[LINK] Community TV in Australia

[Adam Todd]

Having been connected in some way with "Public TV" or "Community TV" since 
it was first test broadcast in 1988, I hate to admit that the ego level is 
higher than that between ISPs and Film makers.

Even being able to buy air time is more difficult than purchasing air time 
on Souther Cross Ten networks.  (Refer to Fantasy Island)

Having read the ACA's report into an investigation of Channel 31 and it's 
deals with RTV, there was wind in the air that the licence scheme was to be 
changed this year.  No doubt it's happening and no doubt there is a 
scramble for licences.

Personally I feel that there should be more community based transmitters 
sending out broadcast, sure most of it is crap, but there are a few 
production companies out there that produce good stuff and can't get it seen.

I also feel that any licence should be strictly DIGITAL and not 
Analog.  This will ensure that localisation of the broadcast occurs 
allowing each local government area (cough, not my favorite word) to 
establish their own channel for local news, information and programming.

A National channel, in sync across Australia should be established to 
broadcast the BEST of the BEST programs shown across the local channels.

I've already done the sums, I can afford to establish my own transmitter, 
licence and broadcasting service.  I just need 24 hours a day of good 
content.  I can produce around 3 hours a day inhouse.

Think of the benefits if community actually started becoming community and 
working on such a project.  Internet could be used as a source of feedback 
and instant multimedia results.  interactive TV with a new twist!  It would 
even be possible for local residents to use one of the digital subchannels 
to receive Internet data, much the same way a satellite user currently 
does.  Again limited areas.

But it's not going to happen.  Too much regulation, too much government and 
way too much ego.

At 17:08 6/02/2004 +1100, George Bray wrote:

>What does CTV mean to you?  I've been asking a few people and get answers 
>ranging from "armchair poem recitals" to "open source TV".
>
>As I understand it, there are a few licensees in the captial cities. Lots 
>of localised channels.
>
>http://www.ctvaa.org.au/links.html
>
>This new national organisation CTVAA wants to form a national voice for 
>community content producers and broadcasters. The aim is to form a content 
>production and delivery system from 700 local government areas, and talk 
>the government into the license and funds to distribute nationally on DTV.
>
>I think this has the possibility of increasing demand for broadband 
>services, but it would still be hampered by volume-based access regimes 
>for TV of reasonable broadcast quality.
>
>Perhaps that adage that one should never underestimate the data handling 
>capacity of a ute full of DVDs doing the ton, is true.
>
>http://www.ctvaa.org.au/aims.html.html
>http://www.ctvaa.org.au/membership.html
>
>What do you think?
>
>George
>
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