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New Vision for Perth Community TV

A new 2 year community TV licence has been issued in Perth for the trial of New Vision.

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The Australian Communications and Media Authority has issued a community television trial licence in Perth for two years.

The successful applicant, West TV Ltd, will provide an analogue television service, to be known as New Vision 31. New Vision 31 expects to commence broadcasting within the next six months.

ACMA says there was there was a very strong field of applicants for the licence.

“The number and calibre of aspirants is testament to the wealth of creative talent and strength of commitment to community-based television in Perth,” said Chris Chapman, ACMA Chairman.

There were four applications from West TV Ltd, Community & Educational Media WA Ltd, Perth Community Television Ltd and Community Urban Broadcaster.

ACMA met with all applicants in November 2008. At the meeting with West TV, it undertook, if successful, to offer to involve the other applicants in providing the service, including by giving them opportunities to broadcast.

“ACMA was impressed by the program production skills and broadcasting expertise of the other applicants and encourages them to embrace West TV’s offer,” Mr Chapman said.

ACMA assessed the applications on merit and considered West TV best able to provide the proposed service. This includes the financial, managerial and technical capacity to successfully meet the existing and future needs of the community and to involve the broader community in the operations and programming of the service.

Earlier this year Access 31 was disbanded after ongoing financial problems, leaving Perth without a community TV broadcaster.

Source: ACMA

27 Responses

  1. Just because the station is broadcasting in analogue, it doesn’t mean the stations engineering will all be analogue. As the station develops it can

    introduce the necessary digital equipment. To start with it may only be a analogue to digital upscaler, capable of converting an analogue signal to be

    broadcast on digital.

    This paves the way for the station to slowly replace equipment to the newer SDI digital standard. It also allows time for the Government to release the

    digital broadcast license and once switching over, power down the analogue transmitter. I recall seeing an article that said the Access 31 transmitter

    was replaced and digital ready….so…if the new station acquires the same transmitter, they are 99% of the way there.

    Go Community TV !

  3. Great news for new possibilites. Options open up creative avenues. This new initiative has my full support. Wish it to be sooner rather then later!

  4. Dear Joan,

    I am an authority of the television industry worldwide if it really matters, to include the community television sector in several different countries. Although you and others feel that what you currently have is a proper community access service, it falls very short in achieving this objective. Yes, a community television industry is essential to society, but it needs to remain focused on its obligations of serving the public and not be simply a conduit for broadcasting any old type of program that has little to no relevance to the local community or Australian culture. The support you speak of may simply be a very small percentage of local communities, but if faced with having the federal government fund the entire industry with “tax dollars” will be a completely different story, espcially with the community television services being in their present state (commercial). If there is such a great following within the local community there should never be a type of service at present and there should never be any financial strife. So where do we go from here?

  5. We need alternatives!!!! alternatives to commercial TV…. the more, the better: quality TV. I never watch commercial TV: doesn’t interest me a single bit. Only watch ABC, SBS and community TV.
    I hope the new community channel for Perth (and WA) will go on air ASAP and I wish the courageous proprietors all the very best. I like the name: New Vision 31. We need vision, a new vision and renewed passion to make quality and meaningful content available on the new community TV station.

  6. I am the proprietor of a TV repair business and much of my work these days is doing tune-ins in peoples’ homes. Nowadays, people rarely watch analogue TV. So, while the new community television channel will reach some, it will obviously reach many, many more homes once a digital licence is granted.

    I am all for the new CTV channel as I am aware that, although only on analogue, Ch 31 was still watched by a great many households – even though the analogue signal was always weaker than SBS. Those in reception areas that could not pick up SBS very well did not have a chance of picking up a clear picture on C31..

    So, I really hope that community television in Perth will be given serious consideration to be granted a digital licence. I have watched and enjoyed programs on the defunct C31 myself, and through my experience in the TV industry I am of the opinion that an alternative to mainstream TV is wanted and needed in Perth. Even now, people still ask me to tune in C31 for them! Some people are unaware that the station actually went off the air.

    I look forward to seeing the new community television channel successfully up and running.

    All The Best
    Preston Botellho
    TRUE BLUE

  7. Let’s hope that, with lessons learned and a positive outlook, this next venture into community broadcasting develops into a successful enterpise, which continues to evolve into a better and better vehicle for quality and enjoyable television viewing for all.

  8. I fully support a community TV station as I used to watch 31 regularly. There is no comparison to commercial stations as they mainly cater for the lowest common denominator to please their advertisisers. Also community TV is about the local community and has programs about local events or personalities and has many inteligent programs that one would never see on commercial TV. Why would Perth be different than the other cities where community TV thrives? Regards Robert.

  9. I agree with Brian’s comments – including the hope that a digital licence will be granted in the future. It is obvious that community television is wanted by many people. The local content of such a channel, including even ads for Perth businesses, gives viewers a sense of community that is lacking on major channels. Also, community television certainly offers the chance to watch some unique programs. Who knows what gems may be discovered that are unavailable elsewhere on mainstream television? This is one of the reasons people watch community television: cookie-cutter, it ain’t!

    I have heard people express much disappointment at the loss of one or another program that they enjoyed watching on Channel 31 – which they would always look forward to tuning in to (many were even watching in remote areas of Australia, because of the satellite broadcast). Now, these people may have the opportunity to watch a favourite show once again!

