| About the National Indigenous Radio Service |
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The National Indigenous Radio Service Limited (NIRS) is a national service provided from a hub station residing in Brisbane. It networks material for Indigenous media organisations that don't have the staffing or capital requirements to provide a 24-hour high quality broadcast to their audience. For over three decades, NIRS has provided a radio programming and media marketing service for over 140 Indigenous community radio stations. We continue to deliver 24 hours of programming each day throughout all major metropolitan, regional and, perhaps most importantly, remote communities. NIRS strives to provide a range of voices for Indigenous communities via a schedule of various radio programs, supported by a national satellite service. It is argued the NIRS satellite footprint is the largest in the southern hemisphere. NIRS provides what is arguably an essential service; a two-way communication of radio and internet products and services via a national radio network. Many community stations, due to lack of size, location and reach, are unable to provide continuous live radio broadcast programs. Many can only manage a few hours each week and, subsequently, rely on our national satellite service for continuity of unique Indigenous content and programs. Several of our members not only take selected NIRS programs to complete their own 24 hour services, but also supply our programming, via landline or satellite. This enables NIRS to provide a national program schedule which is unique in the Australian media environment, containing a broad appeal that caters to Indigenous communities from remote, regional and into metropolitan markets of Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Broome, Halls Creek, Darwin, Gove, Torres Strait, Townsville, Mackay, Brisbane and Alice Springs. Access to NIRS supports the improvement, preservation, promotion and maintenance of Indigenous arts, culture, languages and community. Most particularly, NIRS promotes the ‘Closing the Gap’ initiative which aims to achieve quality of life improvements across our communities. For ListenersNIRS supplies high quality entertainment and important information to all members who then retransmit the service when relevant. At one end of this scale. NIRS enables aspirant and remote area broadcasters to provide relevant Indigenous broadcasting 24-hours a day to their community, with the opportunity to "window" local programming as each community desires. For BroadcastersFor broadcasters who meet the licensing and equipment requirements for a full-time service, but lack the funds or resources to provide a full 24-hour service, NIRS will enable them to fill any holes with its continuous programming. For community broadcasters who access air time through a CBAA affiliate station, NIRS will provide the opportunity for these areas to hear national Indigenous issues, as well as enabling them to boost local airtime. At the other end of the scale, NIRS provides, to licensed broadcasters who already broadcast 24-hour programming, access to high quality National Current affairs and issues, which would not normally be accessible to these stations. Over 130 Broadcasting to Remote Indigenous Broadcasting Services (RIBS) units, 23 Indigenous radio stations and 120 community radio stations can receive NIRS. For information on the stations we broadcast to or where your local Indigenous licensed stations (RIBS) are located, please see the stations page or visit the Community Broadcaster Online website by clicking on the link below. http://www.cbonline.org.au/index.cfm?pageId=43,127,28,0 The Australia Indigenous Communication Association is also a great way of making contact with Indigenous mediums: |