The Australian Community Television Alliance today welcomed the promise that a Coalition Government would immediately allocate digital spectrum and $10 million in funding support to capital city Community Television stations.
While each of the other free-to-air stations was allocated a second channel and has been simulcasting for years the Community Television sector has been left marooned on analogue.
Despite Government assurances that Community TV will not be left behind as Australian households are urged to switch to digital television the Community stations are still waiting for the allocation of desperately needed digital spectrum.
However, ACTA noted that the sector's current plight is the result of the previous Government's failure to provide a pathway to digital for Community TV when it was in office.
"Community Television is targeted at audiences that are under-served by the other free-to-air 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 Secretary and TVS Chief Executive, Laurie Patton, said.
"Community TV is a unique source of local programming in an era when more and more of what we see on television comes from overseas".
"Community Television also acts as an incubator for new talent and new program concepts".
Each year Community TV provides a valuable training ground for hundreds of young Australians wanting careers in television. People like Rove McManus, Corrine Grant and Hamish and Andy proudly acknowledge their start came on Community TV.
3 August 2009
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