Community TV station TVS goes off-air but aims to relaunch with video on demand service

Really disappointed that TVS is off the air courtesy of Malcolm Turnbull. Just another disappointment from this Liberal Government.

My Aunt and I watch TVS on a daily routine, well not now it would seem… Thanks Turnbull for taking our favourite station away, why would you stop this ‘COMMUNITY CHANNEL” doesn’t that infer ITS FOR THE SYDNEY COMMUNITY… We loved watching our movies, AUSTRALIAN Movies, Schlooky Horror on a Friday night, also what about the content for the Indian Community, Muslin Community, this was our Multicultural Television Station that allowed us to understand other cultures, with certain shows. So WHY?? It’s Our Community…!!!
My Elderly Aunt (80yearsold) really enjoyed it and even if it goes online she will not be able to watch it as she DOES NOT HAVE INTERNET ACCESS OR A COMPUTER, Even if She Did She Wouldn’t Know How To Use It… Try and work that out for the thousands of people that also do not have access, also the point being they don’t know computer and in this case for most elderly people don’t understand computers and in this case you cant teach an old dog new tricks…quite angry and actually pissed off..

I FOR ONE ENJOYED WATCHING THE WOOD WORKING AND THE MASTERCLASS IN ART
THE IDEA THAT SUCH SHOWS WILL NOW DISAPPEAR WHILE SO MUCH JUNK IS ON AIR CURTESY OF THE SUPPOSED MAIN CHANNELS (WHICH HAVE BEEN GIVEN YET MORE AIR SPACE FOR YET MORE JUNK) IS TO PUT IT MILDLY ANNOYING

WHY DOES IT NOT SURPRISE ME THAT YET ANOTHER POLLIE PUTS MONEY FIRST

PUBLIC SERVENTS WHAT A JOKE DO THEY EVEN KNOW WHAT A SERVICE IS

Sadly, it was all downhill for TVS after UWS took management of the station in-house and put an academic in charge. While the loyal producers continued to supply their programs free of charge little did they know that they had lost any strong advocacy. The university simply rolled over when the Communications Department convinced Malcolm Turnbull to take away the spectrum that Stephen Conroy gave CTV as part of the digital switchover. The FTA networks are struggling to secure online viewers. How could anyone seriously think now is the time to move CTV online?

The production values on TVS programmes weren’t that great. Cringeworthy for the most part. I serious doubt TVS will make much of an impact on-line.

So sad that TVS is gone – it was as great station.

I loved the schlocky horror show and Woodworking Masterclass. Fletch was great too! Channel Cheese was fun…

What a terrible shame…

Where is tvs it is gone off air and bloody Piss off about it

I am most disappointed that TVS channel 44 is off the air. Enjoyed all the old programs and childrens shows plus most important – move it or lose it.
It is obvious the person who pulled the plug on TVS has never watched and enjoyed the various programs.
Bloody academics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who in their right mind would pay for the sort of amateur rubbish that TVS serves up?

I previously made a comment regarding elderly people about computers, I apologise to anyone who may have found that offensive…my point was that anyone who doesn’t have, can’t afford or doesn’t understand computers will not be able to access online content.
I realise this channel isn’t to everyone’s liking but for those that watched Australian Movies (where else do we watch them, who else has them weekly, myself being disabled cannot afford to buy them so it was nice to finally have TVS who made these available to watch) or Old Movies during the day, Concerts, it taught Art, Woodworking and I also enjoyed the chat shows such as ‘Coffee Break)…
Turnbull your not in touch with the Australian Community you represent, I don’t know if it’s your ignorance or arrogance I definitely know being liberal has a humongous part to play here but your certainly out of touch and I’d probably go as far in questioning if you even care.

What happened to TVS??? I loved the Universal Concert every Saturday night – the best program on TV! I looked forward to Universal Concert each week. Also the Masterclass in Oils was great. Why do these tv stations get cancelled? I also miss the Christian channel we used to get. I don’t know how to tune in to tv programs online & can’t afford internet access to do so. Please Malcolm Turnbull can we have these stations back. There are too many channels for 9 & half the time they double up airing the same programs. I am very disappointed.

I am very dissapointed that TVS has ceased. The very informative DW info and tv discussions brought in the early hours of each day were informative and entertaining and offered an insight ob what is happening on the other side of the world. This Station was by far the best Australia had to offer. Dissapointing on a great scale. Bring this channel back and get rid of the many mindless programes other channels offer.

This is very disapointing we have enjoyed many hours of viewing each week for over 8 years. TVS has always offered a refreshing choice of local informative programs. I know a large number of views over the age of 70, who love the variety of genuine programs on offer. Programs with out bad language. These members of our community have again lost out, all in the name of progress, they do not have nor could they afford a computer so viewing online will not happen. So sad for the community as a hole.

TVS was surprisingly entertaining and myself and my family were regular viewers. Perhaps one day politicians might care to remember it is they who are the servants and NOT the masters. I wish all politicians could be put off air. The world would be a better place.

