Government shuts off community TV’s spectrum access

After a three-year battle and two extensions, the Federal Government has given a final notice to the community TV sector: no more extensions to spectrum access.

Last December Minister for Communication Mitch Fifield provided a last-minute extension to the end of June.

But in a letter to the stations, Fifield made it clear: after June 30, they can only exist online.

For the last 23 years, free-to-air access has allowed community TV to cover alternate culture, sports, business, politics and lifestyles.

For music fans they offered coverage of niche genres as psychedelia, death metal and blues, to retrospectives on the growth of Australian music and exposure for rock pioneers still on the road.

C31 Melbourne had long argued that the sector needed more time to develop new revenue streams and build up their viewership.

Its General Manager Matthew Field (also Secretary of the Australian Community Television Alliance) was particularly annoyed that “they’re in a hurry to yank us off the air” even though the spectrum will not be used until 2019.

“We have fought long and hard to convince Minister Fifield and the Department of Communications that our access to spectrum should be aligned to our broadcast licence, awarded by the ACMA until June 2019, based on this organisation’s financial strength and demonstrable commitment to being open access and supporting media diversity,” Field said.

“The losers are communities underrepresented in mainstream media, young aspiring screen practitioners and audiences who value a free to air channel committed to airing 100% original Australian content.”

C31 has been building digital platforms to support diverse groups of content creators to produce content that has maximum effect online, and encouraging them to contact the station.

Its linear stream channel will continue on its range of apps for web, mobile, tablets, Apple TVs and Android-enabled Smart TVs.

Field added, “In support of a sustainable business model, we have launched a production unit offering live webcasting and production services to cultural events and festivals, local sports organisations and councils.

“This unit is powered by our internship and volunteer programs; 30 young media hopefuls from diverse backgrounds have been offered paid employment on C31 productions in the past 12 months alone.”

Also created is the social enterprise unit Community Builder to support the NFP and NGO sector, as well as for local businesses “to capitalise on social media as a marketing platform.”

C44 Adelaide, which has gone online, responded in a post to viewers and sponsors, “We do not believe that the fight is over just yet. We will need your support, please stay tuned for more updates.”

Its music shows including Guitar Gods And Masterpieces, Our Time and Cabaret Cab.

Brisbane’s 31 Digital re-launched this March as Q Online TVas has WTV Perth. Sydney’s TVS closed down in 2015.