There are just 6 weeks to go in what has become an all too familiar situation for Community TV stations across Australia.
Here are the facts:
- Community TV does not receive ongoing direct funding from the Federal Government. This is not a tax-payer-saving issue.
- The 600 MHz spectrum band which Community TV occupies is not required, as per the Governments own admissions (see the Media Reform Green Paper for more) until 2024 at the earliest, possibly as late as 2026. OR possibly never if their media reform proposal is blocked by the commercial networks.
- If a digital re-stack does proceed around 2026, there is a pathway for Community TV to exist within the future framework of free-to-air TV for many years to come.
- There is no fundamental reason to remove Community TV from free-to-air broadcasts by June 30 2021. The dismantling of Community TV in Australia has been the current Federal Government's preference, not a requirement.
- Since 2014, the Government has provided 7 switch-off deadlines, and 7 last minute extensions (#7 pictured below, provided 26 hours prior to switch off and announced on live TV).
- Community TV stations broadcast around 120 Australian made programs weekly, featuring over 40 cultural groups and servicing multiple faith groups. Roughly 1000 volunteers contribute to the sector each week and it contributes immeasurably to the local economies in SA and VIC. We could go on.
- During COVID, Community TV stations re-emerged as essential broadcasters, providing connectivity, health information, news and entertainment to their local viewers, many from groups mainstream media does not cater to. Need we mention those without steady & reliable internet access?
- The Federal Government states they believe Community TV will be better off online, via digital platforms, yet they are unable to guarantee access to said platforms. Community TV stations recently suffered a 2 week outage from Facebook due to their Australian news ban. This could happen again at any time. Australian news & content should never be entirely reliant upon foreign owned platforms.
Frankly, we're tired of having to make these arguments every year and now more than ever before, there is simply no reason for us to have to do so.
It's time for Paul Fletcher to address this once and for all.
#KeepLocalTV Channel 44