Access 31
| Access 31 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Launched | 18 June 1999 |
| Closed | 6 August 2008 |
| Owned by | Channel 31 Community Educational Television Limited |
| Picture format | Analogue 4:3 |
| Country | Australia |
| Broadcast area | Perth and regional WA |
|
Availability
|
|
| Terrestrial | |
| Analogue | UHF 31 (map) |
| Satellite | |
| Optus Aurora | Transponder 6 |
Access 31 (call sign ATW-31) was a free-to-air community television station based in Perth, Australia which operated between 1999 and 2008 before closing due to insolvency. The station had broadcast on UHF 31 from the ABC's television mast at Bickley in the Perth Hills. It was also available at certain times on the Westlink Network, which at the time, was broadcast via the Optus Aurora satellite service and some analog terrestrial repeaters.
Access 31 started broadcasting on 18 June 1999, and received a permanent broadcasting licence in 2002. The station was originally based at the Mt Lawley campus of Edith Cowan University before moving to premises in Belmont in late 2003.
Access 31 had complemented existing television services in the state with an emphasis on locally produced programming, and at its height drew in a viewing audience in excess of 800,000 different people per month, competing favorably against other television networks. However, as householders moved to digital television, Access 31's audience reach became progressively reduced as no support or access to the digital broadcasting spectrum had yet been allocated to the analogue-only community Channel 31 stations by the Australian Federal Government at the time. With ramifications for future advertising revenue, combined with a financial situation already compounded by an estimated $600,000 in debts, in June 2008 the station announced that it was in serious danger of closing due to insolvency unless additional funding could be obtained and a guarantee for future access to digital television services from the Federal Government could be secured.
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