As they face a switch-off from broadcast to online-only from July 1st, Channel 31 Melbourne and Channel 44 Adelaide say the coronavirus lockdown has only underlined the need for Community Television.

Both stations provided live-to-air broadcasts of multi-denominational church services during Easter Week, Ramadan and Vaisakhi.

“We are proud to be able to support our local communities through this challenging period,” says C44 Adelaide Acting General Manager Kristen Hamill. “There are many Australians that don’t have access to the internet, and our local broadcasts provide an essential service to keep people connected, comforted and informed.”

But both services have also been hit hard by restrictions with stations facing reduced revenue, staff redundancies, operational challenges and production shutdowns.

“Like many businesses, we are in survival mode,” says C31 Melbourne General Manager Shane Dunlop. “We are being asked to make a monumental and challenging digital transition work in unprecedented times. It’s an unreasonable and impossible request.”

In March 2020, Minister for Communications Paul Fletcher made clear to C31 Melbourne and C44 Adelaide that he would not consider renewing their free-to-air broadcast licences beyond the current deadline of June 30th, 2020.

While the government has previously spoken about re-purposing the spectrum, CTV stations claim “no reasonable explanation” for the decision has been given. They claim they will not be able to survive as online-only channels.

Since the 2014 announcement, and a further six years of instability, Sydney (TVS), Brisbane (Bris31) and Perth (WTV) have all seen channel closures.

But C44 Adelaide and C31 Melbourne have formally asked Minister Fletcher for a renewal of their broadcast licences, allowing time to navigate the pandemic, until there is a planned alternative use for the broadcast spectrum they occupy.

A switch-off would result in immediate job losses of more than 15 full time staff, over 200 weekly volunteers and insolvency for both businesses.

C31 Melbourne’s Shane Dunlop said, “The Australian Community Television Alliance call upon the Federal Government and Minister Fletcher to renew our broadcast licences and show their support for culturally and linguistically diverse communities, local journalists, screen and media practitioners, small businesses, tertiary students, LGBTI+ groups and a vibrant collection of volunteers and contributors who still call Community Television their home”.

Neither C44 Adelaide or C31 Melbourne have received a response from Minister Fletcher.