Community Station in Trouble

Unlike WIN TV, the future for a community TV station in Perth, Access 31, does not look bright.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2008/2279635.htm

The station has announced a solvency declaration and will close on June 27 if funding is not given from the Federal government, or an emergency package is not found to keep it afloat.

It’s Vice President Gerry Gannon has confirmed this fact on the media report recently. He believes that while the solvency declaration was put forward because the company simply cannot pay its current bills. He says a future for the station will also require additional proposed funding to have the station brought onto digital TV.

Mr. Gannon said considering the state of the station’s funds, declaring insolvency with ASIC was the only responsible action to take. At the moment the Mr. Gannon says the station is desperate for some kind of emergency package to keep the company going until Federal funds came through.

The station is currently petitioning Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy. Mr Gannon points out that ABC and SBS received 10 million to switch from analog to digital television, while community stations only want 4.1 million to make the switch. He points out that 42% of Australians now watch digital, and there is no future for community television if they are left to languish on analog.

Mr Gannon says that the station has been talking with State government and Lottery West in terms of emergency funds, but stresses that its future is dependent on the Federal government to make a ‘funding a time frame’.

While Mr Gannon sees the current government as having a stronger commitment than the previous government, and for that he is grateful, but considering the time limit the station has, it may make little difference.

The Federal government's decision to fund digital television was verified in The Australian article 'Canberra forks out to send us digital', published in the media section on Thursday, March 27, 2008. In this article Senator Conroy promised a 37.9 million funding and policy package. In addition to this the Senator said analog TV would be switched off on December 31, 2013.


It saddens me to see any community television die, particularly under these desperate circumstances. Community television has had a history of providing content that otherwise would not be brought to air. In my experience it has acted as a voice for those who wish to express themselves creatively. It provides a feasible means for local voices to be heard without the constraint of keeping advertisers happy. Essentially, it is uncompromised viewing and this should be held precious. Whether the Australian government holds the same view remains to be seen. But with issues like this it is also up to people to petition for their rights to hold such avenues to express freedom of speech. Has community television become so unpopular that nobody actually cares anymore? Is the majority of Australians content with the homogenised programmes provided by commercial stations that are funded by advertisers?