Noreen Navin, Sydney
Actively Radical TV, a community-based
volunteer group that produces progressive programs, was suspended from broadcasting indefinitely on March 31.
ARTV had been broadcasting on Channel 31 for more than 10 years until the broadcasting licence was withdrawn from the previous licensee by the Australian Broadcasting Authority 18 months ago. The new Channel 31 is run by a consortium, TV Sydney (TVS), which was allocated the community broadcasting licence.
Since late last year, ARTV had been submitting programs to TVS to try to obtain a regular time slot. From February 26, TVS broadcast ARTV programs on four consecutive Sundays at 10.30pm.
Last week, however, TVS management suspended ARTV until its producers comply with a number of legally unverified and impossible demands, such as having a Queen's counsel witness and sign for every program.
The ban and associated demands are a result of footage that ARTV had planned to broadcast on corporate giant Coca-Cola's unjust treatment of workers and trade unionists in Colombia. The documentary was produced by ARTV in conjunction with the Sydney-based Colombian Solidarity Network.
TVS refused to air ARTV's complete program that week, including the Coca-Cola segment, citing fears about possible defamation action by the soft-drink conglomerate.
ARTV agreed to replace the offending piece and has sought legal advice stating that certain corporations do not have cause of action for defamation. However, TVS has used the incident to question the verity of ARTV's productions and research, and has taken all of its programming off the air.
ARTV produces material on workers' and human rights, public education, justice for Indigenous people, refugee rights, environmental campaigns, and alternative art and culture. It is an outlet for many voices in the progressive movements that would not otherwise be heard in the media.
The censorship of ARTV raises many questions about freedom of speech, civil liberties, the power of corporate sponsorship and cross-media ownership, and the purpose of community TV.
"TVS management hold a community TV licence, not a commercial licence. And while they do seek sponsorship to maintain the station financially, commercial interests should not override the needs, desires and interests of the many community organisations and campaigns that rely on community-based TV to have their matters raised on air", Jill Hickson, an ARTV convener, told Green Left Weekly.
ARTV will continue to produce its programs and submit them to TVS. One of the main focuses will be on workers' rights and the trade union movement's campaign to combat Work Choices.
All those in favour of an independent, progressive media should be very alarmed about the silencing of ARTV, the only alternative political television show in Sydney. You can support us by coming to our music fund-raiser on April 29, at 7pm at the Marrickville Community Centre.
Please write a letter of support for ARTV to the TVS board at Locked Bag 1797, Penrith South, NSW 1797, or phone the program manager, Henri Di Gorta, on (02) 9852 5000, fax (02) 9852 5050, or email <henrid@tvs.org.au> or <programs@tvs.org.au>. Please forward a copy of your correspondence to ARTV at <artres@aussieisp.net.au> and visit our website at <http://www.activelyradicaltv.com>.
[Noreen Navin is an ARTV board member.]
From Green Left Weekly, April 12, 2006.
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