Communities in the fire-affected Bendigo region can expect ABC TV and radio services to be gradually restored from the end of next week, following an assessment of damage at the Mount Alexander transmission site.
Working with transmission provider BAI, the site has now been assessed for equipment damage as conditions eased and access to the site became possible in the past 24 hours.
Both radio and television services are expected to be back on air by late next week, however services may be at a reduced quality for several more weeks.
“Our teams, along with BAI and industry partners, have been working around the clock to restore services as quickly and safely as possible,” said Damian Cronan, ABC Chief Digital and Information Officer.
“Services will return initially at reduced power, which means some members of the community may experience reduced coverage and poorer signal quality until further restoration work is completed.
“We ask viewers and listeners to bear with us as we progressively rebuild to full transmission capacity over the coming weeks.
“Most viewers will need to rescan their TVs to receive ABC services again, but no antenna work is required. We’ll continue to provide updates as restoration progresses.
“Thanks again for your patience as we bring ABC back to full strength.”
Television restoration update
Following assessment of the Mount Alexander site, BAI advises it can restore enough of the damaged equipment to return television transmission by late next week.
What audiences can expect:
- Most households who lost TV services will have them restored once transmissions resume.
- Initial picture quality may not be as strong as usual while reduced-power equipment is in place.
- There may be pockets of reduced or no reception, including parts of the Echuca and Daylesford regions.
- Quality and coverage are expected to improve in the weeks following restoration.
- BAI advises full restoration will take several more weeks.
- Coverage maps are below.
Important viewer advice:
Some viewers may need to re-scan their televisions to restore channels once services return. An antenna technician will not be required.
Radio restoration update
BAI is hopeful that all four ABC radio services (ABC Bendigo, triple j, ABC NEWS, ABC Classic) will begin to be restored from late next week.
What audiences can expect:
- Radio services will return initially with a much smaller footprint than usual due to reduced power.
- Coverage is expected to improve progressively over the coming weeks as further repairs and equipment restoration are completed.
- ABC Local Radio Central Victoria is currently on air on 91.1 FM. Listeners outside Bendigo can stay informed by tuning to ABC Wimmera on 594 AM.
- Audiences can also listen to radio services on the ABC Listen app and watch TV via ABC iview where internet is available.
- Coverage maps are below.
ABC Local coverage
ABC News Radio
ABC Classic
triple j
What audiences should know
We thank you for your patience and will continue to provide regular updates as work progresses.
- Restoration is a progressive process, expect poorer quality and reduced transmission reliability at first.
- Rescan your TV to ensure ABC services return.
- Communities near the Victoria–NSW border north of Bendigo and the Daylesford region may experience ongoing reception issues until full power is restored.
- Our teams are working around the clock to restore reliable transmission services as quickly as possible.