Community TV: endangered species

There is fear that community television will be left behind in the switchover after the government failed to include financial assistance for them in the recent budget announcement. Elika Bahramrad reports.

The digital revolution is redefining the world of cinema and television, providing viewers with a whole new experience of better sound and picture quality, as well as more channels to choose from. However, community TV in Australia has been on the trot since the 1980s. With stations operating in every capital city, holding a collective estimated viewership of four million nationwide, the non-profit organisations rely on sponsorship and self-funded volunteers to cover production expenses.

The planned 2013 switchover is causing major problems for these stations, as the majority are only currently able to broadcast programs through an analogue transmitter, and are experiencing a decline in audience growth. This as a result, decreases sponsorship revenue, which ultimately plays a vital role for community TV to keep going on.