How HbbTV can save community television
Brightcove Australia and New Zealand vice president Mark Blair looks at how new IPTV platform HbbTV could potentially save community television.
Community television is facing the axe — again.
The stations have been earmarked for eradication from our screens after Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull suggested removing the stations’ broadcast spectrum licenses, to be put to use elsewhere.
It shouldn’t be a surprise. Free-to-air television has always been a challenge of practical limitations. The rarity of broadcast spectrum — the radio waves over which TV is transmitted — as well as the cost of doing business, means broadcasters have always faced a choice of what they air, how they air it and when.
My late father-in-law used to rave about TVS (he was an avid “old movie” buff).
I’ve never watched it – not by choice, but practicality. Living 13km from the GPO, I cannot receive ANY Sydney-transmitted channel – my TV transmissions come from Bouddi (Central Coast), which doesn’t have TVS. But Mark Blair is right – it wouldn’t be hard to piggy-back on SBS or many other channels.
But would those other FTAs be willing to give up one of those uber-exciting infomercial channels (I am totally unconvinced by their rating figures, by the way. Has ANYONE watched that drivel?).
Undeniable proof the govt puts business before community. I occasionally watch it yet don’t watch half hour vacuum commercials
Community TV is far more than just “the few people watching it” Speaking from experience, C31 Melbourne offers the only opportunity for people to learn the “craft” of television. Does anyone really believe the networks are providing training or opportunities outside their clique? Suggesting that Community TV can all go on HbbTV is rather like saying filmmakers can now go on YouTube. Rather than disbanding the Community channels Malcolm Turnbull should consider merging the ABC and SBS and then insist that all programming is made in Australia. Cut out the “middle management” fat and give public taxpayer funds to Australian producers making Australian content.
And can Mr Blair tell us all exactly how Community Television is going to be able to afford to get access to this Hbb TV ?
Community TV is not a part of Freeview and the ABC and SBS are already struggling to keep their own on-line services alive in the wake of huge budget cuts.
Can Mr Blair also tell me how Community TV producers are going to replace the sponsorship money they rely on when they become a part of a glorified YouTube channel?
Who’s going to pay for the studio costs, equipment costs, catering, the rapidly growing insurance costs, the cost of administration without the 100’s of small to medium sized businesses that now support Community Television.
You can’t have Community Television without Television.
It’s as simple as that.
http://www.committocommunitytv.org.au
I watched the antenna awards the other day.quite a few shows we ( in WA ) I don’t see,or have missed.there a a few shows I’d like to see.perhaps If the govt helped? Isn’t this a trainining ground the govt wants to help reduce unemployment or is that hyperbole?
If you vote liberal have a good hard look at yourself