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ANC AUSTRALIA URGES SBS TO RESTORE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE RADIO PROGRAM HOURS
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/03/18/anc-australia-urges-sbs-to-restore-armenian-language-radio-program-hours/
15:56 18.03.2013
The Australian Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) has decided to cut
the broadcast hours of the Armenian Language Radio program, and move
the shortened version to a non-prime time slot on digital radio.
This decision severely restricts the number of listeners who can access
the program, many being of a generation largely without digital radio
access or Internet podcast know-how, and many who are at work during
the suggested hours.
SBS has justified this decision by using the Australian Census as
a rationale, which is flawed as it does not represent an accurate
reflection of community numbers.
The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia)
calls on SBS to reverse this decision, which is insulting to the
Armenian-Australian community and crippling to a very important
radio resource.
The Armenian National Committee of Australia has launched a petition
on its website, urging the SBS to restore the Armenian language radio
program hours.
"The recent decision by the SBS to cut the broadcast hours of the
Armenian language program, and move the shortened version to a new
digital format. This will severely restrict the number of listeners,
many of whom are of a generation largely without digital radio access
or Internet podcast know-how. Since 1976, the Armenian community
has relied on this important radio service as a crucial source for
information.
The rationale behind your decision to cut the Armenian language program
from three hours to one hour per week was based on the most recent
Australian Census. The Census does not provide a true reflection of
the Armenian community in Australia as it does not provide "Armenian"
as an ethnicity choice, requiring individuals to manually input
this information.
This arbitrary decision will have a negative impact on loyal community
listeners, especially due to the new time slot allocated for the
Armenian language program. The new hours between 17:00 to 18:00 are
ill conceived and the move away from prime time is a detriment to the
listening audience. This decision, coupled with the lack of an Armenian
language television program in Australia, will further restrict the
ability for local and international news to be broadcast in Armenian.
SBS has failed to take into account the needs of the
Armenian-Australian community when making its decision in this regard.
We call on the SBS to immediately reverse its illogical decision and
restore the Armenian language program back to a longer program in a
prime-time slot," the petition reads.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/03/18/anc-australia-urges-sbs-to-restore-armenian-language-radio-program-hours/
15:56 18.03.2013
The Australian Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) has decided to cut
the broadcast hours of the Armenian Language Radio program, and move
the shortened version to a non-prime time slot on digital radio.
This decision severely restricts the number of listeners who can access
the program, many being of a generation largely without digital radio
access or Internet podcast know-how, and many who are at work during
the suggested hours.
SBS has justified this decision by using the Australian Census as
a rationale, which is flawed as it does not represent an accurate
reflection of community numbers.
The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia)
calls on SBS to reverse this decision, which is insulting to the
Armenian-Australian community and crippling to a very important
radio resource.
The Armenian National Committee of Australia has launched a petition
on its website, urging the SBS to restore the Armenian language radio
program hours.
"The recent decision by the SBS to cut the broadcast hours of the
Armenian language program, and move the shortened version to a new
digital format. This will severely restrict the number of listeners,
many of whom are of a generation largely without digital radio access
or Internet podcast know-how. Since 1976, the Armenian community
has relied on this important radio service as a crucial source for
information.
The rationale behind your decision to cut the Armenian language program
from three hours to one hour per week was based on the most recent
Australian Census. The Census does not provide a true reflection of
the Armenian community in Australia as it does not provide "Armenian"
as an ethnicity choice, requiring individuals to manually input
this information.
This arbitrary decision will have a negative impact on loyal community
listeners, especially due to the new time slot allocated for the
Armenian language program. The new hours between 17:00 to 18:00 are
ill conceived and the move away from prime time is a detriment to the
listening audience. This decision, coupled with the lack of an Armenian
language television program in Australia, will further restrict the
ability for local and international news to be broadcast in Armenian.
SBS has failed to take into account the needs of the
Armenian-Australian community when making its decision in this regard.
We call on the SBS to immediately reverse its illogical decision and
restore the Armenian language program back to a longer program in a
prime-time slot," the petition reads.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress