From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Radio National is an Australia-wide
non-commercial radio network run by the Australian Broadcasting
Corporation.
Radio National broadcasts national programming in areas that
include news and current affairs, the
arts, social issues, science, drama and comedy. Some programs are
relayed on Radio
Australia, the ABC's international free-to-air shortwave service.
Radio National currently has 327 transmitter sites and covers
over 98% of the permanently inhabited areas of Australia. Remote
areas are served by satellite service.
All radio programs are available for live streaming over
the Internet, and most(excluding drama , poetry and music) as
audio-on-demand, or for download as MP3's for at least four weeks after broadcast. Some
programs are available as MP3's
going back to 2005, when Radio National commenced podcasting. About
25% of shows, mainly the flagship weekly shows, have written
transcripts archived back to 1996.
History
From 1928, the National Broadcasting Service, as part of the
federal Postmaster-General's
Department, gradually took over responsibility for all the
existing stations that were sponsored by public licence fees ("A"
Class licences). The outsourced Australian Broadcasting
Company supplied programs from 1929. In 1932 a commission was
established, merging the original ABC company and the National
Broadcasting Service. It is from this time that Radio National
dates as a distinct network within the ABC, in which a system of
program relays was developed during the subsequent decades to link
stations spread across the nation.
Radio National's Sydney station 2FC [1] first
broadcast on 5 December 1923. 2FC stood for Farmer and Company, the
original owner of the station before the ABC took it over.
The origins of the other stations in the network were:
- 3AR Melbourne – 26 January 1924 "Associated
Radio".[2][3]
- 5CL Adelaide – 20 November 1924 "Central
Broadcasters Ltd"
- 7ZL Hobart – 17 December 1924
- 4QG Brisbane – 27 July 1925 "Queensland
Government"
- 6WN Perth – 5 October 1938
"Wanneroo"
- 2CY Canberra – 23 December 1938
- 2NA Newcastle – 20 December
1943
From 1947 until the mid-1980s, "Radio 2" (as it came to be
known, after BBC Radio
2) was broadcast to the major metropolitan centres, with a
large broadcast footprint in adjacent areas due to the powerful AM
transmitters in use. It contained most of the ABC's national
programming.
In the 1970s, the network's program format began to take on a
more serious tone, a style which continues to this day. Art critic
Peter Timm later remarked that the network is "virtually the only
non-print media forum for art in this country."[4]
In the early 1980s the broadcast footprint was extended with the
construction of the first of over 300 regional FM transmitters
(including community re-broadcast sites). In 1985, the ABC renamed
"Radio 2" as "Radio National".
Since 1990, all Radio National stations have had the same
callsign format, Radio National preceded by the appropriate number
for the state or territory, sometimes followed by the locality
(e.g., "2RN Sydney", "3RN Melbourne").
As a result of cuts in the 1996–97 budget, Radio National was
hit with a reduction of a million dollars in its funding, with a
significant impact on programming.[5]
2008
restructure
In 2008, controversial programming cuts once more raised the
issue of funding cuts to the public broadcaster.[6][7][8][9][10]
Presenter Stephen Crittenden leaked
confidential Radio National programming changes in an unscheduled
live broadcast before the start of his show, vehemently criticising
his superiors.[11]
Stephen Crittenden was suspended for his outburst, amid
criticism from some colleagues for his unprofessionalism and praise
from others for his outspokeness[12]. His
unscripted comments not included in the ABC's podcast and
transcript of the program, but the subsequent comment by religious
commentator Paul Collins on Crikey.com reiterated
Crittendon's fears[13]
Crittenden was eventually reinstated as a reporter in the flagship
investigative program Background Briefing
after an independent investigation resulted in a confidential
settlement with the presenter [14].
However his program and the other eight cancelled or merged were
not re-instated.
Another casualty of the controversy was head of ABC Radio Sue
Howard, who was dismissed in 2009, partly for the perception that
the controversy was mishandled.[15]
Programs
The times shown relate to Radio National's schedules in the
eastern states of
Australia. Pre-recorded shows are broadcast on time delay
in the centre and west.
Full program guides for all the different regional variations
can be see at The Radio National
website.