Way to go Marj! Tosser Turnbull strikes again! He continues to show how contemptible he can be towards the Aussie community & people who aren’t of “his class & standing”. The shows on TVS may not have been every1s ‘cup of tea’…but they had ‘watch ability’ for many people/cultures. But who cares about the people…right?! We’ll make more money out of people by going online…steer every1 to “the dark side”. Open up more download plans…”money, money, money”…makes Turnbull a popular guy with the ‘well-to-do’ in society. Way to go…they don’t call you “Turnbull The Tosser” for nothing. So boys & girls out there in TV land…how many of you will vote for this shmuck at the next election? Happy trails viewers…”Hi-ho Silver & away”…

So upset that tvs is gone. It is such a great platform for people trying to get a start in the industry, and had some great shows that the other stations won’t show. Loved the Schlocky Horror Picture Show, the old movies, the wonderful old cartoons (eg Betty Boop), and Ken Harris’ art program inspired us to paint. Ridiculous that it couldn’t be saved

Bloody liberals again being short sighted.

I am disappointed tvs is off the air. What happens if I don’t have a computer nor can afford on call video and tv is my only way to watch tvs. Turnbull you have stuffed it up again.

Another example of the Liberal Government failing to assist the small Guys
Thanks I will remember this next Election

Yet another thing to remember when casting vote for anyone BUT the Liberal Party at the next election, loved TVS and have watched it constantly, big hole in the viewing now.

I miss it already ,the 10.30 morning movie,the schockly horror show with nigel honeybone,please get back on the air ,by the way ,a little notice you were going off the air would have been nice ,thanks ted

I would like to know how the viewing audience for TVS compared to NITV and why the latter continues at tax payers expense.

Bugger knew Turnbull was a snotbag this proves it 100%

Will greatly miss TVS which consistently did broadcast significantly quality TV. Much better than a lot of the trash and annoying heavy load of adverts commercial TV stations. Don’t think the internet online broadcasting is the answer. Many of the past TVS viewers would not bother to access that way. Another case of politicians not listening to the general community. Hopefully there will be a resolve that will see TVS return. It seems many of their past viewers were seniors or elderly now robbed of some enjoyment in their day!!!

Why the hell does the Government force garbage in the form of “Infomercials” down our throats, yet they take away entertaining shows like Vasilis Garden, Schlocky Horror and other shows that I like to watch when there is NOTHING but garbage & re runs on free to air.
Oh I forgot, I can pay hundreds of dollars a moth for Foxtel to watch nothing but re runs or sport. Why would I when I can purchase an entire DVD set for $20 and watch re runs at my leisure.
So much for free to air. Nothing but re runs & infomecials or pay through the nose for internet of Foxtel.
Time to go back to reading a book & sitting around the radio.
Don’t pay for their garbage & see how long they last. TVS would be back real quick if we stopped paying.
Bring back TVS!!!

I completely agree with all the disappointed comments. With a bit of support TVS could have developed into a fabulous tv station – the kind of tv we had with SBS a long time ago…..

So TVS is unacceptable but a free to air racing channel that encourages gambling is OK? And advertising stations that I go through and delete are also OK? Surely the racing channel should not be on free to air TV based on the negative impact this has on society!!! Pity Turnbull is showing yet again money counts society doesn’t!

Nobody actually cares…. back to sleep now.

No more infomercial channels.

Regular watcher of this station – no longer. Came back from holidays to find TVS ends – not with a bang, but a whimper. Turnbull again! No wonder Australia lags behind the rest of the world in self-culture. When will this no-hoper be turfed out by those in his party who care about Australia and Australians? I thought left-wingers were all for social enterprises such as Community Television – obviously mistaken.

I cant wait until TURNBULL and his cronies go off air.Then they will know what its like.

Sad day when TVS ceased to transmit. Very good programs gone, sure 7 or 9 do not need 7-9 channels for mindless re-runs. At least TVS had a good variety of international programs. Its election time and the Liberals sucking up to the press/TV baron(s)

May a thousand curses dog Malcolm Turnbull and his cronies. My 97 year old mother who has dementia got some relief from her disease by watching her ethnic language programm on this station. Also the only other programme that kept her engaged and happy was Andre Rieu and his shows. She loved how he made people so happy and she taps her feet and sings along and claps her hands to the music.

This LNP abomination has to be turfed out at the next election before Australia is taken to the cleaners by them.

well that just about finishers tv for me i only watch abc/sbs news , each day plus tvs syd.. why tvs ? because it was different to all of those other free to air channels. with the same bull–it on all channels.. as far as online forget it . I,ll still catch the abc/ sbs news each day PLEASE BRING BACK TVS

ps. I have lost all respect for politicians black or white

This what our so called leaders think of us,taking tvs of the air did not concern them one little bit,it was all about money in the pockets of the media moguls who wanted access to the channel frequency to run more adds on television, i don’t call it television any more i call it add-evision because 9 times out off 10 when you turn on your tv the programme you want to watch won’t be on there will be a bloody add on.that
is one thing i liked about ctv adds were at a minimum

A sad day in the history of Australian TV. The web site is down too. Hopefully Nigel Honeybone will get picked up like Rove and Blokesworld and live on. I agree with the comments on the racing channel.

