Australia revives radio signal to Asia

DARWIN, Australia -- Australia has a media presence in Asia again following a decision by Radio Australia to begin broadcasting again from transmitters near Darwin.

Radio Australia, which broadcasts in English and the Bahasa Indonesia language, has not been easily heard in Asia for several years after the federal government sold off its transmitters as a cost-cutting measure.

And in March this year, Australia television signal to Asia was switched off after the Seven Network television broadcaster decided to shut down a 10-year old loss-making service transmitted via Indonesia's Palapa satellite.

The TV service was started by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, which also runs Radio Australia, but was sold to Australia's Seven Network in 1997.

The Australian Government is offering a $5 million subsidy to companies willing to revive the defunct TV signal.

Radio Australia says its news service will offer an extra seven hours of news and information programing each day in English and Indonesian to the region.

Radio Australia

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