National Indigenous Media Association of Australia incorporated.

6WR Waringarri Radio becomes the first established Aboriginal community radio station in Western Australia.

Community Broadcasting Summit, Coolangatta, sets up National Community Media Council.

Government announces funding for Contemporary Music Industry Initiative, which becomes AMRAP.

First 200 community radio and 5 CTV stations operating.

Funding Strategy Group convened by CBF to develop triennial sector development strategy.

Digital Delivery Network (DDN) rolls out.

Australian Indigenous Communications Association (AICA) set up.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority was formed with the merger of the Australian Broadcasting Authority and the Australian Communications Authority.

National Training Secretariat set up at CBAA to roll out accredited training.

Government announces House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications, Information Technology and the Arts inquiry into community broadcasting.

Publication of Griffith University’s ‘Community Media Matters’ report on qualitative study of community broadcasting audiences.

Australian Community Television Alliance (ACTA) established.

Government commits over $11 million over three years for first phase of community radio’s digital services.

Minister Conroy announces transition to digital for CTV, facilitated by $2.6 million grant.

C31 Melbourne starts digital TV broadcasting.

Community Media Training Organisation (CMTO) is incorporated.

First community radio digital broadcast by ‘Inspire Digital’ in Sydney.

Government announces major funding increase, including additional $3 million per year for community broadcasting content funding.

Minister Conroy launches community radio’s digital services.

Community Radio Plus, an app featuring online streams and podcasts from over 300 community broadcasters around the country, is launched. Download the app today on Google Play or the App Store.

Roadmap 2033 was launched at a joint event held by the CBAA and CBF, hosted by Western Sydney community Radio Station SWR 99.9FM. Roadmap 2033 provides a ten-year plan for the community broadcasting sector, outlining a shared vision of the future where community broadcasting is at the heart of every community. 

The passing of the Broadcasting Services Amendment (Community Television) Bill 2024, introduced by the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, Minister for Communications, ensures community TV will stay on-air for the foreseeable future.

The Bill repealed previous legislation, under which C31 Melbourne and Geelong and Channel 44 Adelaide's broadcasting licences were due to expire on 30 June in 2024.