TV BLACK SPOT ERASED FOR 200th REGIONAL COMMUNITY

15 July 2004
112/04

Seventy households in a television black spot at Long Flat on the mid-north coast of New South Wales now have access to good television signals - some for the first time.

A new retransmission site at Mt Pederson started operation on 28 June. It will provide access to NRN, NEN, NBN, ABC and SBS television programs.

The Government's target of fixing at least 200 television black spots by 30 June 2004 was met with the establishment of the service at Long Flat.

A further 43 projects are under construction and another six communities have been offered funding to establish television services at new retransmission sites.

More than $21.9 million has been provided for new television services in 243 black spot areas covering approximately 64,743 households across Australia.

In addition, the Government has replaced obsolete equipment at 182 existing retransmission sites, at a cost of $4.5 million.

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.

The program has been an outstanding success and demonstrates the Government's ongoing commitment to improving television reception in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia.


Media Contact: Jane Seaborn (02) 6277 7480 or 0439 425 373