Community Broadcasting Association of Australia

Transcription

1 Community Broadcasting Association of Australia The Rudd Labor Government recognises that the community broadcasting sector is unique (in the broadcasting industry) for its diversity, localism and commitment to providing the community with a platform for expressing views and ideas. A re-elected Rudd Labor Government will continue to work with the community broadcasting sector to ensure it remains a key pillar in the ever-changing communications environment. COMMIT TO REGIONAL AND RURAL STATION DEVELOPMENT: ESTIMATED COST $1,700,000 Regional and rural community radio stations are crucial to their communities, with 34% of stations acting as the only source of local broadcast content and news. Funding is requested to provide support for regional and rural stations to achieve operational consistency, better support volunteers, support the connection to community for new and emerging ethnic communities, and maintain stable management practices. The Rudd Labor Government appreciates how important it is that local communities are able to access news that is targeted their community. Australia s National Broadcaster, the ABC, reaches 99.4% of Australia providing local news and current affairs services. Federal Labor is providing $2.5 billion to the ABC over the next triennium funding period and in the Budget provided an additional $99.4 million over four years so they can continue to provide high quality programming and services for Australian audiences. On 26 June 2013, the Federal Labor Government announced an additional $6.0 million to ensure that the community digital radio services remain on air. This new funding will help community radio stations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth to continue broadcasting, upgrade their equipment and improve their digital radio services. In , the Rudd Labor Government will provide a total of $18.3 million in funding to support to the community broadcasting sector. This includes: $4.6 million in core funding to support general community radio and television broadcasting. $2.1 million for targeted funding for ethnic community broadcasting, information technology initiatives and satellite services.

2 Australian Labor Party - National Campaign Headquarters 2 $0.7 million for the National Training Fund to provide accredited training, particularly in regional, rural and remote Australia. $2.2 million to assist community radio stations, including Radio for the Print Handicapped with the costs associated with access to transmission infrastructure and operational costs. $5.0 million for community digital radio. $3.1 million for content production in the specialist areas of Ethnic, Indigenous and Radio for the Print Handicapped, and for a Community Radio Content Development fund established in ; $0.6 million to ensure that Australian musicians and community broadcasters can continue to access AMRAP services. COMMIT TO COMMUNITY TELEVISION: ESTIMATED COST $1,700,000 Community television (CTV) needs certainty for planning and funding development purposes but current access to spectrum in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth expires on 31 December CTV needs a commitment to providing long-term affordable access to the sixth channel spectrum, as well as support for costs incurred through frequency changes. CTV requires dedicated funding for transmission costs, content production and equipment. Pilot programs have shown significant promise but there is still no dedicated funding for CTV. The Rudd Labor Government is committed to consulting with community broadcasters about how they can continue to serve their audiences through broadcasting. On 20 March 2013, the Federal Labor Government tabled in the Senate a government response to issues raised in the debate on the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Convergence Review and Other Measures) Bill 2013, which stated: The Government confirms that it will continue to make available spectrum on the unassigned sixth channel for the community television sector. The sixth channel is already identified in digital television planning instruments. The Government will consider the best combination of uses for the sixth channel in Federal Labor also provided financial assistance to the Community Television sector to assist with costs associated in the switchover to digital television. Government funding is not the only solution to addressing cost increases associated with community television production and transmission costs, for example, the sector can raise additional funding through sponsorship.

