Tasmania bids for digital radio

Tasmania's two major cities could have digital radio within a year if an application by Commercial Radio Australia is successful, ABC News reports.

The organisation, which represents the country's commercial radio broadcasters, is applying to Regional Development Australia to fund digital broadcasting services in Hobart and Launceston.

If successful, the application would see Launceston become the first non-capital city to receive digital radio in Australia.

Senator Guy Barnett of the opposition Liberal Party said Hobart was the only capital city to be excluded when digital radio was rolled out to mainland capital cities in 2009.

"We are currently being treated as second-class citizens. That's not good enough," he said.

"We've looked at other ways of getting digital radio to Tasmania and an application to Regional Development Australia is the best way to go.

"It'll provide a lot more channels, it'll provide a greater diversity of services.

"There'll be new things and new benefits as a result of digital radio, in the same way that digital television has offered opportunities for Tasmanian viewers."

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)