Janet Holmes à Court, Chair of The Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF), have called on the Australian Labor Party to announce its support for the funding of a dedicated Australian children’s television channel.
Last week the Federal Government announced it would fund such an initiative, if re-elected. The proposal for a digital Australian children’s television channel has been developed by the Australian Children’s Television Foundation and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The ABC aims to have the Channel on-air by April 2008.
‘This is a proposal that deserves bi-partisan support,’ Ms Holmes à Court said.
‘I note Noni Hazelhurst’s important speech at this week’s Screen Producers Conference and her concerns about the quality of television programs watched by many Australian children.
‘Australian children should have access to quality Australian television programs which tell their stories and reflect their culture and values on a dedicated viewing destination available to them at all times.’
Ms Holmes à Court said that Australian programs for school-age children are typically screened on the commercial broadcasters at 4pm on weekdays; a time when many children are still on their way home from school, in after school care, playing or engaged in healthy after school activities such as sport.
Children now watch more television in the evening than any other part of the day. The number of 5-12 year olds watching television from 7-8pm is almost twice that watching between 4-5pm.
The NSW Commissioner for Children and Young People, Ms Gillian Calvert, said: ‘Australian children have been trampled in the rush to overlook their television viewing needs.
‘Like adults, children benefit from access to high quality programs that provide news, education and entertainment but unlike adults, children can’t lobby for bi-partisan support for these services.’
[release from TM Publicity for the ACTF]