Don't lose sight of local TV production
The issue of locally produced television content in Western Australia received some attention last week when Professor Mike Daube of Curtin University expressed his concern in The West Australian for the lack of local news and other content Western Australians are receiving from the ABC and other networks.
This is an increasingly relevant issue as more control over our local media is handed over to the Eastern States. Each of the 3 commercial TV networks only has approximately one show other than news produced in Perth each week.
On the other hand, local community station Access 31 currently airs ten locally made productions. Many of these shows are produced by independent production companies by people who are passionate about providing local content to local people, as well as providing an opportunity to our media graduates and those interested in a career in television and media.
Ego Creative Media is such a company. Ego produces Wake Up! WA, the only live and local breakfast TV program, which goes live to air every weekday. Wake Up! WA is a unique forum to promote the great things ordinary Western Australians are doing within the community day in, day out.
Wake Up! WA utilises the skills of 35 or so talented media industry hopefuls. With such limited opportunity in Western Australia for all but the lucky few to gain acceptance into a competitive industry, Wake Up! WA offers an opportunity to gain valuable experience and recognition.
Unfortunately, while production companies like Ego and shows like Wake Up! WA are trying to make a difference, they are usually hamstrung by limited budgets and resources. They rely on the foresight of companies who want to be a part of something special through sponsorship and struggle to compete in an environment of national conglomerates competing for the almighty advertising dollar.
While the growing digital network should present an opportunity for government to give community television a much need boost, this seems unlikely to happen in foreseeable future.
“A debate will ensue later in the year as community channels are not guaranteed any space on the digital networks which are currently too outrageously priced for community channels to join. We need people to speak up now so that we don’t lose any more local programming,” says Carol Wallbank, Director of Ego Creative Media and Executive Producer of Wake Up! WA.
As more and more media content is produces in the Eastern States, Western Australian are in serious danger of losing their identity. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find a channel for local expression and the promotion of local people, places and events. Shows like Wake Up! WA continue to forge ahead but will continue to need support from local business, government and, just as importantly, the television watching public of WA.
Wake Up! WA airs live every weekday from 7am and is repeated from 10.30am on Access 31.