TVS had some good programs. I liked the re – broadcast news.

Vote against the Liberals at the next election. They are incompetent

What a stupid comment to make from malcom turnbull (does not deserve capitols).that it does not need to be on free to air.How else are you supposed to record the shows which are played at inconvenient times (masterclass in oils, wood working, old drama and comedy (Beverly Hillbillies, etc for the kids). There have been other shows on here which I watch from time to time but due to work, I am not around to watch when it is shown. So I record them on my PVR. Bit hard to do this now that our rotten PM (prefer voting Liberals normally but hate Turnbull – will not vote for them while he is there) has decided we don’t need it on the air. WHO does he think he is telling us that something we want should not be transmitted with other FTA stations anymore. Yet the other stations are just putting on more and more gutter quality programing – whole channels just filled with unwatchable rubbish which I now skip past. In fact, it is so bad that we don’t even watch TV some nights, because there is nothing worth watching and instead of more channels to select from (from when I last retuned my TV over 2 years ago), I now have less. We have started playing board and card games again, sitting around actually talking face to face with real people What is it with all these cheap (and it is easy to see they are cheaply made) and nasty, FAKE reality shows which are dominating the programming. Aghhhhhhhhh!

Congratulations Turnbull and the rest of your LNP cronies, you have destroyed a great service to the people of Sydney and as a now “not any more” Liberal voter I will do all in my power to make sure that people are reminded of your penny pinching policies at the next election. ATTENTION Bill Shorten – here is a geat chance to win over voters in Sydney plus voters in other States as Turnbull turns off their Community Television Stations in their States.

But there’s $300 million to make a couple of crappy American films.

Money talks.

Oh dear… Never let the facts get in the way of a good bitch fest. Community television has known for at least five years it’s days were numbered. They were originally told by CONROY they’d be closing at the end of 2014. Turnbull then gave them a 12 month extension to end of 2015. He then offered them a further 12 months with the caveat that they should have an online presence established. They’ve had ample time and opportunity to reset and rationalise the sector but they were too busy protecting their paltry patch! Oh and let’s not forget the $5 million of tax payer money blown by the university of western Sydney on the TVS experiment… Them’s the facts.

Some of the programmes on TVS were far better (no idiots swearing and trying to be funny) than a lot of the garbage shown on commercial channels (commencing with 7 and 9 that show on three and four channels at exactly the same time of day It is not unusual for some commercial stations to repeat garbage shows several times over several days. At least TVS did not show the same programme/movie etc day after day, week after week.. Some commercial stations would have to go off air if was not for the numerous boring cooking, renovation, sports and (at times) alleged talent shows. The very poor quality of a number of television shows has caused me to have an increasing appreciation of certain radio programmes. As per usual we are compelled to live under a system where politicians think they know best about everything. Finally, best regards to all who enjoyed most of the programmes and subjects provided by TVS.

Well another liked community asset gone, academic’s , politicians, and morons who have no idea what real people want, more to the point it’s what they want us to like and just say “yes sir”!
News flash guys, TVS was a little cheesey maybe, but it gave a great over all spectrum of shows and gve community groups access to a medium that otherwise they cannot afford, or was that the plan, get rid of community input?
I would suggest that funding of some of the SBS channels could have been pulled and redirected into stations like TVS .
Well to everyone who enjoyed TVS, the election is coming up next year, let’s send a message to these self important, arrogant intellectuals and vote for some other group. I will!

Why is Turnbull being blamed for a decision made by Labor’s Stephen Conroy in 2013?

Because Viewer it was Turnbull’s decision, Community Television’s licence was extended by the previous Government to 2019 based on key criteria of community inclusion and participation, and their business capacity as assessed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
Those licences still stand. What Turnbull has done is take away access to the broadcast spectrum by not renewing their Apparatus (transmitter) Licences. So effectively we have stations with a licence to operate till 2019 but but no access to the transmitters.
Stations were given an ultimatum earlier this year to drop their “Commit to Community TV” campaign in exchange for a one year stay of execution.
TVS decided not to stand with the rest of Australia and chose to go their own way,
I’m not surprised as TVS has always done it’s own thing, often to it’s own detriment and to the detriment of Community Television in Australia.
As someone who has been involved with Community Television for over 20 years, the death of this valuable voice for independent media is a disgrace.

Zzzzz @41 has got this right – ample time for TVS to get its act together but they preferred to dig in their heels and cry and whinge and whine. Well, guys, that was your choice, and you lost.