3 Australian Labor Party - National Campaign Headquarters 3 COMMIT TO A DIGITAL RADIO FUTURE: ESTIMATED COST NOT GIVEN Digital radio services are now operating for metropolitan-wide community radio stations in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. Existing legislation and government policy for digital radio platforms reserves capacity and ensures access is affordable for community broadcasters. A full and detailed planning process now needs to be undertaken to consider extending digital radio to provide regional and further metropolitan capacity, including submetropolitan services. The planning process should involve community, commercial and national broadcasters, and licenses for any interim digital radio trials should require that capacity be reserved for the inclusion of community radio services. The Rudd Labor Government is aware of the interest of the radio sector in commencing rollout of digital radio in regional Australia. There are a number of complex policy and planning issues associated with a regional rollout. DAB+ in the capital cities uses the same radiofrequency spectrum (VHF Band III) as analog and digital TV. The availability of this spectrum should improve after analog television is switched off in 2013 and the restack of digital television services is completed by the end of However, planning to both maximise coverage of digital radio and provide space for all radio providers will still be a complex issue. In July 2010, the Federal Labor Government directed the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to consider reserving 14 megahertz of spectrum to allow for the provision of digital radio services when planning the use of broadcasting spectrum in metropolitan licence areas. The ACMA has reserved this amount of spectrum in all licence areas for the potential future introduction of digital radio services. A re-elected Rudd Labor Government will continue its dialogue with industry on these issues. SKILLS FOR THE SECTOR: ESTIMATED COST $700,000 (additional) Community broadcasting relies on volunteers but volunteers require training in technology, media and governance skills, all of which create improved content and well- managed stations. A significant percentage of training benefits regional and remote volunteers. Additional funding for skills development and training will substantially increase the number of trainees and assist ethnic community broadcasters to provide training in languages other than English. The Rudd Labor Government appreciates the significant contribution made by volunteers to Community Broadcasting Sector. In the Budget, the Federal Labor Government committed $0.7 million ($700,000) for the National Training Fund to provide accredited training, particularly in regional, rural and remote Australia.

4 Australian Labor Party - National Campaign Headquarters 4 COMMIT TO INDIGENOUS BROADCASTING: ESTIMATED COST NOT GIVEN Broadcasters need a full Government response to the 2010 Review of Australian Government Investment in the Indigenous Broadcasting and Media Sector (the Stevens Review). The independent review found that Indigenous broadcasting is a powerful tool for the wellbeing of Indigenous people and can help close the gap. To date, the government has responded to 2 of the 37 recommendations. The Rudd Labor Government recognises that Indigenous broadcasters play an essential role in their communities, sharing health, education and other important news and information, as well as helping to maintain Indigenous language and culture. In June 2013, the Federal Labor Government announced funding of $15.7 million to support 53 separate Indigenous broadcasting projects through the Indigenous Broadcasting Program. The Indigenous Broadcasting Program: Ensures the broadcasting needs of remote communities are addressed Supports the production and broadcasting of local Indigenous content Assists the development of the Indigenous communications sector Provides employment and training opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Four Remote Indigenous Media Organisations (RIMOs) will receive additional funding to improve training, and boost technical and operational support for 63 local Indigenous broadcasters located in central and remote north Australia. The IBP funding continues the Federal Labor Government s strong support for the Indigenous broadcasting sector, which includes the establishment of the first ever free-to-air National Indigenous TV (NITV) channel on the SBS in 2012, as well as a new Indigenous Community Television (ICTV) channel on the Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) satellite in A re-elected Rudd Labor Government will closely consider the remaining recommendations of the Stevens review and would welcome the opportunity to consult further with the community broadcasting sector in developing our response.

5 Australian Labor Party - National Campaign Headquarters 5 FUNDING FOR RADIO TRANSMISSION: ESTIMATED COST $900,000 (additional) In , community radio stations paid over $3.5 million to transmit their signal over third party facilities. Costs for transmission are increasing but the average subsidy level available to assist stations with transmission has decreased by 39%. Increased funding is required to restore transmission subsidy levels available to stations to levels, and to support additional costs brought about by potential changes in the 800 MHz and 900 MHz band requiring replacement of Studio Transmitter Links (STL's) for stations. The Rudd Labor Government understands that community radio stations are facing financial pressures. This is why in the Budget, the Rudd Federal Labor Government committed $2.2 million to assist community radio stations, including Radio for the Print Handicapped with the costs associated with access to transmission infrastructure and operational costs. Federal Labor also encourages community radio stations to pursue other funding options as such as raising additional funding through sponsorship. A re-elected Rudd Labor Government will continue to support the community broadcasting sector to serve their audiences into the future. Authorised and printed by G.Wright, Australian Labor Party, 5/9 Sydney Avenue, Barton ACT 2604 Australian Labor Party PO Box 6222 KINGSTON ACT 2604 T: E: campaign13@chq.alp.org.au