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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Nick Mitchell 98 (talk | contribs) at 15:18, 30 December 2017 (Shutoff deadline extended again). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

West TV
CountryAustralia
Programming
Language(s)English
Ownership
OwnerWest TV Ltd
Links
Websitewtvperth.com.au

West TV (WTV) is a free-to-air community television station that began broadcasting in standard definition digital format on logical channel 44 in Perth on 10 April 2010 at 10 am.[2][3][4]

History

The station was awarded a two-year trial licence by the Australian Communications and Media Authority after the closure of previous Perth community station licence holder Access 31 in 2008 followed by an apparatus licence at the end of April 2009. On 4 November 2009 Communications Minister Stephen Conroy approved a digital TV only licence which allows West TV to broadcast with other community television stations which are planning to simulcast their services until the switch to digital-only television in capital cities by 2014.

On 1 April 2010, the first video test was performed, with a testcard and then a promotional video loop going to air.

In September 2014, Australian federal communications minister Malcolm Turnbull announced that licensing for community television stations would end in December 2015.[5] In September 2015, Turnbull, now Prime Minister, announced an extension of the deadline to 31 December 2016.[6] The deadline was further extended twice at the last minute by Minister for Communications Mitch Fifield, first to 30 June 2017,[7] and later to 31 December 2017.[8] Fifield made an additional extension to 30 June 2018 as part of the government's deal with the Nick Xenophon Team to garner support for large-scale media reforms in the Senate.[9][10]

WTV, like other community television stations, is moving operations online, and streams its channel live on their website which allows access to viewers outside of its traditional broadcast area.[11]

Programming

West TV features a broad range of local programs broadcast around the clock, seven days a week. The programming reflects the diversity and needs of the Perth community and includes documentaries, films, sport, music, education, religion, multicultural, entertainment, leisure and lifestyle programs.

The focus is on WA-based programming, although some programs are sourced from interstate community channels and from other professional programme makers world-wide. As the station progresses, increasing levels of local programming will feature. Upcoming examples include the entertainment show Friday Night Live and current affairs program Undercurrent.

West TV also broadcasts classic movies and television shows and also live programming and news bulletins from Deutsche Welle and Al Jazeera English.

The channel's schedule is currently available on its website and listings now appear in The Sunday Times and The West Australian and are also now available on an EPG guide, with more outlets to follow.

West TV was given the broadcast rights to the world exclusive concert for UK superstar Sir Cliff Richard & The Shadows. The concert was planned to screen in June 2010 and has been sponsored by www.cliffrichardshadows.com

Continual research and development of WTV's digital broadcast systems allows WTV 44 to compete with the big commercials. With new technologies implemented, WTV 44 has achieved outside broadcasts live from Bar 138 on Barrack for their Live to Air launch event, and share with audiences The Tom Hoad Cup VIII - International Water Polo Tournament Live from Melville.

See also

References

  1. ^ "West TV licence area" (PDF). Australian Community Television Alliance. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  2. ^ "Community Television in Perth is back!". WTV. 23 October 2009. Retrieved 23 October 2009.
  3. ^ "March start for community TV". Rachel Watts, Southern Gazette. 7 November 2009. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  4. ^ https://www.facebook.com/wtvperth
  5. ^ "Community TV: Malcolm Turnbull confirms licensing for stations will end in 2015". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 10 September 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  6. ^ Knox, David (17 September 2015). "Community TV lifeline: extended to 2016". TV Tonight. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  7. ^ Knox, David (15 December 2016). "New switch-off date for Community TV". TV Tonight. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  8. ^ "Channel 31 gets a six-month reprieve on free-to-air TV shutdown". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney. 27 June 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  9. ^ Wallbank, Paul (15 September 2017). "The devil in the detail: The deals the government made to get media reforms across the line". Mumbrella. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  10. ^ Harris, Rob (13 September 2017). "Media reform: Government clinches deal with crossbench". Herald Sun. Melbourne. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  11. ^ Turner, Adam (20 April 2016). "Community TV: shift to online begins". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
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