Television

There's hope yet for Community TV   Author: eNews staff and agencies | Feb 19, 2007, 09:32

Is there a chance the country's struggling community TV channels might be thrown a lifeline by the Howard Government?

It would seem there is after a little noticed report from the House of Reps Standing Committee on Communications, IT and the Arts, last week received a cautious tick from Media Minister, Senator Helen Coonan.

It recommended in a report that community TV be carried in a digital simulcast on the new A digital channel which could be sold off this year

More importantly the Committee recommended that whoever buys Channel A be obligated to carry the Community TV simulcast, with a subsidy from Canberra.

Here's the core parts of the Committee's findings:

"The Committee recommends that the Australian Government sell the unreserved channel known as Licence A, with an obligation to be placed on the new licensee to carry community television during the simulcast period.

"Additionally, the Committee recommends that:

"Carriage would be at no cost to the community television sector, during the simulcast period;

"the terms of sale for Licence A will include the condition to simulcast community television by 1 January 2008, otherwise penalties on the new licensee will apply; and

"such penalties must be sufficient to ensure that community television is carried by 1 January 2008.

"The Committee recommends that, if Licence A does not sell before the end of 2007 with a ‘must carry’ community television obligation, the Australian Government:

" temporarily allocate sufficient spectrum from Licence A to a national broadcaster in order for it to carry community television during the simulcast period; and

"allocate sufficient funding for that national broadcaster to cover the costs of digital community television transmission during the simulcast period.

"The Committee recommends that the Australian Government, at analogue
switch-off:

" convert the spectrum band known as Channel 31 to digital; and permanently allocate it to current and future community broadcasters.

"The Committee recommends that the Australian Government provide funding of $6 million to the community television sector for the conversion of broadcast equipment to digital, and recommends that this funding be made available immediately after a simulcast arrangement has been made.

"The Committee recommends that the Australian Government provide funding of $1.7 million per year to the community television sector for each year of simulcast."

Now that's likely to be a little controversial because it is not clear just who would want Channel A.

So far the demand has been had to identify because of the restrictions on ownership and material (no existing broadcasters or services allowed.)

The question of support for community TV in this digital age got an airing in last week's Senate estimates hearing with labor Senator Stephen Conroy pressing media Minister, Senator Helen Coonan on just how the government intended helping the sector (which is struggling in Sydney in particular).

Senator Coonan said "I have to say that this (community TV) is a fluid situation and we have committed in the digital action plan to looking after community TV at an appropriate time.

*Senator CONROY*—The point that I am trying to get to is that their business model collapses long before the final switch-off point. Is that a reasonable proposition?

*Senator Coonan*—There is a point at which they need to be taken—or at least someone needs to carry them—on digital space.

*Senator CONROY*—And it is earlier than that finite point that you mentioned?

*Senator Coonan*—There is a point at which they will need to be accommodated, yes.

*Senator CONROY*—The digital action plan states that the sector is being encouraged to explore options for a simulcast arrangement with a digital platform operator. They are basically being told to seek a commercial arrangement with the purchaser of channel A. Is that what you are intending?

*Senator Coonan*—No. Any carrier. It does not have to be just channel A.

*Senator CONROY*—Is the government aware that the community broadcasters have already made inquiries to broadcasters and potential bidders for the new digital licences about the possibility of a simulcast and reported that the costs are prohibitive?

*Senator Coonan*—No, that has not been conveyed.

*Senator CONROY*—Again, I am not trying to start out on a false premise.
I am just trying to work my way through what you said before. If community TV cannot reach a deal for a simulcast, the digital action plan states, as you have said, that the government will consider allocating analog Channel 31 for digital services and that the new channel would be subject to a must-carry requirement for community TV.
That is what I think you were describing. Do you think this option would be an extremely disruptive option for community TV? Would they not actually have to make a decision about whether they were going to have a digital or an analog; there would be no simulcast-type arrangement like everybody else has? It is a tough choice if they are not able to get a commercial settlement.

**SENATOR COONAN**: Basically, what we are trying to do is, at no cost to the community sector, accommodate them on a digital platform with an obligation on another operator to so carry them. There are lots of different ways of doing it. There are ways in which you could look at the national broadcasters taking some of that spectrum, for instance, and carrying. There are lots of different ways. That is really what I am saying. I do not intend to have the community TV sector substantially disadvantaged. They will get onto a digital platform in an appropriate way.

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