Channel 31 Community TV TVS Media Man Australia

Channel 31: King of Community Broadcasting, by Greg Tingle & Yvette Moore

Channel 31 - TVS

Profile Of The Month: Joy Hruby

For all enquires contact TVS

Channel 31 is Australia's leading community television station.

In recent times Channel 31 has developed to stage where it is not a secret anymore, and now enjoys even more than a "cult" following.

Channel 31 offers a diverse and unique, often "edgy" TV alternative, and has catapulted the media career of many well known Australians including Andrew Denton, Rove McManus, Doug Mulray, to name but a few.

Many argue that Channel 31 delivers what TV should be. Fun, "grass roots", genuine and consisting of real news and real people.

*In the coming months this Channel 31 profile will be further developed.

Newsflash: 18th March 2004

New Licence Awarded For Community TV

Read the Press Releases

ABA PR

UWS PR

What is Community Television? (credit: Broadcast Australia)

CTV services deliver local information and entertainment programming satisfying the needs of local communities. CTV services have production values that are distinct from network and pay television, tending to provide innovative and niche programming, often produced on low budgets. The value of this programming is in catering to distinct community interests not served by network or pay TV and contributing to the overall diversity of the broadcasting industry in Australia.

Community Television in Australia

Since 1992, the Australian Broadcasting Authority has licensed community television (CTV) services on a trial basis. There are six CTV operators licensed (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and Lismore) which provide community-based television programming. The trial is due to cease on 31 December 2002, and, as at October 2002, the Government is implementing new legislation for the future operations of community television. As part of this legislation, CTV licences have been extended until 2006. Further information can be found on the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts website. ( www.dcita.gov.au )

Broadcast Australia and Community Television

BA provides transmission services to community television broadcasters in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. As a major transmission provider for community broadcasters Broadcast Australia has a key interest in the success of Community television in Australia. BA has recently provided upgraded television transmission services to MCTC (Melbourne) and CTS (Sydney) and these CTV groups are now enjoying a much wider coverage area and improved picture quality by using the same transmission antennae as the national broadcasters. Both MCTC and CTS now reach audiences of about 3 million viewers each.

CTV Stations by City

UHF 31 has been allocated for use by community TV in Australia. The following organisations provide access to the various community television stations:

Adelaide - to be announced

Brisbane - Briz31

Canberra - CATV

Melbourne - MCT-31

Perth - CTV Perth 31

Sydney - CTS

The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia CBAA has more contact details on these licensees and is a very useful site for detailed information on this sector of the industry.

Joy's World

Joy's World, Channel 31 photos

Joy's World, Channel 31 photos volume 2

Channel 31 Sydney - Joy's World Production Newsletter - 21st January 2004

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Channel 31 Interviews & Profiles

Doug Mulray (discussed community broadcasting)