Joint Media Release

Senator Helen Coonan
Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate

Senator Gary Humphries
Senator for the ACT

007/07 21 February 2007

Classic FM and Triple J extended to Tuggeranong Valley

The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan and ACT Liberal Senator Gary Humphries today announced the ABC will extend Classic FM and Triple J radio services to the Tuggeranong Valley in Canberra.

“Improvements to the transmission infrastructure at Tuggeranong Hill will ensure the ABC can then broadcast Classic FM and Triple J to the Tuggeranong Valley which will be of particular benefit to people living in Kambah,” Senator Coonan said.

“I congratulate Senator Humphries on his dogged pursuit of this matter. He has been in regular contact with my office and the community about this for over 2 years.”

The upgrade will also improve reception of these two services in some areas and provide new coverage in areas which have not received transmission from Black Mountain due to the blocking effect of Mount Taylor.

“My underlying argument to the Government was that the ABC is a national institution which should be accessible for all Australians. Canberrans, particularly, are great fans of ABC radio,” Senator Humphries said.

“The upgrade of transmission facilities will enable the delivery of two of the ABC’s most popular radio channels – Classic FM for lovers of classical and contemporary music and youth radio station – Triple J.”

ABC Classic FM broadcasts the best classical and contemporary music, performed by the world’s finest musicians, taking listeners to hundreds of live performances from concert halls in Australia and around the world.

Triple J is the ABC’s 24 hour national youth network, broadcasting at least 35 per cent Australian content annually, with an emphasis on new and emerging talent. Triple J also provides sport and news, with a focus on a younger audience.

The ABC currently broadcasts NewsRadio— from Tuggeranong Hill on 99.9 FM. It is expected that the Classic FM and Triple J services will provide a similar level of coverage. Two commercial FM radio services are also provided from Tuggeranong Hill.

Broadcast Australia, will soon lodge a development application with the ACT Government to upgrade the existing transmission facilities on Tuggeranong Hill.

Providing the necessary development approvals are obtained, the ABC expects that the Classic FM and Triple J radio services will commence from Tuggeranong Hill around July 2007.

Senator Coonan’s Media Contact: Jane McMillan - 0438 690 305
Senator Humphries’ Media Contact: Mick McNeill - 0408 480 734