ABC Capricornia
| Company type | Public broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Industry | Radio broadcasting |
| Predecessor | Australian Broadcasting Company |
| Founded | 29 July 1931 |
| Headquarters | Rockhampton , Australia |
Area served | Capricornia and Southern Queensland |
| Products | Radio broadcasting, local news, local programs |
| Owner | Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
| Website | www |
4RK, also referred to as ABC Capricornia, stands as one of the earliest regional radio stations established by the ABC, having commenced operations before the corporation's official inception on 1 July 1932. Its initial broadcast took place on 29 July 1931, under the ownership of the Australian Broadcasting Company, operating with a transmission power of 2 kilowatts. The station’s transmission infrastructure was installed by Keith Thow from Standard Telephones and Cables.
Although it integrated into the ABC network in 1932, the station maintained its original callsign. It was recognized as Australia's second regional ABC station and celebrated its 75th year of service in 2006.
Broadcasting for ABC Capricornia is facilitated through two primary AM transmitters: 4RK located at Gracemere (837 AM) and 4QD situated in Emerald (1548 AM). Coverage is further enhanced by FM translators that serve additional communities such as Gladstone and Biloela.
The team at ABC Capricornia contributes to the ABC’s television, radio, and digital media efforts throughout the region. This includes journalists, presenters, producers, an online content producer, a television reporter, and a camera operator/editor.
Local News
On weekdays, ABC Capricornia delivers local news bulletins at 6:30 am, 7:30 am, and noon.
In earlier years, bulletins were also aired at 8:30 am and 5:30 pm; however, adjustments to national programming in early 2016 reduced these to three daily bulletins. The former 8:30 am bulletin was replaced by a concise 90-second local and national update presented by a local newsreader, while the 5:30 pm bulletin was discontinued in favor of a brief national update delivered by the regional drive program producer.
Up until 2014, ABC Capricornia maintained a radio news bureau based in Gladstone with a dedicated journalist providing live afternoon news coverage from that location. This bureau was closed permanently following Australian Government funding reductions totaling $254 million to the ABC announced in November 2014.
Weekdays
- Breakfast with Inga Stunzner – from 6:30 am to 10:00 am
- Capricornia and Southern Queensland Rural Report hosted by Meg Bolton or Lydia Burton – from 6:15 am to 6:30 am
- Mornings with Cristy-Lee Macqueen – from 10:00 am to 11:00 am
Saturday
- Saturday Breakfast with Cate Fry – from 6:00 am to 9:00 am
- Capricornia Grandstand with Mick Busby – from 9:00 am to 10:00 am
When local programming is off-air, the station broadcasts content from ABC Radio Queensland and ABC Radio Brisbane.
ABC Capricornia produces Gardening Talkback, a weekly horticultural advice show hosted by Tom Wyatt that airs every Friday from 10 am to 11 am across multiple ABC Local Radio stations in Queensland.
Additionally, the station collaborates with ABC Southern Queensland in Toowoomba to co-produce the Rural Report. This simulcast includes material relevant to both areas, with rural reporters alternating between Rockhampton and Toowoomba.
Formerly, ABC Capricornia was responsible for producing the statewide mid-afternoon program broadcast weekdays from 2 pm to 4 pm out of its Rockhampton studios. This program ceased in 2014 due to government funding cuts and was replaced by a relay of Afternoons hosted by Kelly Higgins-Devine on 612 ABC Brisbane.