Comments on: Budget: $136m for ABC3, $20m for SBS, Community TV unhappy

By: Media Researcher

Media Researcher — Thu, 14 May 2009 01:06:59 +0000

Man! Finally somebody who agrees with me; You are so right Russell. I’ve been saying that for years. We don’t need to fund another television sector that the public needs to pay for. The community television sector is fully capable of funding itself, they just need to change the way they operate and stop competing with mainstream television. And, again, remember I told them that there won’t be any funding, at least year for them; but the federal government might provide something by the end of this year. By the way, who voted the Labor government in anyway? The Liberal government was just about to release spectrum from the Channel A or B allocation, but folks thought a new government would guarantee success. Shame on You!

By: Russell

Russell — Wed, 13 May 2009 15:08:39 +0000

Why should the federal (read – national, commonwealth etc) government fund Community TV?

The government gives them the licence for free – they should not then also fund it.

If people want community TV, let it be funded by that community. Through local money drives, and appeals etc.

By: TVS CEO

TVS CEO — Wed, 13 May 2009 04:56:33 +0000

Just to clarify the situation;
1. There is actually spare spectrum in all the capital cities (in addition to that earmarked for channels A and B). The Government simply needs get ACMA / DBCDE to allocate it to CTV.
2. Because they rely on sponsorship revenue, which in turn relies on massed audiences (even if much small than the commercials), community channels need to simulcast. Making a ‘hot swap’ to digital would simply mean replacing one limited audience with another limited audience. Only when analogue is switched off will there be enough potential viewers for one mode of transmission to be sufficient to deliver the necessary viewers.
3. After switch-off there will be bucker loads of spare spectrum for mobiles or whatever.
4. I think you will find that ABC3 will end up running for most if not all of the day. In any case sharing a channel would not work for TVS as we see our remit as including the provision of viewing options on a 24 x 7 basis.

By: Paull

Paull — Wed, 13 May 2009 04:04:29 +0000

We get better community tv reception on our tv than we do SBS analogue. In fact it’s clearer than ABC and ten, we don’t even live close to where it is broadcast from, but somehow must be in a pocket of good reception.

By: jh

jh — Wed, 13 May 2009 04:02:27 +0000

Just thinking, serious thinking mind you……

ABC3 is not going to be a 24hr channel (i believe).
If transmission space is the one barrier, than surely community tv could get 7pm-6am.
Its a compromise, but if funding isn’t the issue, then it should be a serious option.

By: 'ct'

'ct' — Wed, 13 May 2009 00:52:26 +0000

Fair enough Laurie, but none of the current five main FTA’s have spare capacity to give over to hosting Community TV. And if such was to occur, the cost of maintaining separate Mux infrastructure so as to Mux the host and community TV streams on a region by region bsais would have to be borne by someone, and it wont be the host broadcaster. As such there is no spare spectrum left, as the Govt is unlikely to licence a 4th commercial network that would have a ‘must carry’ Community TV obligation, as that would make the licence not commercially attractive. The only oter option in Sydney anyway is to have to have Macquire carry the current TVS stream through the D4 service? But the D4 service is only temporary and not long term, as this 7MHz of specttrum is likely to be gobbled up by the ABC/SBS long term so as ABC/SBS can expand their services. With the other still spare 7Mhz slab likely to be used by mobile TV servicves. As this would be years away, through this community TV could claim part of this spectrum as a ‘hosted’ service, but Community TV would have to stay in analogue mode until then, of which it cant wait that far. The remaining analogue spectrum is most likely to be sold off to mobile phone companies post ananlogue switch off by a Govt deperate to reign in the deterioating budget bottom line. As I said before, the silence from the Govt speaks volumes, as it appears it may still be in the too hard basket. In which case, Community TV may have to mode change on their existing slab of spectrum with no preiod of simulcast. As such, I believe the current transmitter at Gore Hill by TVS is capable of this, and was originally purchased with this in mind. If this was to occur, at least Community TV could keep the full 7MHz of its current spectrum alocation without having to be hosted anywhere. This might well be the only option left to Community TV in the end?

By: Jay

Jay — Tue, 12 May 2009 22:28:05 +0000

To make a point of clarification, the budget puts a lot more than just the 2.5mil in for “community broadcasting” – but it does not clarify exactly what that money is for, noone will know for the next couple of days where all the money is truly going. So it is way too early to really know!

By: TVS Chief Executive Laurie Patton

TVS Chief Executive Laurie Patton — Tue, 12 May 2009 21:25:36 +0000

ACTA has never sought a full 7 MHz. Community Television licensees are simply asking for access to sufficient digital spectrum to be able to simulcast their existing channels in Standard Definition – to the same standard as the networks. It is simply ridiculous to suggest that Community Television be ’shunted’ on to broadband. 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.

By: Russell

Russell — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:51:22 +0000

So by the end of the year Australia should have

ABC1 ABC2 ABC3
Go! Nine
One
SBS1 SBS2
Seven
Ten
+ Seven’s yet to be announced second network

11 Free to air nets.

By: ct

ct — Tue, 12 May 2009 14:31:46 +0000

Community TV is never going to get a full 8MHz Digital Mux Channel to itself. The Govt will now be more likely to sell analogue TV spectrum in any case to mobile phone companies given the budget situation. It is more likely that community TV will probably be shunted on broadband as IPTV. The silence from the Govt speaks volumes.

By: rj

rj — Tue, 12 May 2009 14:02:20 +0000

The scary thing is we are all hoping hoping hoping that the government will sit down and make a reasonable decision to support “Community Digital TV”

…and yet there has been almost no comment from the government at all, on it.
Yes, Freeview are supporting Community TV.
Yes, community broadcasting is being supported by this budget.
Yes, the government have spoken to community groups about going digital (in relation to reception)

Butyet we have this
“The Australian Community Television Alliance is already calling for an urgent meeting with Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy”

seriously concerning.

By: Stan

Stan — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:17:31 +0000

The Budget sounds great for the ABC, meh for SBS, and an absolute sh** sandwich for Community TV…

By: Jordan

Jordan — Tue, 12 May 2009 11:17:34 +0000

Interesting to what the outcome could be for possible meetings. Hoping that the government can give more support for Community Digital TV as you have reported there is only comment for ABC and SBS and no comment from the minister about community TV. Surely will Freeview have a talk to the Government with the differing opinions if the money is not for the switchover.