Melbourne Community Television, Community Programs, Music Television, Youth Programs

Do you have an idea for a fantastic new television program? Or perhaps you can't find anything on television that covers the issues and news of your community? C31 welcomes new program ideas, and encourages people with a little or no experience in television production to get involved.

With over 1.4 million people watching C31 Melbourne each month, a television program enables many communities and special interest groups to bring their particular views, news and issues to a wider audience. From local football to Italian theatre, C31 is the home of diverse and niche-interest programming.

Producing a community television program is also an excellent opportunity for aspiring television professionals. Both in front of the camera and behind the scenes, hundreds of C31 Melbourne volunteers have gone on to paid film and television work in Australia and overseas.

All program ideas need to be in writing, according to the guidelines of the Program Proposal Kit. The Kit will answer many of your questions, including typical episode duration and series length, program sponsorship and the application process. Your program proposal should be forwarded via email to info@c31.org.au or via mail to Programming

All proposals will be considered by the Programming Team and responded to with in three weeks of receipt.

Members - non profit organisations incorporated as associations or companies limited by guarantee which have joined the Melbourne Community Television Consortium as Members. Member groups welcome new proposals for programs and new program makers to work on current programs - within the areas of their specific community of interest. To make a program with a program group, you will be expected to join that group and pay its membership fee. More information and a list of Member groups is available here

Access Affiliate groups - non profit organisations incorporated as association or companies limited by guarantee which have joined the Melbourne Community Television Consortium as Access Affiliates. Affiliates usually produce or intend to produce regular programs. Access Affiliates welcome new proposals for programs and new program makers to work on current programs - within the areas of their specific community of interest.

A list of the Access affiliates is available here

Independent producers - Independent producers, production companies or other organisations can also provide programs to C31 directly. Independent producers pay for broadcast air time and are able to seek direct sponsorship for announcements linked to their program to assist in broadcasting, production and promotion cost recovery. Air time costs for independents depend on the identity of the independent - that is, whether they are a non-profit organisation, or for-profit company, production house or individual. Not-for-profit producers are required to supply evidence of their not-for-profit status. The cost of airtime is discussed with a producer following a detailed program proposal being prepared, and before approval of a proposal and broadcast of the program.

The station - A limited range of broadcast material is produced by the station itself, including station identifications, program breakers, the news and weather and service, community service and sponsorship announcements.

A television series is being developed for C31 Melbourne that screens recent Australian micro-budget feature films. If you have produced a film that is longer than 70 minutes, independently funded and completed in the past ten years, this is a great chance to reach an audience larger than a dozen major festival screenings.

For more information check out the Cheap Thrills webpage

C31's award winning series, Local Knowledge is the home for locally made documentaries and short series. Watched by over 50,000 people each week, Local Knowledge is a great opportunity to have your work broadcast to audiences across Victoria. Local Knowledge features documentaries on many diverse topics, including the history of trams in Melbourne, a history of Sydney Road, Richmond 100 Years, and even local ghost stories.

To submit your documentary for consideration on Local Knowledge, forward a DVD and 100-word synopsis to:

Local Knowledge,
C31 Melbourne,
Level 1,
501 Swanston St,
Melbourne, 3000.