Nick Xenophon pledges support for Community TV broadcasters

Independent Senator for South Australia Nick Xenophon has pledged to restore spectrum for community TV and funding for community radio, as a priority with any new government after the election.

“These stations cost the federal government almost nothing. They run on donations and committed community volunteers. They have been a training ground for new talent including Rove McManus and Waleed Aly. They offer hope to young people with a bit of get up and go who want to follow a dream of getting into TV or on radio. And now they are all about to either disappear or be severely diminished,” he said.

Community TV broadcasters are facing switch-off at the end of 2016, after a government directive to move to online was criticised as too short a time frame.

“The Abbott Government removed $1.4 million for 37 radio stations across Australia last year – which the Turnbull Government is going ahead with. That’s an average of only $37,000 each station per year. Is there any better value for maintaining a little media diversity?” said Senator Xenaphon.

“The situation for the community TV is even more dire. They received almost no federal funding and yet their broadcasting spectrum has been taken away to be sold off to commercial interests. Community TV will be off air by the end of this year. Sydney’s channel has already gone.

“Melbourne’s Channel 31 is sinking fast as sponsors abandon it as it transitions to a web based system. Adelaide’s Channel 44 is facing a similar fate.

“These cuts to community radio funding and removing access to the broadcasting spectrum are mean and miserable decisions made by the Abbott Government that the Turnbull Government is recklessly following through on.”

Both the ALP and Australian Greens parties having indicated their support for community broadcasting.