🚀 go-pugleaf

Get ready for digital? Get ready for nothing.

Today�s budget announcement leaves Community Television out in the cold and

facing an uncertain future as Australia moves rapidly towards digital 
television.

�It�s a real kick in the teeth� says Greg Dee, C31 General Manager, �Senator 
Conroy has

constantly assured the sector that we would not be left behind. Then when 
the time has

come to put their money where their mouth is, this government has given us 
nothing.�

The budget announces $140 million to assist viewers in converting to 
digital, but fails to

ensure that all television broadcasters are converted to digital by omitting 
community

television yet again. The ABC is set to receive $136 million to fund its 
third digital channel,

whilst not a cent can be found to give C31 a single digital channel.

As an independent small business C31 provides an incomparable service to 
large and diverse

sections of the community.

- C31 provides a communication platform to marginalised and 
under-represented sections

of the community largely ignored by the mainstream media - often new and 
emerging

communities.

- C31 airs over 95 locally produced shows each week making it by far the 
largest

broadcaster of local content in Australia.

- C31 serves as a training ground for the entire television sector, and has 
produced some of

the most well known faces on Australian TV including Rove and Hamish and 
Andy, in

addition to hundreds of people working behind the scenes.

- C31 provides a marketing platform which enables local business to use the 
power of

television to target a local audience.

ALL OF THIS AT NO COST TO THE TAX-PAYER.

With the increased uptake of digital set top boxes, the 11th hour approaches 
for community

television.

�There is currently unused spectrum that could easily be allocated to C31� 
continues Greg Dee

�and the cost associated with upgrading our facilities to broadcast in 
digital are, relatively

speaking, miniscule.�

Will there be a chair for community TV when the music stops on analogue TV?

Digital. Don�t go there until we do.