Community TV “shattered” by govt decision to shift it online
Community TV broadcasters learn their fate from Malcolm Turnbull -forced off the air by the end of 2015.
- Published by David Knox
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First Australia Network, now Community Television…..
The Community TV sector is “shattered” following confirmation by Minister of Communications Malcolm Turnbull that it will cease their access to broadcast spectrum at the end of 2015.
Community broadcasters including Channel 31 Melbourne, TVS Sydney, 44 Adelaide, 31 Brisbane, West TV Perth have until the end of next year to move to an online model.
The spectrum will be freed up for sale to Free to Air broadcasters or telcos.
“I have no doubt that this transition is in the best interests of community television. It will deliver wider audiences, at less cost on a wider range of devices and the ability to do more than linear broadcasting,” Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull told an Australian Communication and Media Authority event this morning.
“Some community television representatives, acknowledging that the internet is their ultimate home, have nonetheless argued that they should not be ‘rushed into the new media world’. The internet is not new. It is the universal uber-platform to which most people in Australia are connected 24/7.”
But the Australia Community Television Alliance has rejected the Ministers assertion that this decision “is in the best interests of community television” claiming a decision to resell spectrum has been made in the interests of the major media organisations.
In a statement it said, “Community Television’s purpose is to ensure that free-to-air broadcast spectrum is accessible by all members of the public – to make and screen content that is local, provides access to community groups and provides industry based learning for media students and independent filmmakers.
“ACTA asserts that free-to-air television is presently the dominant form of media in this country and that community access to spectrum is a vital contributor to media diversity. ACTA accepts audiences are moving online and the sector should be preparing for this future, however it is unfair that community television be forced off the air well in advance of all other television broadcasters and in a time frame that is likely to cause the closure of all stations.
“At a time when there are six shopping channels broadcasting on free-to-air in the capital cities, it is unfortunate that the Minister does not value the contribution community television has made – and could continue to make – to media diversity in this country.”
Community Television has a 20 year history in Australia where Gold Logie winners including Rove McManus and Hamish Blake got an early start. Countless others behind the scenes also owe a debt of gratitude to the Community TV sector having honed their craft at a grass-roots level, while numerous community groups have been able to bring attention to their activities.
The sector, which had asked for a 3 year transition to online, has been fighting against the move with a campaign here.
34 Responses
@Cam Reed – Whilst the next election must be held on or before 14 January 2017 it will be held around this time 2016. Oh God, two more years of this, but yes, agree, just enough time to set up Fox News FTA.
Who bought all of the old analogue TV spectrum?
Why can’t CTVs be given a digital channel? Or called a “datacasting shopping channel” and carried on SBS?
So they’re not renewing the Channel 31 licence and are selling it off hey, I am guessing it has already been bought and paid for. The next federal election is in 2017 and by then I bet Fox News will be well set-up on this channel spectrum to a give a lead into that election.
Hey Tony,
Is this another part of your unholy deal with Murdoch?
Getting rid of all competition, nor matter the size, is his agenda.
This certainly seems like it.
And ABC News 24 will be next to go. Just watch…
If there is to be growth in community television stations, it cannot be achieved with the limited digital broadcast spectrum that is available. I think the shift to an IPTV platform would allow for more community content and engagement only if there is a dedicated portal for such content.
@ Jason….yeah I agree internet speeds are absolutely crap and its improvement needs to be less political and more of an international competitiveness requirement…our top 5 cities need to be on par with Singapore.
As for CommTV…it may be nice to have, but no one is watching apart from a few self indulgent program makers and their mates. Shove it online along with half the sbs output and see how it goes…some thrive….some don’t
If CTV’s transition to the internet will “deliver wider audiences, at less cost, on a wider range of devices, and the ability to do more than linear broadcasting”, then why not cancel all TV licences? It’s surely in everyone’s best interests. Seems to be the obviously superior option.
Oh, that’s right. Logic doesn’t belong here.
@jezza the first original one – I’m one who has to rely on expensive, slow, wireless Internet. Wasting our limited monthly quota is not an option.
“As modern tvs have internet streaming, there shold be know problem. If yu know folk without internet…. just tell them to get with the 21st century”.
Um, yeah, think I’ve translated that into English.
Firstly, you have to have an Internet service that’s of the “21st century”. In southern suburbs of Wollongong, e.g.
Memo to Malcolm. Finish the NBN or just give us a copper phone line first. Last week Aust. Network, this week CTV. What’s next?
This is a stupid decision
The community stations were FTA + internet. Now they will just be internet.
But in truth, they will not even be that. Why join an organisation with no platform, when you can have your own channel on the YouTube platform, or join the iView platform?
Who will buy the leftover spectrum? Would love to see someone like Disney buy it and setup a FTA channel with all their kids content. Disney recently moved their German channel to FTA . Could be a commercial challenger to ABCKids
As a community tv producer, i am absolutely gutted by this decision. Another pathetic decision by one of the worst governments i’ve ever seen.I just…I have no words.
6 dedicated home shopping channelsplus all the infomercials late night/early morning on main channels people who are on night shift etc have little or no chance of watching any half-decent shows between 10pm and 6am every day.
This is just plain common sense.
For those who think that Community TV will be driven into obscurity….I have some news….its already there.
As modern tvs have internet streaming, there shold be know problem.
If yu know folk without internet….just tell them to get with the 21st century…..some of the comments on here are just a joke…
Sell spectrum to larger media organisations? They don’t pay full price for what they have now! The spectrum is a resource like iron ore, but then, the government gives that away too.
I knew something was up when an operator was denied setting up a community channel for Newcastle.
Community TV needs a free-to-air audience to survive – unless the Government is willing to subsidise it. Otherwise producers will simply not be able to secure the funds to make their programs and most stations will not have enough revenue to keep operating. Also, CTV is one of the few places left where people can gain work experience and training in the industry.
Online broadcasting is nowhere near mature enough for this, this will simply force community TV into obscurity. I’m not going to be watching TV and think “Oh I think I’ll watch community TV” and go to a different device to watch it. It just won’t happen.
I have benefitted from being able to do work experience with West TV in Perth to support my studies, so in that regard I believe community tv is very valuable. I don’t think community tv stations will have the same impact or motivation to operate if they are forced to move online. They’ll lose advertising revenue that covers their operating costs, and the work won’t feel as valuable or important online than it does on broadcast television.
And that line about 6 home shopping channels is gold!
Even if you have ready internet access, you have to pay for it-this means our glorious govt is turning CTV into a pay channel-in addition to rendering all previous investment in digital transmitters (some of which was govt money) a complete waste.
“I have no doubt that this transition is in the best interests of community television.” said Turnbull.
No. No matter how I look at it I can’t see how removing a TV station’s access to broadcasting is in its best interest at all.
And for what? It’ll be more of those shopping channels for sure.
And what will be next? Community radio?
If Turnbull thinks the backlash from TV viewers will be bad it’ll be nothing compared to the backlash he and his party will get should he do the same to community radio.
Typical of this government – just wanton mindless destruction of every little thing that makes life interesting. Community television is one of those things that even if you don’t watch it very much, it’s still nice to know that it’s there.
Did Turbull really say ” uber-platform” ?
And I’m with @db here – with a proper NBN this might be workable – with the third rate option we’re getting, it is a losing proposition.
Boo! Hiss!
Crap!!
My mum and other relatives watch Channel 31 and none of them have the internet. Bad decision! This government is out of control.
Community TV will look great online with our superfast copper wire internet connections, Malcolm.