In what CTV calls a ''Free the Airwaves'' march - the struggling broadcaster wants to draw attention to its plight as it says CTV is ''now coming under THREAT due to government's lack of support for community TV''.
CTV has to cease broadcasting early in October due to a cash flow crisis since it couldn't pay it's broadcasting transmission costs to Sentech, and also held a telethon at the end of October to raise funds. The public is now asked to join CTV's public march to parliament tomorrow (Wednesday), starting at 10:00 at Keizersgracht Street in Cape Town (opposite the Castle).
CTV that started broadcasting just over a year ago, says that it's ''critical that everyone stand up for its right to communicate'' if community television like CTV is to be saved ''from commercialisation''.
CTV claims that ''Icasa plans to take CTV off air early next year to make way for cellphone TV because it has not allocated any frequencies for CTV use'' and that community TV stations like CTV ''are charged commercial rates for transmission costs'' making it virtually impossible for community TV stations to viable continue to operate.
CTV also says community television stations are not protected during and after the migration to digital terrestrial television (DTT).
CTV demands that the station is (1) ''not switched off next year but that a frequency is located for its use'', (2) the channel wants immediate government support for community broadcasters' signal distribution costs and that (3) Sentech lowers its transmission fee or scrap it for community television stations. CTV also (4) wants community television to be protected during and after the migration to digital terrestrial television.
