SYN 1700 hosts and camera crew at Channel 31, Melbourne. (Photo: Audrey Flannery)
BY INDIANA HANSEN
Australian community television has been asked to switch off free-to-air by June 30 despite the federal government proposing no alternate use for the broadcast spectrum.
“What is a reality, is when community television is switched off, we will be replaced by nothing and that will be the case for at least the next five years,” Channel 31’s general manager Shane Dunlop said.
The remaining channels are expected to transition to an online-only business model amid a global pandemic. This includes Channel 31 Melbourne and Geelong, and Channel 44 Adelaide.
Dunlop said the deadline is an “unreasonable and impossible request” in unprecedented times.
According to Channel 44’s April media release, there is no viable business model to support an online-only transition for any Australian television broadcaster.
“If forced to switch off their free-to-air broadcasts on June 30, it is unlikely either station will survive, resulting in immediate job losses of more than 15 full time staff, over 200 weekly volunteers and insolvency for both businesses,” a Channel 44 editor said in the media release.
SYN 1700 set at Channel 31, Melbourne. (Photo: Audrey Flannery)
Australian community television produces approximately 220 hours of local content every week with over 140 programs available for viewing, according to Channel 31’s “#KeepLocalTV” social media campaign.
On June 10, a motion calling on the Government to keep community television on air was moved by Labor Senators Penny Wong, Marielle Smith and Kimberley Kitching.
While the motion passed unopposed in the Australian Senate, Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts Paul Fletcher has refused to reconsider the pending deadline.
In a statement to The Swanston Gazette, a spokesperson for Minister Fletcher said the “use of the [broadcast] spectrum currently occupied by these stations is a matter for Government”.
The spokesperson said the remaining stations have been “well aware of the Government’s position since 2014” and had received funding from the Government in 2018 to “assist with the transition to deliver their services via online platforms”.
“They have had significant lead up time to enable them to transition by 30 June 2020 – and this important task now rests in the hands of the management of the stations.”
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