Government cut funding to community transmitting services

In yesterday’s Mid Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook, the Federal Government cut $2.5m in funds that were allocated in May to help communities in regional and remote Australia switch to the Viewer Access Satellite Television service.

Community broadcasting was a small part of the original funding allocated, with the sector likely to have received approximately $150,000.

The funding was to allow community broadcasters, groups and councils to upgrade radio transmission equipment to retransmit the VAST service and create opportunities to access a range of new and digital-only radio services. Many stations, groups and councils had already upgraded equipment to meet this deadline.

The CBAA's General Manager Jon Bisset said the cut was “disappointing” but is likely to have minimal impact on the sector.

“The CBAA is working with the Community Broadcasting Foundation (CBF) to reduce the financial impact on the sector and will soon meet with the Minister for Communication’s office to reiterate the value of community broadcasting.”