TVS was my favourite channel. I am so disappointed. Could not understand why it suddenly disappeared, so checked on this website. Please,please re-instate it.

@Brett, sorry but community television had ample time to prepare for this.

TURNBULL YOU ARE A FOOL.

Currently I vote liberal but what idiot thinks Australia is ready for internet TV. And as others say, the commercial stations get away with far too much marketing air time thanks to the so called voluntary industry code of practice that ACMA hides behind, they may as well not exist either.

TVS, ABC & SBS were my favourite channels as most of their programs were not only entertaining but educational; something the commercial channels with their brain numbing “reality” shows can’t comprehend. Looks like Turnbull’s honeymoon period is over for TVS viewers.

I think you are all a bit hard on Turnbull. look at all he has done for us
He did the Murray Darling Basin and got all those farmers out of the hot sun away out of town and brought them into town and gave them centrelink benefits so they no longer have to toil in the heat. He gave us the mercury filled light bulb to save us electricity. He is going to help employment in the mental health sector by bringing
12000 mostly post traumatic stress disordered migrants to Sydney. H.’s done all this tor you and the only thing he has asked you for is more money you should all be ashamed of yourself and vote for an increase in the GST to 15% to make amens.

Most dissapointed TVS has left free to air TV. Though a bit amateurish in part, that was its appeal. It was an escape from conventional TV, going further than SBS did in the 80’s and really did have some excellent content. I loved the fishing shows without masses of annoying adds, the 4WD adventure segments, art classes, old TV shows not seen since the 1950’s and how can you possibly not comment on Nigel Honeybone’s superb Schlocky Horror Picture Show. How else could you see Classics like Nosfurato on a big TV screen. Then you had Aussie Movies and other fascinating small scale Australian productions. Far more educational than many other free to air channels. I’d have expected better from the Lib, particularly the ‘Small L’s’ like Malcolm. Will a massive petition help ? Maybe, however how many were actually watching TVS. Many couldn’t receive it. Yes, the bureaucrats have a way of ruining many aspects of life in this country. They believe they are saving money, however destroying morale and life’s little enjoyments actually ‘cost’ the community far more. Shame on you !

I’m so disappointed. With all the commercial c..p on offer this was something I watched frequently, especially the art programmes. Why take away something enjoyed by many people? TVS offered something a little different.

Yes Very Disappointed with the decision on the Liberal Party (Malcolm Turbull) and his cronies, This shows were very topical and entertaining and I look forward to watching MY Shows, But alas it Gone,Thankyou very much and I will Miss T.V.S.
From .
Bill Payne

We in our household are very disappointed that TVS is no longer on air. Saturday nights was our favourite, with all the musical shows. I hope Mr Turnbull will take The time to read some of these comments and restore our favourite TV station

I fought side by side in the campaign to keep 44 alive. I’m not happy that TVS is not on air. But I hope it comex back ASAP

I will miss TVS. Very good programs.

I am disappointed in the politicians who have forced TVS off free-to-air TV. It had some great shows, including some great Australian shows. Please bring it back to Channel 44.

I was always a supporter of Malcom Turnbull but I am fast becoming very dissatisfied with him and his party. I always looked forward the saturdaynight concert hall.

So upset and agree with many of the sentiments posted. as a late night / early hours viewer tvs was a joy to watch amongst all the infomercial ( punctuated by ad break) stations. A big big loss for Sydney.

Quite enjoyed shows on TVS. Very disappointed about Turnbull’s decision. Will wait for better news about the community station in 2016. Hopefully back on air very soon.

This is an absolute disgrace to Australian TV. Here we are, having lost our favorite community tv channel while the rich media moguls are sitting, collecting stacks of cash. TVS was never about the money, it was for the COMMUNITY, for the people, and just because it is not as popular as the major commercial channels who show nothing but ‘reality’ tv TRASH, it has to go. We have just lost so many inspiring, terrific shows thanks to a bunch of ignorant idiots who care about nothing but money. People, this is a disgrace of the highest degree

Really sad to see that this government has removed a TV offering that was entertaining, educational, interesting and just plain fun to watch in contrast to the crap that mainstream TV cough up. There is a place for community television not only as an opportunity for ordinary people to be involved in the art but also the spectrum allowed viewers to watch programming that was original.
Whilst pushing online content is commendable but again the government is pushing content into a pay to access medium.

Had a boring life , unfortunately now with the loss of the programs , including universal concert, which I loved to watch,as did my 93 year old Mother(thanks to all involved in dropping this channel) I will have to spend the time picking from the abundance of ……cooking , building, teenage, shopping and last of all THE SPORTING SHOWS. How lucky are we ?

Come on I agree 44 had some great programs especially music bring it back pronto

Very disappointed that channel 44 is gone. We lived this channel and watch it on a daily basis. Will it be coming back?

Utterly disgraceful.
I have voted liberal for Every election since I could vote.
I am 37 I will not continue to support ignorance like this.

