Contributing to the Community Radio Network

What is CRN?

• The CBAA’s program distribution service– Delivering

• National Radio News• The Wire• Specialist talks and music programs• About 100 regular programs each week• Segments and extras• Live broadcasts

- Content that individual stations may find a challenge to produce themselves

What is CRN?

• The CBAA’s sustaining service for stations

– A 24/7 signal to keep stations on the air• Good Morning Country breakfast program• Evening programming• Overnight programming• An emergency audio feed

What is CRN aspiring to develop?

• National community radio flagship programming• The best of community radio• A centre for program development

• But keep in mind, run by a skeleton staff

How do stations/broadcasters use CRN programming?

• Live-to-air (fader on desk or automated switching)

• Record and rebroadcast full programs• Play segments within local programming• Chop up content for use within local

programming• Keep it on file as a backup program

I want my show to go national!

What you need

• A creative idea• Suitability for a national audience• Support from your station• Self-sufficiency• Some technical nous• Playlists & cue sheets• Backup programs & systems• Patience!

The audiences to consider

• Station personnel• Broadcasters• Listeners – particularly those in rural and

regional Australia• CRN staff? Not necessarily – we’re not going to

hear your program every week.

What do you get?

• Develop your broadcasting skills• A wider network• Kudos for your station• Everlasting fame and fortune • Weekly feedback• Warm fuzzy feeling of contributing to the

sector

Your pilot - technical

• Create a broadcast-quality pilot• Record and mix down to linear PCM (WAV)

format• Use CD-quality source material • Get into the habit of using WAV files – storage

is cheap!• Levels normalised to -3db

Good audio levels

Not-so-good audio levels

Your pilot - technical

• How will you produce your show?– One-shot recording, as if live– Record with some post-production– Build program in session form (see over)

A multi track session

Your pilot – content & presentation

• Call CRN to discuss your idea• Guided by the codes of practice• Program length – do you need to send CRN

the entire show, or could you cherry-pick a segment?

• Drop weather, time call, local sponsorship announcements

OK - I’ve sent my pilot to CRN. What now?

The clock ticks, the days pass....

• The program will be assessed by CBAA staff and/or the Satellite Advisory Committee

• This can take some time• CRN staff will work with you on any aspects of

the presentation that require addressing• This can also take some time

Success!

• CRN will start running your program• Publicity material required• Don’t expect 100 stations to use your content

immediately – it takes time to grow your audience

• Consistency, reliability, and interesting content helps!

DDN uploading

• Program contributors maintain an online profile at the station ordering website

• Ideally you will upload your content to CRN via the DDN Plus website and it will be presented to stations like this... (see over)

End of this session

• For more information contact CRN staff at the CBAA office:– 02 9310 2999– crn@cbaa.org.au– http://www.cbaa.org.au/crn