Stations scale, save time and money with CBAA integrated website services

Curtin Radio in Perth is saving around 65% a year across its online services after switching to the CBAA’s integrated website and streaming solution.

The station recently moved to the CBAA’s Radio Website Solution, combining Triton Digital live streaming and Omny Studio podcast and on-demand services, a package built to meet the needs of community broadcasters while keeping costs low.

General Manager Quinn Glasson said Curtin Radio had been happy with its previous local provider for years, but changes in management led to higher costs and declining service quality.

“We don’t mind paying for good quality, but it became harder to see what our money was paying for,” Quinn said. “We started looking for a more reliable and sustainable option.”

After speaking with Sonshine FM, who recommended CBAA’s online services for their reliability, pricing and support, Curtin decided to switch.

“Andrew from CBAA explained how each product worked together — I’m not a tech expert, but it made sense,” Quinn said. “Everything will now stay up-to-date and secure, and we’ll save time managing it. The new tools also help us understand our audience and attract sponsors.”

The move also opens up new opportunities to generate revenue, with Curtin able to monetise website traffic and digital streams through integrated advertising.

Curtin’s new website will go live in 2025. For CBAA, the project reflects a key priority of Roadmap 2033 — improving sector sustainability by helping stations modernise through shared technology and smarter investment.

By drawing on the experience and scale of hundreds of community broadcasters, CBAA delivers high-quality digital services at a fraction of commercial market rates, ensuring stations can focus on what matters most — serving their communities.

“We made the decision based on cost, confidence in the products, and the people,” Quinn said. “It’s good to know we’re part of something that’s strengthening the whole sector.”

Spots & Space: revenue with values

A visit by a Spots & Space team member to RPH Radio in Sydney highlighted the remarkable work of volunteers producing programs that inform and connect people with disability. The station is part of Disability Media Australia (DMA) and the Radio Reading Network — a nationwide collaboration providing inclusive and accessible media across Australia.

While many media buyers and advertising agencies know of DMA and the Radio Reading Network, they often underestimate their impact and need to be continually reminded of the scale and reach of community media. To strengthen this awareness, the Spots & Space team began targeted outreach to agencies already working with disability-focused organisations.

Progress was slow until a referral from the First Nations Broadcaster, PAKAM in Western Australia, changed everything. A previously unresponsive agency reached out with an urgent national campaign needing strong reach into First Nations communities.

The Spots & Space team sent a radio proposal and data from relevant media partners, including First Nations TV, newspapers, and digital platforms. DMA and the Radio Reading Network was also introduced, supported by audience reach data from the CBAA, and the agency promptly included them in its plan too.

The original plan was modest due to time constraints. However, after reviewing the additional CBAA data, including information about people with disability who speak languages other than English, the agency agreed to expand the campaign. Many community stations have disability-focused multilingual programs, so the team proposed content in over 30 languages.

The final campaign was broader, more inclusive, and more impactful than initially imagined.

The team managed translation, production, and quality assurance across a range of languages — including Arabic, Traditional Chinese, Hindi, Punjabi, Korean, Vietnamese, and several First Nations languages (Yumpla Tok, Kimberley Kriol, Northern Kriol, Arrernte, Warlpiri, Yolŋu Matha, and Pitjantjatjarra) in just seven days.

None of this would have been possible without the referral from PAKAM, which transformed the campaign into a national initiative that benefitted 150 community media outlets. Since then, PAKAM has also received referrals from stations in Sydney, Cairns, South Australia, and other regions.

Spots & Space have continued nurturing the relationship, helping the agency understand and appreciate the value of community media. The agency has since championed community broadcasting, secured new clients and tenders, and in the 12 months following that initial campaign, facilitated 18 further sponsorship projects across 55 stations.

Referrals are one of the most effective tools community media has to compete with larger commercial and international networks. They leverage what community broadcasting does best: local trust, authentic connections, and deep engagement.