Ethnic TV for Aust.

Press, 6 October 1980, Page 15

Ethnic TV for Aust.

NZPA SydneySydney and Melbourne will gettheir fifth television channels next month with the introduction of ethnic television to Australia. Ethnic television, a 1977 election pledge of the Fraser Government, is set to begin broadcasting 35 hours a week on October 24 — United Nations Day. The new service, aimed atj the two million Australians bom outside Australia in non-English-speaking countries, has not been without Its critics.

The bill setting up the new organisation under a new Independent and Multicultural Broadcasting Corporation had to be withdrawn early last month after severe criticism from a Senate committee. The State-run [Australian Broadcasting Corporation, its eyes on a second channel, has claimed it should have the service, While others have questioned jthe very need for ethnic television. “What use will generalised peasant dress' and pasta programmes be even if they are subtitled in English?” asked One newspaper correspondjent. Australia already has ethnic radio, itself a subject of controversy, with broadcasts In 45 languages in Sydney on 2EA to an audience of around 500,000, and 41 languages in Melbourne on BEA.

Ethnic radio, launched in 1975, came in 1977 under the .wing of a new statutory body, 'the Special Broadcasting Service, which, after the demise of the planned 1.M.8.C. will now run ethpic 'television.'' ’

Buf, according to a report in the “Sydney Morning Herald,” the S.B.S. has been the subject of many complaints, including the monopolisation by families of some language programmes, lack of professionalism, and political bias. The special senate committee which looked at the proposed 1.M.8.C. also has j reservations about the S.B.S. i ‘There has been concern that although the S.B.S. management has not enjoyed the confidence of the ethnic community in the past, it will, in effect, be the new management of the 1.M.8.C.," it stated. Mr Ron Fowell, executive director of the 5.8.5., has defended his service saying neither he nor the S.B.S. was aware of growing resentment from ethnic communities and that “there will be no more of the cousins, mothers, and mother-in-law syndrome.” The rationale behind ethnic television was reiterated by the Minister for Post and Telecommunications, Mr Tony Staley, last month.

The decision in 1977 to provide an ethnic television service was a considered response “to clear concerns expressed by many Australians about the limitations of a broadcasting system which up till then had overly concentrated on television reflecting mainly an American or British character.

“We must face up to the different needs of those who have come to.this country to live and to" grow, but who naturally treasure signposts to their origins,” he said. Mr Bruce Gyngell, formerly chairman of the Austra-

lian Broadcasting Tribunal and general manager designate of 1.M.8.C., now a well paid consultant to the 5.8.5., is a firm believer in the new service.

“We may help create the golden age of Australia with this channel that will give expression to all the cultures of our society," he has said.

Mr Gyngell has said programmes have been sought from all around the world as “we believe there is a broader concept of programming than that which comes out of England, Los Angeles, and Sydney.” Another newspaper correspondent. a supporter of ethnic television, put it this wav:

“Do I become a better Australian by knowing what goes on in the streets of San Francisco? “Must it be Parkinson to probe into the psyche of other people? What’s wrong with Oriana Fallaci? And are the Sex Pistols or Kiss any better than Demis Russos or Julio Iglesias ” Ethnic television will broadcast five hours a day by the end of the year — mainly foreign films, features, sport, and variety programmes, sub-titled in English.

There will be an English news service of about 10 minutes every day, a onehour community news magazine programme, and a forum style programme for the debate of issues relating to migrant experience.

The balance of programming between the many different ethnic groups in Australia — Greek, Yugoslav, Italian, Maltese, Polish, Dutch,

Turkish, and many others — is to be done on a linguistic grouping basis from population figures. . This is said to be more accurate than a system based on the country of origin which would not take into account, for example, Greeks born in Egypt. One Australian group which at this stage does not appear to be getting much of a look in on ethnic televison is the Aboriginals. Mr Gyngell has acknowledged that Aboriginals are a problem, especially as there are 100 differing Aboriginal languages, but the new organisation was trying to work out the best way of providing programmes for them.

The Government has set aside sAust.l6.B million for the first year of ethnic television, but the A.B.C. said it could provide the multi-cul-tural services, and other programmes, if it was given a second nationwide channel. This would also avoid the wasteful duplication of services involved in setting up a separate organisation for ethnic television, it said.