It’s the end of an era in Australian television. Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has confirmed that the Abbott Government will revoke community TV’s access to the sixth broadcasting spectrum, and instead sell Australia’s sixth channel off with telecommunications companies likely to bid.
The country currently has five licensees in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. As per the new policy announcement, these channels will be pushed off of broadcast television screens over the next 15 months – rather than the 3 years the community broadcasting sector had previously pushed for – with all broadcasting operations encouraged to move online after that point.
Richard McLelland – the current secretary of the Australian Community Television Alliance, and the general manager of Melbourne’s community TV station Channel 31 – stated the move will “probably spell the death of community television.”
“We’re profoundly disappointed that the minister didn’t have more meaningful, constructive dialogue with the sector to ensure that in some shape or form we survived this monumental restructuring.”
Community television has long served as an absolutely vital training ground for scores of Australian film and TV crew and talent. Rove McManus and Hamish & Andy famously got their start in the industry through community TV, as did countless writers, directors, and production staff. Removing this access for raw and emerging talent to proper, hands-on training for broadcast television could – and most likely will – have enormous ramifications for the future of skilled, homegrown talent.
The Government’s plan to sell off the broadcast spectrum – potentially to commercial TV – is a move that shows both a callous disregard for the community and the local emerging sector, as well as displaying precisely how in-the-pocket of the Government the dominating commercial media companies are.
Turnbull, for his part, stated the following.
“I have no doubt that this transition is in the best interests of community television. It will deliver wider audiences, at less cost on a wider range of devices and the ability to do more than linear broadcasting.“
Which is all well and good until you realise the subtle irony in the fact that he called it “community television” given that his Government’s decision one hundred percent prevents it from being that. And then he went further.
“The internet is not new. It is the universal uber-platform to which most people in Australia are connected 24/7.“
If that’s the case, then maybe he should consider not half-arsing the NBN? Or even using the money they’ll inevitably gain from the sale of this forcibly vacated broadcast spectrum to reinvest in community-created content?
Removing Community TV from TV screens is a dick move, make no mistake about it. It’s short-sighted, shows a lack of interest in developing new talent, will cost people jobs. It’s just… Hell, it’s just the vibe of the whole thing that stinks.
Where is Dennis Denuto when you need him.
Photo: Stefan Postles via Getty Images.