Thanks for nothin…Mr T

Thanks for nothin….Mr T

Please bring back free to air channel 44 however good working on video alternative. Ridiculous government decision always harmful.

i watched TVS often angry that comrade Turnbull, dictated that the community suffers because its free to the community .Its must be nice to be a millionaire.

What a disregard of viewers of this free of commercialization, despite some adds station, which provided lots of great programs. True let down by the Government.

Sorry to see your broadcasts have now ceased. I really enjoyed some of your shows .
Another victim of this Liberal Government ,Turnbull wants to have a good hard look at his governments cuts.

So it is ok to broadcast the racing channel on free to Air TV which encourages gambling, and to give the commercial TV stations more bandwidth which they will just use to further saturate the airwaves with trash, but they chop community TV? I like MT, or I should say liked, because he has been nothing but a big disappointment since day 1.
Smart of him to offer a stay of execution till the end of 2016 which is conveniently after when the next federal elction is due, coincidence? I think not.

Instead on cutting off TVS, Turnbull should have curtailed the “radicalised” ABC.
I much preferred watching the programs on TVS than those ratbags in ABC

Comment: I have done my fitness exercises every day for a long time with MOVE iT OR LOSE IT program. It was the best and cheapest way to keep people fit. It is very disappointing to loose such a healthy program
I have been watching concerts and movies too. It is a disgraceful Mr Turnbull.

I am dismayed by the priorities of this government.
No more Andre Rieu or Schlocky Horror.

I’m really so upset TVS is off air for the $…it was so refreshing with wonderful programs like Masterclass ..Universal Concert..and much much more..natural down to earth..real, natural programs.

I hate commercial junk..reality shows.crime & murder..US movie repeats over and over and over!! Junk..junk!

When I first watched TVS, it was much more daring & even oppressed communities had a voice. And of course blokesworld for the blokes. All that changed soon after & now it’s completely gone! Never expected a good thing to last anyhow so I’m disappointed but not surprised.

Shame that TVS has gone. Another loss for local content. It also provided jobs and experiences for those involved in its programs. I am wondering how many possible future TV professionals will miss out on the opportunity to enter the industry?

Even Vasili reckons TVS was rubbish. Next step – getting rid of the left wing racism on ABC.

Maybe TVS said somthing that the LIBS did’nt like [THE TRUTH] give TVS back to the people you over paid pricks.

Or the LIBS could give TVS to SBS and they can continue with their anti-Australian, far left sensationalism, and unbeleivable fabricated racist fairytales….more patriotism, less bullshit please.

All it took was some young upstart to take over and want to change everything. Elderly people ARE NOT really interested in using their laptops to download anything. This was a good community channel that provided a much needed service to the elderly. But they’d rather air rubbish channels with reality and celebrity content. IF IT AINT BROKE DONT FIX IT.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really miss TVS! Why on earth should its continuation have been dependent on offering Video on Demand? There is no correlation between those who watched TVS and those who want VOD! If you want VOD you go and pay a provider for it. TVS was a free-to-air service. Maybe that was why the Cth Govt deemed it an evil hazard needing to be switched off?! Farewell Master Class in Oils and the tuition in water colours. Schlocky Horror was a scream! Bring back TVS please!!!

we need a left wing and a right wing to fly straight. too much power on the right or left spells danger.tvs weather we liked it or not, helped to keep some balance in telivision content.

Not impressed with Turnbull…
Was a liberal voter based on policy decisions that I agreed with, but not to remove ch 44..
So wrong !!!
Get priorities right please…

Don’t blame me….Vasili made me do it.

What a sad moment. Unlike the mountain of crap on free-to-air these days TVS offered a genuine alternative; yes at times amateurish but often quite illuminating, keeping a the spirit of curiosity up in a medium that lost its way a long time ago. Triumph of the technocrats is the defeat of true humanity.

who does it hurt by taking tavs off the air?

sure it was a non-glamour broadcaster, but that’s one of the main reasons we loved it.

isn’t the way of this stopped, modern world..?…if you start liking something they will soon take it away from us.

those mindless parasites in canberra wouldn’t have a clue about REAL COMMUNITY SERVCE!

it’s all about SELF INTEREST these days – NOT PUBLIC INTEREST!

damn shame.

goodbye tvs – we luved ya!

It was a mystery ‘what happened to Ch 44’… now we know. Perhaps a single page should have been displayed for a 7 days stating;
“TEMPORARILY CLOSED AT GOVT REQUEST”
(or should have read, ‘at govt interference’ ?). We did enjoy the alternative programmes and perhaps this was at the crust of the matter… stealing to many viewers away from the big boys in town ( like 2, 7, 9 and 10 and all the paid adverts.)

What a shame. It was good TV station and Al-Jazeera news at 10 pm was my favorite. This Liberal government is pathetic cutting funding for such a promising community TV station and community programs that reflect the multicultural nature of our society.

