[4][5] In August 1988, the Parliamentary Broadcast Network (PBN) was established under the National Metropolitan Radio Plan, as a dedicated network to carry the ABC's mandatory Parliamentary broadcasts on AM transmitters in each state capital as well as Newcastle and Canberra.
[6][7][8] In May 1994 the Interim Report of the Inquiry into the Radio and Television Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings was published, supporting the ABC's proposal to provide news on the PBN.
[9] On 15 August 1994 PNN was launched[10] to provide a continuous news network broadcast on the same frequencies used by the PBN, when Parliament was not sitting,[11] with the service expanding the service to Darwin, Northern Territory in March 1997[12] to complete its coverage to all capital cities.
[dubious – discuss] From September 2001, the 24-hour rolling news format began with live audio streaming on the Internet.
[10] ABC NewsRadio began to continue its news programming online while its radio network broadcast parliament in 2002.
In 2009, separate standard and parliamentary feeds were launched on digital terrestrial (DAB+) radio in the state capitals.
Live parliamentary coverage takes precedence over the station's regular schedule, but while this coverage takes place (whenever Parliament is in session), regular news programming continues online, via digital radio (DAB+) in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.