New legislation gives life raft to community TV: ‘A vibrant part of Australia’s media landscape’
New legislation introduced today will secure the on-air future for community television in Australia, overturning a previous bill that put the future of stations at risk.
The Broadcasting Services Amendment (Community Television) Bill 2024 was introduced today by Michelle Rowland MP, Minister for Communications, and is aimed to ensure that C44 Adelaide and C31 Melbourne and Geelong will stay on-air “for the foreseeable future”.
Previous legislation would have seen both stations’ broadcasting licences expire on June 30. Both stations will now broadcasting until an alternative use for the radiofrequency spectrum they use has been confirmed.
“This Bill is a significant stride towards ensuring the continued existence and vibrancy of community TV,” said the Australian Community Television Alliance’s president, and C31 Melbourne and Geelong general manager, Shane Dunlop.
“The community TV sector has suffered incredibly since 2014, due to the uncertainty caused by repeated short-term renewals to stations’ broadcasting licenses.
“Today’s legislation is a great validation of the resilience shown by C44 Adelaide and C31 Melbourne on behalf of their communities, and of the unique role played by community TV in the Australian media landscape as a platform and pathway for diverse voices and emerging media talent.”
Rowland said, in a statement: “Community television is a vibrant part of Australia’s media landscape – adding to media diversity, providing local news and content, supporting local businesses and serving as a platform for the next generation of industry talent.
“These changes will ensure Channel 31 Melbourne and Channel 44 Adelaide can continue to provide these valuable services until there is an alternative use for the radiofrequency spectrum they occupy.”
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Nathan Jolly is the Features Editor at Mumbrella. He joined the team in July, 2023.
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