Press release from TVS
Sydney Community Television station, TVS, saw its cumulative audience ratings increase by 15 percent in the first four months of 2009 (Source: OzTAM Jan-April 2009).
Commenting on this strong growth TVS Chief Executive Laurie Patton said it was clear evidence of the high level of interest in programs shown on the channel and the support the Community Television sector enjoys among viewers looking for something different.
However, Mr Patton noted that the rate of growth had slowed since last year when the channel’s increase in viewing was regularly in excess of 20 percent.
"Our fear is that the Government’s campaign to encourage people to switch to digital is really starting to have an effect on our audience levels," Mr Patton said.
Community Television has been left marooned on analogue and is currently awaiting a decision from the Federal Government which has been asked to urgently allocate digital spectrum and interim funding so that TVS and its interstate cousins can begin to simulcast their signals.
The ability to go digital is critical for TVS as the station is just three years old and still developing its profile in the highly competitive Sydney television market.
"TVS is the only free-to-air station in Sydney without a digital channel and this is causing us problems with our viewers," Mr Patton added. "We believe our audience growth would more than double very quickly if we were able to simulcast".
TVS receives calls every day from concerned viewers who have made the switch to digital only to find they can’t watch their favourite programs on Community TV.
"Our viewers are extremely passionate and they get quite upset when they find that we are not available on their new digital TV," Mr Patton said.
Speaking at the launch of the Government’s digital switchover campaign last month Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, gave an undertaking that Community TV would not be left behind.
"We don’t want them to close because of a lack of willingness to transition them into the digital world," Senator Conroy said.
However, the sector’s hopes were dashed when it was left out of the recent Federal Budget despite $140 million going to promote the digital switchover.
"The ABC, SBS and even the regional commercial television networks are receiving Government support during the simulcast period. It is only fair that Community Television receives the same treatment as them," Mr Patton said.
TVS has written to the Prime Minister asking him to intervene on the sector’s behalf.
"We are confident that Senator Conroy understands the need for an urgent decision and we accept that in the current economic climate things are tough. But we need action now," Mr Patton concluded.