ABC Radio services in the Bendigo region will begin returning to air from today, with a staged restoration plan now in place following disruptions caused by fire to transmission infrastructure at Mt Alexander.
Broadcast network provider BAI Communications has advised the ABC that all four radio services; triple j, ABC Local Radio, ABC News Radio and ABC Classic, will progressively come back online between Friday afternoon and Sunday.
triple j has been prioritised for early restoration beginning today from mid-afternoon to ensure local listeners can enjoy one of the biggest music moments of the year with the triple j Hottest 100 this weekend.
ABC Chief Digital & Information Officer Damian Cronan said the restoration milestone was an important step in reconnecting regional audiences.
“We know how important radio is to the Bendigo community for staying informed and connected, and in the case of this weekend to celebrate a major cultural moment with the Hottest 100.
“Our teams and BAI have been working around the clock installing and testing new equipment, and we’re pleased to say listeners will start hearing services return from mid-afternoon starting with triple j,” he said.
Coverage during this initial restoration phase will reach around 75 per cent of the population normally served by the Bendigo transmitter. Earlier concerns about potential gaps in key areas such as Echuca have been resolved, as these communities receive strong coverage from the Shepparton transmitter.
To help further extend reach while full network capacity is restored, the ABC will prioritise Bendigo Local Radio using a mobile antenna. Complete coverage is expected to take several weeks as permanent infrastructure is reconnected and tested.
“This is the first major step in bringing all services fully back online, and we appreciate the patience the community has shown,” Mr Cronan said.
“We’ll continue to update audiences as coverage expands and the network returns to normal.”
Restoration schedule
- Friday: triple j restored first, ahead of the Hottest 100
- Saturday / Sunday: ABC Local Radio, ABC Classic, ABC News Radio restored progressively
- Approx. 75% of normal coverage initially, with reach expanding as works continue.
Listeners can tune into the triple j Hottest 100 this weekend and find event details, streams and countdown coverage at: https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100