News Release
NR 18/2004
18 March 2004

Community television licence allocated for Sydney

The Australian Broadcasting Authority has allocated a community television licence for Sydney. The successful applicant, Television Sydney (TVS) Ltd, will provide the service on Channel 31.

‘This is an exciting development for Sydney and for the ABA as this licence, together with the community television licence in Perth, are the first permanent community television licences allocated by the Authority,’ said Professor David Flint, ABA Chairman. ‘The ABA carefully considered all of the applications and came to the conclusion that TVS best fulfilled the criteria.’

‘TVS proposes to broadcast a variety of innovative and diverse programs aimed at the general community in Sydney. The proposed programming is relevant to local communities, disenfranchised and minority groups, and people from non-English speaking and indigenous Australian backgrounds. The service also intends to focus on Australian content, issues of social justice and provide an open agenda for discussion.’

The ABA is pleased to note that TVS as part of its application indicated that, if it were the successful applicant, program providers to the current traillist Community Television Sydney Ltd (CTS) (including the many ethnic groups that provide programming) would be welcome to join the TVS consortium partner SLICE TV and apply to broadcast programs on the new service. The ABA expects TVS to make good on this commitment.

TVS’ service offers the opportunity for the Sydney community to provide free programming either directly to the service or through its two current consortium members, the community member, Sydney Local Information Educational Television Inc and the educational member, Education Training Community Television Ltd, which currently has two members, the University of Western Sydney and Metro Screen Limited. Supporters of the proposed service include the Australian Film Television and Radio School and National Institute of Dramatic Art.

The ABA has allocated this licence under the new legislative framework for community television licences introduced in 2002. The ABA undertook community consultation during both the licence area planning process and the allocation process. The ABA also met with each of the applicants as part of the allocation process.

The ABA received six applications for the community television licence from: Christian City Church Sydney Ltd (CCCS), Community Television Australia Ltd (CTVA), Community Television Sydney Ltd (CTS), Multicultural Community Radio Association Ltd (MCRA), Television Sydney (TVS) Ltd, and Youth Television (Y?TV) Ltd.

The ABA found that four applicants, CCCS, CTVA, MCRA and Y?TV, did not meet all of the criteria for a community broadcasting service set out in the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (see backgrounder).

In its assessment of the two remaining applicants (TVS and the previous triallist CTS), the ABA found that the service proposed by TVS would better meet the existing and perceived future needs of a broader cross-section of the Sydney community than CTS’ proposed service.

‘This has been a particularly difficult decision for the ABA to make in view of the fact that CTS has been operating a trial community television service for many years,’ said Professor Flint. ‘The ABA acknowledges CTS’ lengthy commitment to community television over the years. However, the Authority was of the view that TVS has demonstrated, to a higher degree than CTS, that it has established avenues through which members of the community may participate in the operations and programming of the proposed service.’

Spectrum for the sixth channel community television trial in Sydney expires on 19 March 2004. TVS is required to commence its service within a maximum one year from the date of allocation of the licence.

‘While there will obviously be some delay while TVS establishes its service, the ABA expects it to be on air as soon as possible and that once it is, every effort will be made to continue to meet the needs and interests of the ethnic communities that have been served by CTS,’ said Professor Flint.

The ABA has asked TVS to report monthly on its progress.

To contact the new licensee please call Angela McIntyre, Senior Media Officer, University of Western Sydney on (02) 9852 5822 or (0419) 244 595.

Media contact Donald Robertson, ABA Manager Media and PR on (02) 9334 7980.

Backgrounder
Community television licences

In 1992, the Government asked the ABA to conduct a trial of community television using the vacant sixth television channel (UHF channel 31 in capital cities) in Australia. As the ABA did not have the power to issue temporary community television licences it made the channel available for fixed periods for non-profit community/educational open narrowcasting services. Community television services have been provided on a trial basis since 1994 under the open narrowcasting class licence.

A review of the community television trial, conducted under Schedule 4 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (the Act) was tabled in Parliament in June 2002. As a result of the issues raised in the review, the Act was amended in 2002. The new framework for community television licences introduces requirements aimed at improving the financial and management capacity and accountability of community television licensees. It also assists the revenue raising ability of the community television sector. The new measures are intended to balance the need for ongoing financial viability of the community television sector with the need to ensure that the sector maintains its community and not-for-profit nature.

Community television licence in Sydney

On 17 February 2003, the ABA invited applications for the community television licence in Sydney. A total of six applications were received by the closing date on 9 May 2003. From 26 May 2003, copies of the applications received were made available for public perusal on the ABA’s website and in the City of Sydney Library. The ABA received five written submissions from members of the public in relation to the applications received.

Allocation of community broadcasting licences
Part 6 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 provides for the allocation of community broadcasting licences.

The ABA uses a merit based allocation process where applicants compete on the basis of merit for the licence. The process includes opportunity for the public to comment on applications received.

The ABA must also have regard to:

the extent to which the proposed service would meet the existing and perceived future needs of the community within the licence area of the proposed services; and
the nature and diversity of the interests of that community; and
the nature and diversity of other broadcasting services (including national broadcasting services) available within that licence area; and
the capacity of the applicant to provide the proposed service; and
the undesirability of one person being in a position to exercise control of more than one community broadcasting licence that is a broadcasting services bands licence in the same licence area; and
the undesirability of the Commonwealth, a State or Territory or a political party being in a position to exercise control of a community broadcasting licence.

Links:

ABA official website press release

Media Man Australia: Channel 31 profile

Article: Channel 31 Community TV - More than just Joy's World

Article: Joy's World, by Greg Tingle & Yvette Moore - 7th July 2003

Interview: Joy Hruby - 29th July 2003

Interview: Donald Robertson, Media Manager, ABA - 4th September 2003

Interview: Derek Wilding, Director, Communications and Law Centre