II can see Turnbull’s reasoning for getting TVS off the air , put simply we do not have enough shopping channels!! people with money like Turnbull need more shopping channels so they can spend there millions.
Stuff the community we need more shopping channels .

Sorry to see you go. Hope to see you back in 2016…..

Politics, politicians,
At the risk of being a little crude..
Perhaps they should remember the old saying: “Do not kick the arse today, that you may have to kiss at the ballot box tomorrow”

I use Avdshare Video Downloader to download videos from sbs on demand
or other video sharing websites.

Hmmm… “community TV should broadcast online rather than terrestrial…” – sounds like a money grab of the spectrum.

Thanks Mr. Turnbull for placing capitalism ahead of community values.

its all about money and nothing else

money talks

money is what make the world go around and not the other way where people make the world go around

Terrible news for TVS. Have been a loyal supporter since the beginning. I always watched Euromaxx, Ken Harris, Vasili’s Garden, Wrok Down, Guitar Gods and Masterpieces, Schlocky Horror, and all old films. No more. Thanks Turnball for allowing the air space to be given to useless channels like 9 and 7 with nothing but renovation,cooking and talent shows and endless repeats as well as multiple home shopping networks. Community should come first.

my mum miss channel 44 excerise morning and aftermoon it sad…..

Very sad to see the demise of TVS. Always enjoyed tuning in especially when the major channels served up garbage. Turnbull you are out of touch and have no idea what a lot of Aussies enjoy. ps never watch ABC political programs as pollies only think they know what is best (for themselves). Mike.

Not a word from the Government on the closure of TVS. I am so angry with Turnbull and crew for this one and many other issues. TVS offered up real people, not the plastic presenters the commercial stations push out. I will miss Shlocky Horror, the old B&W cinema serials and the occasional TV series from the 50’s & 60’s.
TVS was a good all-round entertainment channel and it offered real world training in the art of television for people working in that industry. I wish it was around when I worked in cinemas and TV as a projectionist all those years ago.
Just another POOR decision by Malcolm Turncoat, just like the roll-back of the NBN from fibre to the home – to fibre to the Node and then copper to the a house… what a joke!!! Streaming is a laughable platform in this country; it is so slow and will only get worse under the current method of delivery. BRING BACK TVS.

Never watched a minute of TVS for the simple reason that it certainly didn’t cover all of Sydney, despite its name. I’m 15km from the GPO as the pigeon flies but cannot get one microvolt of Sydney TV – all my signal comes from the central coast.
So I don’t give a rats that TVS is no more!

VOD Ha Ha Ha Ha I live in Hornsby and have to go out into the street to make a phone call. Only have analogue TV & set top box. Have lost chnl I watched 70% of time.time. Don’t have spare $800 to pay for mostly unwanted garbage.

Other community tv stations remain across Australia so I suspect those pointing the finger at UWS management are closer to the mark for Sydney’s TVS demise than those blaming the government. That’s not to absolve the government but the immediate decision to pull the TVS plug was not their call. I should have known a date had been set when the Six o’clock serials disappeared!!

Miss the exercise programmes which were really beneficial to older people

Sad….the only chanell in this crap police state that broadcast any decent programmes That did not involve and rely on smut, immorality, violence etc (and foul language….although there was a small amount of this) to entertain the masses…..SYDNEY don’t know what It’s lost….Rob.

I kept on retuning my TV on Christmas to find TVS, because that channel would always be a welcome break from the usual crap that commercial stations serve us up. Somehow I knew it was too good to last and if they think that I watch TV online, they are nuts. I work on the computer and am glad when I can get away from idiotic computers. We have become slaves to Computers, I-Phones and all that crap.
So if community TV programmes like TVS are going online, they will just disappear amongst all the other rubbish that the world wide web has to offer at a very high price.
Most People don’t even yet realize how stupefied they have become by their constant use of computers and dumb phones that suck up the last bit of intelligence humans have still left. ( i had to “google” TVS to find that it had gone off air.) the reason for that is MONEY. Fuck you Turnbull and Google: Tax-dogers.

I kept on retuning my TV on Christmas to find TVS, because that channel would always be a welcome break from the usual crap that commercial stations serve us up. Somehow I knew it was too good to last and if they think that I watch TV online, they are nuts. I work on the computer and am glad when I can get away from idiotic computers. We have become slaves to Computers, I-Phones and all that crap.
So if community TV programmes like TVS are going online, they will just disappear amongst all the other rubbish that the world wide web has to offer at a very high price.
Most People don’t even yet realize how stupefied they have become by their constant use of computers and dumb phones that suck up the last bit of intelligence humans have still left. ( i had to “google” TVS to find that it had gone off air.) the reason for that is MONEY. F#$$$ Turnbull and Google: Tax-dodgers.

