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When digital radio is introduced to Australia in 2009, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation might double the number of networks it broadcasts, according to a report in today's Sydney Morning Herald.

Presumably the new networks would include the currently internet-only stations DiG, DiG Jazz and DiG Country.

Last month, Ireland's national broadcaster RTE opened up four new digital radio stations, using DAB: RTE 2XM, specialising in new music, aimed at the youth market; RTE Digital Radio News, a 24h news bulletin station; RTE Gold, playing music from the 50s, 60s and 70s; and RTE Junior, targetted at children.

There were no internet streams available for the stations on RTE's website, so I contacted RTE to find out if there were plans for this in the future; RTE's response was: "Longterm yes. However, at the moment it's only at trial stage.".

Hobart commercial radio stations Sea FM and Heart 107.3 are now streaming their programs on the internet. The quality of the streams isn't great, but it certainly is listenable. With last week's news of a new stream from ABC Hobart, these new streams mean that 70% of the radio stations available in Hobart are now accessible from the internet.

Links:

• Sea FM Hobart stream


• Heart 107.3 Hobart stream

via "Radio Expert" of aus.radio.broadcast