Press release from Access Public Relations
For the first time ever, all of Australia’s capital city community TV channels are now available on Freeview, Australia’s free digital television service.
Exactly a year ago, Television Sydney (TVS), the community television service for Greater Sydney, became the first Australian community TV station to begin simulcasting both digital and analogue signals.
Since then, four other community TV stations have joined Freeview as digital broadcasters: C31 in Melbourne; 31 Digital in Brisbane; 44 in Adelaide and West Television (WTV) in Perth.
Freeview CEO Robin Parkes said: “In the short space of a year, Freeview’s free digital community TV channel offering has expanded from one to five channels, providing viewers in mainland state capitals with a fantastic variety of programming produced by and for the many and varied members of the communities in those cities.
“Viewers in those cities now have access to no fewer than 17 free-to-view digital channels, giving them a wider choice of free viewing than ever before,” she said.
Harold Mitchell AC, chairman of TVS, Australia’s oldest permanent community free-to-air station, said: “Community TV is a dynamic and increasingly significant part of the TV landscape in Australia and plays an important part in training and developing emerging talent across every facet of the TV industry.
“Community TV also provides programming content that is specific to those cities where it is broadcast. It’s tremendous that with these five community TV channels now part of its line-up, Freeview can now offer such an enormous variety of programming for free to Australian viewers,” he said.