Turnbull needs the free to air spectrum to support VOD because he shafted the NBN
If he engineers it right we will all be paying to watch the shopping channel and worshipping the almighty dollar

Turnbull you boofhead, you have taken away a little piece of heaven for Sydney siders who value novice TV production effort and honeys delivery of quality content, I’m so angry that we have lost this brilliant TV station, and are left with the drivel that is free to air, oh I get it now, everything in the Digital revolution must be user pay yes?
Lets all work to ensure we make Turnbull redundant at the first opportunity.

so please bring back channel 44 asap as you see everyone miss this channel

my mum love this channel ……

Busy over Christmas but finally turned the TV on and found no TVS. Grrr…

VOD??? Really??? With out pathetic broadband services? I wonder who was responsible for that Malcolm…

Why can’t Australians support Australians?? Is it too much of an ask not to quash new ideas and innovative ideas such as TVS and at the same time to support local community projects – guess it must be that’s the only reason TVS is off air!! Shame on you politicians, it’s not always about the almighty $$!!!

Disappointed TVS is gone a real shame. I remember Turnbull having it in his sights, you have lost my vote prime minister

thank god this channel has been off air
they have no talent the channel is shit and crap
i don’t understand how anyone could watch that crap

Free to air community tv does not fit with the vision and business case of the murdock and other media empires nor with their cronies the liberals.
It is kind of funny that turnbull claims to be the modern tech literate pm but as minister for communications completely destoyed the NBN by dropping cable to the home in place of cable to the node but not only that … he then replaced the original 2 mm cable to the home with 1mm cable to the node. A move that guarantees internet tv will never compete against the murdock pay tv cable services unless you are lucky enough to live in a suburb that already has the 2mm cable to the home NBN built by the Labour party.
Get rid of this lying fool with the slimy condescending smirk. And bring back communities for the communities not media barrons.

I used to love turning the tv on and being able to watch the various fishing shows because apart from IFish which is aimed at people in the upper income tax brackets, there were no other fishing shows to watch.

And then 7 Mate finally caught on that Australians possibly spend more money on fishing than footy and cricket combined and started showing fishing shows from 11:30 on a Sunday until 3:00pm.

Great but a bit of an overkill. Not like TVS where they are on nearly every day and repeats at a decent hour, not 3 AM.
It was great reliving my childhood with Robin Hood, William Tell and the Bucanneers.
I wouldn’t know of Celtic Thunder Women if not for TVS. And being a heavy metal Guitarist I loved all the music shows. What’s free to air television?

I learnt to paint again because of this TV station and liked other content on it too. Will be sadly missed. Still believe even in this ever changing modern world…. if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

This is a bit of a crock to say it’s to save spectrum. You would need to reshuffle all the other stations around it. It’s right in the middle of the UHF band between other stations.

MPEG 4 was mentioned in the article, which is great. What would be good if SBS could come to the rescue. If they change their HD simulcast to MPEG 4 they would free up at least 1/4 of their bandwidth which would be more than enough for a community station to lease and broadcast in MPEG 4, and switch NITV to MPEG 4 and give it much needed quality boost. Maybe Ten can offer up some of their bandwidth too. Can’t be earning too much from their shopping channel

I returned to Sydney from holidays in the countryside and found TVS was missing. So rescanned the channels, new advertising and racing channels showed up, but no TVS. Got on the web and am disappointed to learn TVS had the rug pulled from under it by Malcolm Turncoat! I will miss the concerts, DW news and science, the vintage movies, and the colourful mix of local content. Bring back community FTA channels!

What a great disappointment to see the demise of TVS on my television set.
I enjoyed many an hour watching programs on TVS over the years the station broadcasted. Being a Classic Car enthusiast I particularly enjoyed those type of programs and in particular “Fletch”.
Malcolm Turnbull decision will deny many people the opportunity to enjoy a different view.

just installed an antenna to pick up TVS…thanks Malcolm!!!!!!!!!!

is there a web site that we can keep up to date with…
so we can retune the tele again ?????

I understand the reason we have lost this engaging and enterprising community station is because the LNP government wants to supply more spectrum for home shopping channels! Now we have no genuinely local product especially since the ABC sacked Quentin Dempster and stopped the 7.30 NSW program. Such a shame we now have no channels not interested in chasing ratings.

Bring back Fletch, Move It or Loose It and the rest of the T.V.S. channel. It wasn’t bloody broken, so why take it of the air. Fitness show,s are excellent for good health and well being. Bring back T.V.S. and all it’s programmes. It’s 100% better than the other rubbish we turn off,so bring it back to us. It belongs in our homes. Fletch, we miss you, and we all hope we see you soon buddy.All your show,s were a work of art,with so much work gone into them. What Molly is to the music world, you are to the car world. Your No1 fan, Pete

Please bring back TVS. We missed the fitness programs such as Move it or Lose it.
Without good health, life is not worth living, In fact, we watched most of the programs offered by TVS and the other commercial channels constantly bombard us with advertisements. One would expect good programs from the ABC but if you study them closely, the programs are out of date or repeats. Most of the reporters are Leftist and who would want to watch them and what a waste of time!

