DCTV
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Telephone: 01-4100834
Email: dctv@dctv.ie
DCTV STATEMENT
DCTV to continue broadcasting in 2014, while building the foundation for a long term sustainable model
This statement follows the meeting of the members of Dublin Community Television Society on 19 December 19 2013.
The
members of DCTV co-op wish to thank our committee of management for
their huge efforts in this recent difficult period and congratulate
them on bringing our co-op to a position where a plan for continuing
transmission is possible. We also wish to thank the staff of DCTV and
greatly regret their loss of employment.
DCTV
has recently been offered €148,000 by the BAI's Sound & Vision
Scheme to produce two community television series. We can muster only a
lukewarm welcome for this offer. It is not only too little, too late.
The inconsistency of S&V funding, the manner in which it is
administered, and the conditions attached to its use have long hampered
the BAI's legal obligation to 'develop community broadcasting', and is
a major obstacle to building a viable and sustainable model for
community television. Nevertheless, during 2014 DCTV will endeavour to
make some payments to our creditors as available funds permit in
accordance with insolvency rules.
The
S&V funding does offer some sustenance to a key decision. On a no
cost basis DCTV will try to continue broadcasting after February and on
into 2014, by mobilising our membership and volunteer base. DCTV staff
have left a structure that can, with almost no funding, continue
broadcasting, accept new community programmes, and even support the
ongoing volunteer production of new programmes. At the same time, we
will during 2014 be building a longer-term foundation for a sustainable
future, by drawing on our community support and membership strength,
and by lobbying to ensure that the enormous benefits of DCTV are fully
recognised, and that the regulations and structures are in place to
enable the emergence of a sustainable model into the future.
The
Labour Party at its recent conference recognised the value of our work
and the need for regulation that can support a viable model for
community television. More important, we have enormous support from the
people and communities who have over the years worked, and continue to
work, with us.
This
meeting is calling on our members, volunteers and all supporters of
community media to make their voices heard on the value of all those
community radio and television stations, production groups and training
centres across Ireland that contribute so much to our communities. We
ask them to demand that the BAI fundamentally rethink their approach to
funding community media, in the context of how the Broadcasting Fund is
designed and directed.
Now
more than ever we need an independent, community voice. DCTV is proud
to be part of the Irish Community Media movement which has taken such
an important stand for diversity and plurality in our media, along with
media literacy and skills development in our communities. The members
hope to work with supporters, volunteers and partners to continue to
play a role in this.
On behalf of the DCTV Members and Committee of Management
