12 Dec 2016

Pacific horrified by ABC axing shortwave - PFF

9:32 am on 12 December 2016

Australian and Pacific Island governments are being urged to pressure the ABC to reconsider ending its shortwave broadcasts to the region.

Last weekend, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation announced that regional and domestic shortwave services would finish at the end of next month.

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Photo: RNZI/ Radio Australia homepage

It said it would put more resources into FM and internet services.

But the media watchdog group, the Pacific Freedom Forum, said there was no logic in a move that will deprive people of critical information, especially during cyclones and disasters.

The Forum's Jason Brown said the people his organisation hears from were horrified by the move.

"Especially in the remoter communities outside the capitals and larger towns and small cities, they are saying shortwave is how they keep connected with the world, because there might be internet but it is very slow or its very patchy."