IPTV and Community TV — Televised Revolution

Here are two facts that I am laying out there for you to ponder, constant reader.

Fact 1: Community television stations have been ignored by the Federal Government in regards to the issuing of digital licenses. With analogue signals supposedly coming to an end in 2013, the end of community access television is nigh. Unless, that is, the Government comes through and issues them a Channel A license.

Fact 2: The Internet service provider TPG have launched an IPTV service for their customers, offering a lot of foreign language content, along with a few interesting English language additions like Al Jazeera (English language), Bloomberg, and Voices of America. TPG would benefit strongly from adding more English language content on their service. The caveats would likely be that a) they need access to content, and b) it needs to be cheap or (even better) free.

Would it not be beneficial for both the Community TV sector and TPG to partner up and provide access to C31 stations as part of a joint arrangement? Community television needs to start looking for alternatives if it is to survive and retain relevancy with changing media distribution methods. And TPG needs free content.

Match made in heaven, no?

C31 stations would be silly to take their services to TPG exclusively, but gosh it would be a shame if this opportunity isn’t actioned.