    Some people just might find that the rock they found lying on the side of the road, when dusted off and cleaned up – is really a diamond! I am sure that, with some polishing, community TV will really sparkle! Amongst its unique programming you may even find a little gem that could make your life richer. : )

  10. To Media Researcher, who is against digital for CTV, but who wants a continued industry, feels he is sufficiently authoritative to make comments on a national scale, says that the Australian public will not support this industry and who has posted a list of replies to various contributors to this site, among whom I am one: I know that many people support CTV for Perth and I hope that more of the ones who benefited from the Access 31 channel will take the time to place supportive comments here. I reiterate that none of the other states with Access TV are set up for digital, but they are continuing their popular screenings with huge viewing audiences during the four years before digital TV is introduced. I know this because I telephoned each one of them in the various states and enquired soon after we lost Access TV in Perth.

  11. I am glad to see that community TV may return to Perth even if it is in analog format initially. I felt losing C31 was a sad day for Perth. The presentation may not have been as slick as the commercial channels but nevertheless it offered a unique avenue for local expression that is not available elsewhere. Hopefully once the station is up and running they will be granted a digital license and will be able to stay around for the long term. I wish the new owners all the best of luck.

  13. Dear Andrew, you are so correct. Without digital spectrum they have no future.
    Dear Seriously – no, community television holds a lot of value, if it operated differently.
    Dear Daniel, yes you are so correct: No Digital; No Point in continuing allocating licenses under this analogue plan.
    Dear JohnP, I think we all want to have a continued industry however, something better structured.

    Dear Tris, I also wonder why these community television stations always try to use some catching name or phrase to describe their services. If we look at the station call signs, such as Access 31, Perth’s “New Vision”, Queensland Community Television (QCTV) and Television Sydney (TVS), it’s a wonder to who they are trying to represent.

    Dear Steven, I don’t think satellite is a very good choice however, what about through broadband spectrum where these stations can also be seen on any static or mobile digital media receiving device, along with being seen around the world?

    Dear Miles, yes, I wholeheartedly agree. It’s like being in a foreign prison and told you will be released, but the whole time guards are continuing to sharpening their swords for your beheading.

    Dear Adam, when Access 31 held the license, I think they over spent in a lot of areas, especially in their high-profile building they had, the major digital camera gear and the amount of employees they had at the station; 21 people, that was a bit much.

    Dear Joan, if there is such a strong appetite for a community access channel, wouldn’t you expect the industry to be a bit bigger, as well as having more people involved and also protesting for its viable future in the digital spectrum?

  14. There is definitely a strong appetite for a community access channel and I look forward to the commencement of the two year trial. This is a good start to the New Year and great news for Perth/WA Access TV viewers. The various other Australian states with community access TV (South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria) do not have digital and are all running a successful community TV channel. There is no hint of any of them closing down. Of interest, they operate in different ways: Briz 31 does not have government funding, Sydney TVS is run by a private company and not-for-profit programs are shown free of charge, Melbourne Channel 31 is part government and part sponsorship funded. I am not sure how C31 Adelaide is funded.

  15. This industry is going no where and the public will not accept the federal government spending its tax dollar to an industry that doesn’t represent them or allow direct public participation. This has been a failed service since beginning in 1994 and will remain this way because of the structure and ownership. The Australian public will not support this industry and will settle for what mainstream, government, Internet and PayTV offers for their viewing choices. I say no digital for CTV if the public really wants a service that represents its interest in the future.

  16. They have a digital ready transmitter to role with! Access 31 spent the money, prob creating its own demise; it just didn’t get the fed gov to give them the green light to use it! i just hope this new vision 31 gets the tick before its 2 year trial is over and we can give the local ppl in Perth back what they lost with 31, a training ground for ppl who wanted to get into the tv industry! dont knock it until u have seen the behind the scenes work hundreds of ppl did with access 31! its rather insulting that ppl can just start slamming things when they have no clue or idea as to how many ppl it helped to improve there career options but instead say “its a waste of taxpayers money” i’d rather have my tax dollars spent on something i’d use rather then have it wasted on the baby bonus, welfare payments, internet filters and royalty for regions programs for example! It will go digital if enough noise is created. i hope everything works out for the best!

  17. Why waste money and resources setting up analogue, New Vision Perth Community Channel, invest in digital or get left behind like Access31. Come on the local government help them set up digital, at least own the equipment and lease it out to them.

  18. Here’s hoping that this new channel can also be made available on satellite 24/7, not just on weekends (as was the case with Access-31), and preferably on a fresh new channel on Optus Aurora (not timesharing on Westlink like Access-31 did). I’m sorry to hear about Access-31’s demise, but I wish the newcomers all the best of luck and I’m hoping that the federal government will hurry up and give all the community TV stations a chance to go digital so as to launch new additional services (and win more viewers over from bland commercial TV).

  20. Great news for Perth/WA viewers. Lets hope community television is always given an opportunity to air – more so now that we are nearing the end of analogue tv days and community stations still havent been given a digital broadcasting licence…

  22. Ohh i hate these stupid ‘community’ channels. They suck and are a waste of space and money. Who the hell wants to watch TVS for example? Im guessing this New Vision will be the same crap.

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