Budget must end the uncertainty for community television

Senator the Hon Nick Minchin
Shadow Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (to 8 December 2009)
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate

Tuesday’s Federal Budget must end the uncertainty for Community Television with the allocation of funding and all-important spectrum to enable the channels to join the other networks in broadcasting in digital, Shadow Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator Nick Minchin said.

“Despite long having the capacity to do so, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has failed to allocate available spectrum for Community Television to broadcast in digital and his “don’t worry, you’ll be right” approach needs to be backed in this Budget with action,” Senator Minchin said.

Community Television is our biggest producer and broadcaster of diverse local content and attracts millions of viewers across the country, with channels in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane. The sector is also a proven training ground for new industry talent, with the likes of Rove McManus starting out there.

“Channel 31 in Melbourne, for example, attracts about 1.4 million viewers per week and desperately needs to join Channels 7,9,10 as well as the ABC and SBS to simulcast in both analogue and digital well in advance of digital switch-over in 2013,” Senator Minchin said.

“Viewers are frustrated to learn that Community Television cannot be watched through digital set-top boxes and others simply forget it exists after making the transition to digital. And while the sector is left in limbo on analogue, it is being inadvertently undermined by Government advertising campaigns encouraging viewers to make the switch to digital,” Senator Minchin said.

“There is simply no valid excuse for this issue not being addressed in this Budget. Why not allocate unused spectrum under the proposed Channel A offer to Community Television, which has been put in Senator Conroy’s too hard basket?” Senator Minchin said.

For this Budget to be credible, Labor must also:

Clarify funding and debt arrangements for its proposed $43 billion National Broadband Network.

Provide certainty to viewers and communities in relation to the transition to digital television.

Provide sufficient increased funding levels for ABC and SBS, including funding to fully support the establishment of an ABC children’s digital channel.

Outline a clear plan for spectrum management and allocation, including licence renewal and details in relation to how the ‘Digital Dividend’ will be utilised.

Include new funding for rural and regional telecommunications, including a renewed commitment to the Australian Broadband Guarantee.

“Labor has made some huge promises in relation to communications and this Budget will confirm whether or not it has a proper plan to deliver them,” Senator Minchin said.

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