🚀 go-pugleaf

Digitial leg-up for Community TV. Australia's struggling community TV 
channels might be thrown a lifeline by the Howard Government, one that will 
enable them to move into the digital world. There was a little-noticed 
report from the House of Reps Standing Committee on Communications, IT and 
the Arts, last week with a series of recommendations which then quietly 
received a cautious tick from Media Minister, Senator Helen Coonan. The 
Committee recommended 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. 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 hard to identify because of the 
restrictions on ownership and material (no existing broadcasters or services 
are allowed to buy it). The issue 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 in the 
Senate hearings that "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: 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. -- Glenn Dyer

  Source :Crikey.com

  http://www.crikey.com.au/Media-Arts-and-Sports/20070219-Media-briefs-and-TV-ratings.html

  Don't let the door hit you on the way out Senator Coonan. BANG.  OH! So 
Sorry it did hit you didn't it.