Sydney’s free-to-air station TVS is Australia’s first community channel to begin simulcasting. It can be seen on Digital Channel 44.
TVS began as an analogue-only station in 2006, offering its audience a wide range of programs, many of which were made by the people and communities of Sydney.
According to TVS Chief Executive Laurie Patton, though, diminishing analogue audiences posed a challenge for the channel as households made the switch to digital.
“More than half the homes in Sydney have now made the switch, so it was essential that TVS joined the transition to digital,” Mr Patton said.
More than 40 per cent of programs screened on TVS are made in Sydney, with a further 30 per cent coming from interstate community television channels.
“We expect that simulcasting will significantly increase audiences and confirm a permanent place for Community Television in the emerging world of multi-channel free-to-air television,” Mr Patton said. “We are committed to local programming and we look forward to hearing from prospective program makers now that we are available on both digital and analogue.”
To find out more about TVS, visit www.tvs.org.au
