Med scheme seeds Cape Town community TV
Worker-controlled SAMWUMED medical scheme has come to the aid of the Cape Town Community Television Collective (CTCTV) with seed funding to help cover the cost of setting up the city's first non-profit, community-based TV station – expected to commence broadcasting by early next year.
CTCTV was founded in 2006 by over 200 community organisations and is committed to providing community access to television as a powerful tool to promote human rights, social justice and cultural development.
Speaking at the recent CTCTV AGM, SAMWUMED fund officer Neil Nair said: “We're proud to be involved with Workers World Media Productions, and consequently CTCTV. In this era of corporatised media it is heartening to find individuals still committed to utilising the medium to espouse progressive, community values in a not for profit venture. It is for this reason that SAMWUMED decided to throw its support behind the initiative.
“Given the potential for the media to be self-serving or a source of misinformation, we wish CTCTV well as it strives to spread the message of true freedom in pursuit of real democracy.”
First appearance
Community television first made its appearance in the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Act of 1993 alongside community radio as a community broadcasting service owned and controlled by the community it serves. The first one-year community television licence was awarded to Soweto TV in June this year.
In Cape Town, a group of media and cultural organisations came together in 2005 to begin discussing the feasibility of setting up a TV station to serve the city's community. In 2006 the collective undertook research into viable models of community TV and embarked on a consultation drive that culminated in an inaugural AGM in September 2006 where over 200 organisations showed their support for the initiative.
Martin Jansen, CTCTV board chairperson, added: “Since then, the board and a group of dedicated volunteers have developed a business plan, recruited over 100 volunteers and won support from a number of stakeholders such as University of the Western Cape (UWC) and the SABC who are prepared to provide equipment and studios at cost.
“We plan to be on air by early 2008 and are currently in the process of raising funds, registering as a Section 21 company, applying for a licence and preparing for broadcast.”
