SBS EXPANDS DIGITAL SERVICES IN RURAL AND REMOTE AUSTRALIA

SBS EXPANDS DIGITAL SERVICES IN RURAL AND REMOTE AUSTRALIA

Thursday 29 August, 2013

Media Release

SBS today welcomed a Federal Government announcement to deliver SBS digital television services to 95 additional locations across Australia in the largest expansion of the network's television services since its establishment in the 1970s.

The expansion will deliver the suite of SBS digital television services for the first time to the homes of at least 130,000 more Australians living in regional and remote communities.

It includes areas which have never before received SBS digital television services and areas where SBS will take over a community-run facility and provide SBS digital services as part of its national network.

The expansion addresses a long-term inequity between SBS's rural and remote coverage and the ABC and other commercial broadcasters, bringing SBS into line with their reach for the first time in the organisation's 35 year history.

Full rollout of the expansion will take some time due to the number of services involved but some communities are already benefitting from new SBS digital television services including in Bruce Rock, Carnamah, Kununurra East, Kojonup, Merredin and Norseman in Western Australia.

SBS Managing Director Michael Ebeid said: This announcement is exciting news for Australians living in rural and remote communities and a significant milestone in SBS's evolution. It means more people will receive SBS digital television than ever before.

The expansion of digital television services will enable SBS to use its unique position within the Australian media landscape to contribute to social cohesion, by telling stories which truly explore and celebrate our diversity in a way only SBS can.

Access to the suite of SBS digital services means people can also listen to the multilingual radio services of SBS through their digital television.

Sites that will receive the suite of SBS digital television services for the first time are:

1. Augusta, WA

2. Bicheno, TAS

3. Binalong Bay, TAS

4. Bombala, NSW

5. Bonalbo, NSW

6. Bordertown, SA

7. Cann River, VIC

8. Casterton, VIC

9. Coffin Bay, SA

10. Cooma/ Monaro, NSW

11. Corryong, VIC

12. Genoa, VIC

13. Halls Gap, VIC

14. Hopetoun, VIC

15. Kalbarri, WA

16. Keith, SA

17. King Island, TAS

18. Kyogle, NSW

19. Lameroo, SA

20. Mallacoota, VIC

21. Miles, QLD

22. Mingenew, WA

23. Mitchell, QLD

24. Murgon, QLD

25. Nannup, WA

26. Nyngan, NSW

27. Orbost, VIC

28. Pinnaroo, SA

29. Rosebery, TAS

30. St Marys, TAS

31. Strahan, TAS

32. Swansea, TAS

33. Tara, QLD

34. Walcha, NSW

35. Walgett, NSW

36. Waratah,TAS

37. Wilcannia, NSW

38. Sunshine Coast South, QLD

Sites that previously had a self-help service and will now have a funded permanent SBS digital service are:

1. Adelong

2. Balranald, NSW

3. Barcaldine, QLD

4. Batchelor, NT

5. Batlow, NSW

6. Blackall, QLD

7. Bourke Town, NSW

8. Brewarrina, NSW

9. Bridgetown, WA

10. Bruce Rock, NSW

11. Burra, SA

12. Carnamah, WA

13. Captains Flat, NSW

14. Cardwell, QLD

15. Cloncurry, QL

16. Coober Pedy, SA

17. Cooktown, QLD

18. Cunnamulla, QLD

19. Dampier, WA

20. Derby, TAS

21. Fitzroy Crossing, WA

22. Glenden, QLD

23. Halls Creek, WA

24. Hughenden, QLD

25. Jabiru, NT

26. Kambalda, WA

27. Kandos, NSW

28. Khancoban, NSW

29. Kojonup, WA

30. Kununurra East, WA

31. Lightning Ridge, NSW

32. Maydena, TAS

33. Meekatharra, WA

34. Merredin, WA

35. Merriwa, NSW

36. Moora, WA

37. Morawa, WA

38. Mount Magnet, WA

39. Mullewa, WA

40. Murrurundi, NSW

41. Norseman, WA

42. Pannawonica, WA

43. Paraburdoo, WA

44. Pemberton, WA

45. Quorn, SA

46. Roebourne, WA

47. Southern Cross Town, WA

48. Springsure, QLD

49. St Helens, TAS

50. Talbingo, NSW

51. Tawonga South, VIC

52. Thursday Island, QLD

53. Tumbarumba, NSW

54. Walwa/Jingellic

55. Weipa

56. Winton

57. Wyndham

ENDS.

LINK:	http://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/news-media-releases/view/id/765/h/SBS-EX...
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