Actively Radical TV — Sydney community television's progressive current affairs producers tackle the hard issues from the activist's point of view. CTS Sydney (UHF 31), every Sunday, 9-11pm. Ph 9565 5522.
Access News — Melbourne community TV, Channel 31, has excellent coverage of industrial, environmental and community actions throughout Victoria. Access News broadcasts every Monday at 8pm. Ph 9633 6976.
Cop Stories — It seems even SBS can't resist the trend toward "reality" TV — perhaps the SBS version will be more than the glib pro-authority propaganda operations and car chases that dominate the commercial channels' reality cop shows. In the first of four programs that look at cops on the beat in major Third World cities, a French camera crew accompany police on patrol in the "new" South Africa. SBS, Saturday, August 12, 8.30pm.
Movie: Sword and the Sandal — Revolt of the Gladiators — Forget Russell Crowe, here's the genuine article. Hunky gladiators and bejewelled beauties abound. The Romans, led by Marcus Numidio, try to put down rebellious gladiators in Armenia. From Italy (where else?). SBS, Saturday, August 12, midnight.
What's Up with the Weather? — The first of a two-part documentary on the debate around global warming. Scientists agree that the Earth's temperature has risen. But will it get worse? And how significant is human activity as a factor in the warming? SBS, Tuesday, August 15, 8.30pm.
Movie: Winter Flowers — The struggles of a Turkish worker to get back to his family in Germany after being deported. SBS, Tuesday, August 15, 10pm.
Tobacco Wars: Lighting Up — Countless millions have craved, lived and died for a cigarette. Are the industrial empires built on the addiction and death about to go under as more and more people give up smoking. This series promises to tell the story of the rise of the tobacco industry. ABC-TV, Wednesday, August 16, 11.15pm.