A Digital Future For Community Tv

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5th November 2009, 05:16pm - Views: 909





People Feature Community Broadcasting Association Of Australia 1 image

People Feature Community Broadcasting Association Of Australia 2 image


PO Box 564, Alexandria, NSW 1435

T – 02 9310 2999

F – 02 9319 4545

E – office@cbaa.org.au

ACN 003 108 030   ABN 92 003 108 030




MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday 5th November 2009


COMMUNITY BROADCASTING WELCOMES 

A DIGITAL FUTURE FOR COMMUNITY TV

Sydney: The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) welcomes the Rudd

Government's allocation of temporary spectrum and funding support for Community TV to enable

digital simulcasting to begin.

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy

yesterday announced that the Federal Government will temporarily allocate vacant spectrum

(known as Channel A) to the Community Broadcasting sector. Also announced was $2.6 million in

funding support to contribute to the costs of commencing digital simulcasts.

This will allow Community TV stations C31 in Melbourne, TVS in Sydney, QCTV in Brisbane and

Channel 31 in Adelaide to simulcast their services until the switch to digital-only television in capital

cities in 2013. A new community licensee in Perth will commence digital-only broadcasts in early

2010.

Deborah Welch, President of the CBAA said, "Community broadcasting, both television and radio,

plays a critical role in Australia's rapidly evolving media landscape, providing millions of Australians

with a truly local, diverse range of programming. It also is the key pathway for communities small

and large to produce their own media and reach significant audiences."

"We thank the Rudd Government for recognising its value through the allocation of digital spectrum.

We also applaud the provision of funding support to assist stations to cover the costs of upgrading

systems to enable digital broadcast. 

"The Community Broadcasting sector has been seeking equitable access to spectrum - both analogue

and digital - for Community TV for more than ten years. 

“This development is an important step in strengthening its presence in the free-to-air digital

landscape. It will create a vibrant Australian media by ensuring a place for community broadcasters

as well as commercial and national broadcasters."

For further information contact: 

Deborah Welch 0418 887 035






CBAA President







Michele Bawden 0419 280 852

CBAA General Manager








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