SBS coverage extended to Tennant Creek and Nhulunbuy

Tennant Creek and Nhulunbuy are among 12 Australian communities to receive an extension of SBS Television services.

Senator for the Northern Territory, Nigel Scullion, today said the new service will be on air early next year and builds on a program of improving access to our two national broadcasters.

"This initiative complements a program that has already extended SBS analogue service to regional areas with a population of more than 5,000."

"Tennant Creek and Nhulunbuy residents have previously had access to SBS via a self-help service.

"The rollout of a Government-funded service means the communities will no longer have to maintain their own service and viewers should experience an improvement in service coverage and quality," Senator Scullion said.

The new Nhulunbuy service is expected to be on air on 1 January 2006 with Tennant Creek to follow in May next year. Nhulunbuy will use VHF channel 9A. VHF channel 10 has been allocated to Tennant Creek.

SBS Television broadcasts in more than 60 languages and is watched each week by more than seven million Australians. The service is now accessible to 95 per cent of the population.

Senator Scullion said SBS is the world's only multilingual and multicultural national broadcaster.

"SBS provides the best of world television and innovative local programs that celebrate Australia's diversity.

"Extension of the coverage in Tennant Creek and Nhulunbuy continues the Australian Government's commitment to improve access to services for people in rural and remote areas."

2005-07-05