My parents thoroughly enjoyed the TVS Channel. They are extremely disappointed with this decision of closing this station. They looked forward to many shows. Like some other viewers, they don’t have a computer or internet access. Please bring this station back and put smiles back on their faces.I’m watching this space!!!?????

It costs taxpaying Australians, 1.2 billion dollars a year (yes per year) to keep the ABC television channels + radio on the air. Their (ABC) last financial report lists 600 million of this 1.2 billion dollars (per year) as being staff wages. Who’s protecting whom here. Are the Liberals afraid of cleaning out the ABC? Labor might not been in charge of the Government or the ballot box but by jingo, they are well established inside the ABC with 600 million dollars worth of perks. The other 600 million. Who watches the ABC? What OTHER country donates 1.2 billion to its Government run broadcasting. And it is a donation of taxpayers money. Time to privatise by contract the ABC. Allow them TV commercials. The whole of SBS only costs 250 million. If we are to be so SELFISH to turn off TVS, lets go the whole way.

TVS had more good shows, then all the other station put together.The only thing the other stations have is all the brain washing infomercials. Malcum turnbolt as I call him, must own shares in all the crap they sell on the other stations.
Please bring back TVS on 44. The rest of the station are a waste.

My grandmother is devastated, she is unable to access internet and online platforms. Quality viewing is already limited and she is a senior with limited English and her TV is her major source of entertainment.

Apart from some irrelevant anti-ABC trolls and one or two anti-community trolls, i see genuine and well-founded anguish and anger in these posts.

How disapointing is is, to loose a tv station, that gave so many people a lot of pleasure.
we made o point of always watching and enjoying Universal Concert Hall on saturday evenings, amongst other shows. What is the point of taking it off the air??

I am so angry, really why take this channel away. I loved the concerts, the painting show, love the gardening show. WHY?

why every one complain about the prim minister he is a lawyer of the bankers ?

I have Foxtel, so around 100 channels of crap. All mindless American crap. The only thing worth watching was TVS. Why was it pulled? Because it’s aim was not profit and its content wasn’t ad driven. Shame

TVS was a very entertaining station in many ways. Something for everyone. Ken Harris masterclass in oils. International concert hall was a winner on Saturday nights. Old movies and lots more . Such a pitty mr T to make a decision that is so unpopular with so many people. It was a station so different to other stations. That is what made it so entertaining for lots of people.

I loved TVS! I knew this was going to happen eventually. I loved the diverse range of programmes. Some daggy but good, and others, like Vasillis Garden, Aussie movies introduced by the wonderful Lex Marinos, WROKDOWN, and I even liked Masterclass with Ken Harris, and Coffee Break with Jan Woods rough editing, it was still an interesting show. TVS deserved to be supported and kept alive. There is so much crap on commercial TV. Nine has just created another channel full of ghastly reality nonsense. We have a FOOD channel now, like we really need it. Where else could you see a classic Felix or Popeye cartoon pop up, or an episode of William Tell and The Jack Benny Show? They are classics, and we just keep getting bombarded with more cooking, building, match making, reality rubbish on commercial tv. I really hope tvs comes back, and thankyou for some great viewing over the years.

I just wanted to say that I can understand what Marj was getting at..I’m not elderly but it’s just a whole lot easier to turn the tv on rather than getting tvs online. It is worth having a channel . I miss Anthology Of Interest too, and past shows like The Wine Squad, In Wollongong Tonight, Dazza and Gazza Show etc. entertaining stuff. I’m just so sad, and angry it’s no longer there.

Such a shame! I regularly watched all the fishing, woodworking and master art programmes that commercial stations would never have shown. And the season of Australian films opened my eyes to many I had never seen on tv.
Additionally, my mother is in her 70’s and is just not capable/willing to learn how a computer works (despite hours of demonstration).
It’s such a loss to our communities.
Why don’t we just go the whole hog? Surely there are shopping centres that could take over the Australian Museum and Art Gallery of NSW? I’m sure there’d be some government ‘advisor’ who would support a need for more useless shops in the CBD so the moguls and shareholders can make more money.

@Cindy. WROKDOWN is on Aurora via Foxtel and has been since 2013, as are other community tv shows.

It is a shame that TVS is off the air. probably one of the most independent TV stations in Australia. You served a wide range of people. The music lovers, the young, the elderly, the battlers, Western Sydney, the multicultural groups, fringe groups and religious groups of all shades. It is a shame that they have taken prime minister Turnbull has taken it away from us. Shame on you!

Sydney and Australia need a TV station like TVS. Please do something to restore the servie back to us!

We thought that TVS were taking a break over Christmas. we are very sorry to learn that TVS is no more. the old movies were great and we really looked forward to Universal Concert each week it was so goot to have enjoyable programmes. Looks like we spend more time reading and gardening, very little TV worth watching!
Extremely disappointing.