Radio

This chapter outlines the evolution and structure of the Australian radio industry. It briefly surveys the history of the industry, showing how it has adapted to successive challenges throughout the decades. The chapter then explains and analyses the main radio sectors: public service (Australian Broadcasting Corporation/ABC, and Special Broadcasting Service/SBS), commercial (dominated by 12 major networks) and community. It considers how radio programming in Australia is segmented into ‘dayparts’ in which broadcasters target listeners in particular demographics. Finally, the chapter examines the rise of digital platforms for listening to radio content and considers the multitude of ways that Australians access this content.