Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Thursday, 26 June 2008 20:14
Opinion and Analysis
Page 1 of 2
ABC NewsRadio, Australia’s only 24 hour continuous news service, has
axed one of its longest running programs because it wants to divert
funding elsewhere. The program? StarStuff, the only space, science, astronomy and
cosmology show on Australian radio. What a shame!
ABC
NewsRadio is, without doubt, my favourite radio station on Australian radio. With a rolling format of news, weather, finance, sport and special features, and is a great alternative to regular talkback stations.
Originally only broadcasting in capital cities, the network has expanded over the years, with the last 18 months seeing a massive expansion to 31 stations across Australia, with more to come. The network also broadcasts the Australian Federal Parliament when it sits, with the network originally known as PNN: the Parliamentary and News Network.
I remember when online streaming was first introduced to ABC NewsRadio, and on a number of overseas trips my computer has been plugged into a hotel Internet connection, streaming the live broadcast, happily keeping me informed of all happening back home.
Of course it’s not the only radio station I listen to, but it’s been on Australian radio for over a decade, shares its birthday with my own (although not the same year), and I’ve been interviewed on the network countless times over the years as a technology journalist commenting on various tech issues that regularly arise.
One of my favourite programs on ABC NewsRadio has been StarStuff. On air for more than eight years, with over 400 episodes under its belt, it's hosted by Stuart Gary, and used to run for an hour at 11pm every Sunday night, with a repeat the following Saturday.
I have to disclose that, over the years, I’ve been a guest on this program too from time to time, once again talking relevant technology topics, and I know from discussions with Stuart over the years that in its late night Sunday timeslot, the program was the highest rating show on the ABC NewsRadio network.
Inexplicably, around a couple of years ago, the show was cut in half to only 30 minutes, and oddly shoved to a Sunday midday timeslot, when a lot of people are out and about enjoying their weekend. Why shift the show from it's top rating timeslot to one twelve hours earlier?
Of course podcasting came along and enabled you to listen to the program whenever you wanted to, and this, as far as I am aware, has been enormously popular, just as it has been for ABC radio programming in general.
Although I was personally unhappy with the show being cut in half and moved to a completely different timeslot, listening to StarStuff being broadcast at midday on Sunday is something I regularly do, even if out and about, because my Nokia N95 lets me tune into the Real Player stream of ABC NewsRadio, and like most people I've got a radio at home and in the car.
Over the past several months the show has been preceded by the excellent Insiders radio rebroadcast at 11am, which is the ABC’s top notch political show broadcast at 9am on ABC TV 1.
Before Insiders is rebroadcast on radio at 11am, the excellent ‘Weekend Halftime’ is on at 10am, a great sports show hosted by Debbie Spillane and Scott Wales.
Insiders is followed a quick wrap of news and weather at midday, with StarStuff starting a few minutes after 12pm. It's then followed by the equally compelling listening of “The Road to the White House” at 12.30pm, examining the 2008 US Presidential elections, hosted by the talented John Barron.
Whether I’m at home, or out and about, I love listening to these particular programs on a Sunday, as they are fantastic original content with great production values, informative, educational and entertaining.
But now the ABC has decided to axe StarStuff altogether for "funding reasons". Can it be saved?
Please read on to page 2.
