FUNDING BOOST FOR RURAL AND REGIONAL TV SERVICES

27 May 2004
69/04

More than 1,377 Australian households will get new access to television services under the latest instalment of the Australian Government's Television Black Spots program.

This round's funding of $650,157 will be used to establish 22 new television services in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.

The funding will go towards equipment, installation and site establishment costs, licence fees and technical survey costs to assist households in black spot affected areas.

The $35 million Television Black Spots program forms part of the $120 million Television Fund established with proceeds from the sale of the second tranche of Telstra.

It reflects the Australian Government's ongoing commitment to ensuring better access to television services by all Australians.

The communities receiving new access to television services include:

NSW

• Capertee ($139,871 to establish ABC, SBS, Ten, WIN, Prime)


• Emmaville ($75,000 to establish Imparja, Seven Central)

  QLD
  

• Agnes Water ($149,984 to establish ABC, SBS, TNQ, STQ, RTQ)
  
• Nelly Bay ($135,302, GST exclusive, to establish ABC, SBS, Seven, Ten, WIN)

  VIC
  

• Gellibrand & Kawarren ($150,000 to establish ABC, SBS, BCV, WIN, Prime)

The Television Black Spots program has so far provided more than $4.5 million to replace obsolete equipment at 182 retransmission sites.

With today's announcement, more than $21.3 million will have been provided for 821 new services in 241 black spot areas covering approximately 63,457 households across Australia.

A further nine communities have been offered funding under the New Services component of the program and are submitting fully costed proposals to establish television services at new retransmission sites.

Further information about the Television Black Spots program is available from the Broadcasting and Online Regulation home page at www.dcita.gov.au


Media Contact: Carina Tan-Van Baren (02) 6277 7480 or 0439 425 373