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Community TV looks to state premiers

Community TV leaders urge state premiers meeting in Darwin today to pressure the Federal Government in their campaign for a switch to digital.

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vasili__s_garden-heroAs state premiers meet with Prime Minister Rudd in Darwin today, the community television sector is urging them to pressure the Federal Government to support a shift to a digital platform.

The urging comes following a meeting of community TV heads in Melbourne last week.

“Every time another household does as the Government asks and buys a new digital TV or a digital set top box they potentially lose the ability to watch their Community TV channel,” said  Laurie Patton from the Australian Community Television Alliance.

ACTA reiterated its expansive local content, supporting Australian culture, ideas and interests and its role in assisting emerging talent. Community broadcasting includes shows such as Vasili’s Garden (pictured), The Bazura Project, The Comic Box and The Mutant Way.

“The availability of high quality low cost digital recording and editing equipment means that local community based groups and individuals are able to create their own programs. All they need is an outlet and this is what Community TV is all about.”

Updated: The Federal Budget provided $2.5 million to training in community radio broadcasting.

But ACTA continues its push for inclusion on digital spectrum.

“We need to focus not on what Community Television is now or indeed what it has been in the past but on what it offers us for the future,” Mr Patton said.

A motion was recently moved in the Upper House of the South Australian parliament for pressure to be applied on the Federal Government.

5 Responses

  1. Good old Media Researcher (again we ask, who are you really?). Yes look at the programs on tvs.tv site. After just over three years 40% of our programs are made here in Sydney. Another 30% come from community program makers interstate. This is pretty impressive when you consider that they get no funding from us (we don’t have any to give at this stage) and nothing from Government – just local people with stories they want to tell, ideas they want to share and a commitment to programs that reflect Australia and the many communites that make us what we are.

  2. Well David,

    If think the classification used to describe this industry being confusing, check out the programming of community television and other on-air features and tell me if it really is community media, or just a low-end mainstream television broadcaster.

  3. Thanks for the clarification. So often when I see stories on “Community Broadcasting” (including at ACMA) it neglects to clarify if it is for radio, TV or both. Seems to be more and more the former.

  5. Lets hope community television receive digital space sooner rather than later.

    When are seven going to announce a start date for their second sd channel??? Come on seven, when??????

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