History
In 2003 the Australian Government called for tenders for what it called the "permanent" community TV licences. For many years community channels in the major capital cities had operated on narrowcast licences issued for limited 12 month periods. Everywhere but Sydney the incumbent channels secured the permanent licence. In Sydney a syndicate headed-up by the University of Western Sydney (UWS) was successful. TVS received its Iicence in early 2004.
Transmissions officially commenced on analogue UHF channel 31 in February 2006 after three months of technical trials. Unlike the earlier temporary community channel (known simply as Channel 31) TVS, with the financial support of UWS TVS was able to acquire a high powered transmitter that meant for the first time community TV could be seen right across Sydney.
In November 2009 the Government agreed to temporarily allocate TVS (and the other capital city Community Television channels) an additional (digital) channel so they could simulcast in the period up until the end of 2013 when analogue television will be turned off. TVS announced in December 2009 that it had appointed Broadcast Australia as its digital service provider and officially began simulcasting on Monday 1 March 2010 on LCN 44.
Since February 2009 TVS has simultaneously streamed its service via the internet. At the time Chief Executive, Laurie Patton, said the decision to transmit live via the web was part of the station’s long term strategy to be available across all distribution platforms.
In 2009 the Australian Communications and Media Authority approved the station's request for the renewal of its broadcasting licence for a five-year period ending 22 April 2014.
When it commenced on air operations TVS was Sydney's first new permanent free-to-air TV channel in twenty-five years. It is backed by the University of Western Sydney (UWS) and Metro Screen.
As of Thursday, 1 March 2012, TVS switched off its analogue signal. The station continues to broadcast on LCN 44, with viewers requiring a digital television, or a digital set top box to use with an analogue television.
Read more about this topic: Television Sydney
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