News
- AM, The World Today,
PM:
in-depth news and analysis (Monday to Fridays at 07:10, 12:00, and
17:00)
- Asia Pacific: current regional affairs in the Asia
Pacific region, from ABC Radio Australia (Tuesday to Saturday at
00:05 and 05:00)
News and
analysis
- Counterpoint hosted
by Michael Duffy
with views from libertarian perspectives (Mondays 16:00, repeated
Fridays 13:00)
- Breakfast:
"comprehensive coverage and analysis of national and international
events - serious, fun, topical and diverse" hosted by Fran Kelly
(Mondays–Fridays, 06:00 to 08:30; includes BBC and CNN coverage
before 06:30, and AM at 07:10)
- Bush
Telegraph: "an entertaining look at rural and regional
issues around Australia" (Mondays–Fridays 11:00)
- Background Briefing
ABC Radio's agenda-setting current affairs investigative program
(Sundays 09:00 repeated Tuesdays 19:00, Wednesdays 04:00)
- The
National Interest features in depth analysis of national
issues of interest (Fridays 18:00; repeated Saturdays 03:00,
Sundays 12:00), hosted by Peter Mares (formerly by writer and
journalist Terry
Lane)
- The Health Report:
appealing to "both specialist and mainstream audiences by applying
a broad definition of health, and seeing health and medicine within
social, scientific and political contexts" and hosted by Dr Norman
Swan (Mondays 08:30, repeated Tuesdays 00:30)
- The Law Report:
"Breaking legal stories across Australia and overseas, analysing
law reform, legal education, test cases, miscarriages of justice
and examining legal culture" (Tuesdays 08:30, repeated Wednesdays
00:30)
- Life Matters, hosted
by Richard Aedy and including the Talkback Classroom segment,
talks with the main people behind Australia's social policies –
from workplace issues to education, health, family relationships,
and social change (Mondays–Fridays 09:00 and 21:00)
- Late
Night Live, hosted by Phillip Adams (Mondays–Thursdays
22:00–23:00 and repeated the following afternoon at 16:00)
Talkback
- Australia Talks:
Mondays–Wednesdays 18:00–19:00, repeated Tuesdays–Thursday
03:00)
Arts and
music
- Artworks: What's
happening now in new music, art and culture in Australia and around
the world (Sundays 10:00, Tuesdays 15:00)
- Airplay: radio plays
(Sundays 15:00 repeated Fridays 19:00, )
- Poetica: poetry
featured and produced for radio (Saturdays 15:00 , repeated
Thursdays 15:00)
- Music Deli: live
music performances (Fridays 20:00 repeated Sundays 16:00 and
Tuesdays 2:00)
- The Music Show:
latest developments in music, featured music and interviews with
performers/composers (Saturdays 10:00–12:00 and 20:00–22:00)
- Sound Quality:
latest new music in the genre of electronica and others hosted by
Tim Ritchie, former JJJ announcer
and DJ (Fridays 23:20, Part 2 repeated Mondays 00:30)
- The Daily
Planet : "a unique window into the world's diverse,
traditional and innovative musics ... Good players don't put music
into little boxes, so we don't either" Presented by Lucky Oceans
(Mondays–Fridays 14:30-15:00 and repeated Mondays–Thursdays
23:10)
- The Weekend Planet:
Ranges across the world’s most eloquent, individual, intimate,
inventive beautiful music. Each edition is highly diverse, but has
a particular focus. Surprising connections abound. Amazingly rich
playlists. Presented by Doug Spencer (Saturdays
and Sundays 22:00)
- 360: "the best radio
features and documentaries from Australia and around the world"
(Saturdays 14:00, repeated Wednesdays 13:00)
- The Night Air:
"listening for pleasure: an audio adventure in which ideas, sounds
and music are remixed around a new theme each week" (Sundays 20:30;
Part 1 repeated Fridays 21:30, Part 2 repeated Saturdays
00:00)
- The Book
Show: discussion of everything relating to the written
word, presented by Ramona Koval (Monday to Fridays 10:00,
repeated 20:00)
- Into the Music:
Exploring and celebrating all aspects of music. Ranging across the
history of music, the lives and experiences of musicians and the
practices of music-making. Presented by Robyn Johnston (Saturdays
17:05, repeated Sundays 01:05 and Fridays 15:05)
Religion
Radio National's religion unit provides reporting and analysis
on religious and ethical issues for Australia. Following its ABC
charter obligations, this unit forms a key part of the ABC's religion output, and is unique in providing the
independent analysis of a public broadcaster.
- Encounter : "a
radio documentary series exploring connections between religion and
life" (Sundays 07:10, repeated Wednesdays 19:00)
- The Rhythm
Divine : "a musical journey through the world of
belief" (Fridays 21:00, repeated Sundays 05:00)
- The Spirit Of Things:
"an adventure into religion and spirituality, exploring
contemporary values and beliefs" (Sundays 18:00, repeated Tuesdays
13:00 and Wednesdays 02:00)
Society
- All In The Mind
presented by Natasha Mitchell, investigates the mental universe,
the mind, brain and behaviour (Saturdays 13:00, Mondays 13:00).
There is also an All in the Mind blog.
- Big Ideas deals with
concepts of global importance (Sundays 17:00, repeated Mondays
00:00, Friday 4.00)
- The Philosopher's
Zone: your guide through the strange thickets of logic,
metaphysics and ethics, presented by Alan Saunders. (Saturdays
13:35, Mondays 13:35)
Science
- The Science Show:
recent developments in the field of science, presented by Robyn Williams
(Saturdays 12:10–13:00, repeated Mondays 19:10–20:00, Tuesdays
4:00)
-
All in the Mind: lateral explorations of the mind, brain
and human behaviour presented by Natasha Mitchell (Saturdays 13:00,
repeated Mondays 13:00).
- Ockham's Razor: a weekly opinion piece
presented by Robyn Williams (Sundays 8:45)
See also
External
links
References
Australia
- National AM/FM and Internet
Wikis
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