Community television fires broadside at government

Peter Dinham
Thursday, 14 May 2009 09:00

IT Industry - Market

According to ACTA, the government needs community television to go digital as part of its switchover strategy, and Patton says “all the research by the Australian Communications and Media Authority and others, shows that one of the key 'drivers' for people contemplating going digital is the opportunity to receive extra channels.”

Patton also said that ACTA rejected suggestions that Community Television should be moved to broadband, “reportedly one of the options being put forward in some circles.”

“It is simply ridiculous to suggest that Community Television be ’shunted’ on to broadband,” according to Mr Patton, and, he adds, “anyone who knows anything about the key audience groups who watch Community TV would know that far too many do not have access to broadband and are not likely to have this any time soon.”

According to ACTA, more than four million Australians tune in to their local community station each month and, it claims, this figure was increasing steadily until people started switching to digital.
  
And, Laurie Patton claims the community television sector is arguably the single biggest producer of local content for television in Australia, with “CTV programming targeted at audience groups that are under-served by the other channels.”

“The sector provides access for special interest groups, multicultural communities and social networks that are not well catered for by the mainstream media.”

ACTA says that community television also provides a dynamic training ground for people aspiring to work in television and acts as an incubator for new talent and new program concepts.

Patton said ACTA had received confirmation that community television channels would be included in the Freeview Electronic Program Guide (EPG) once they commenced digital transmission, which he maintained would “dramatically increase the exposure of the community channels and lead to much improved viewing audiences.”