31 Brisbane

31 Digital
Launched	31 July 1994
Owned by	Briz 31 LTD
Picture format	576i PAL
Slogan	Your stories... Your station
Country	Australia
Broadcast area	Brisbane, Ipswich & surrounding areas
Formerly called	QCTV 31 Your Local Television Briz 31
Website	www.31.com.au
Availability
Terrestrial
SD Digital	Channel 44

"31 Digital" is a community television station based in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, formerly known as '"Briz 31", later as "31 Your Local Television", then as "QCTV" and more recently as "31 QCTV" (Queensland Community Television). Its programming features five locally produced shows and shows produced by other community stations around the country. It is broadcast on UHF channel 31 at 548.224 MHz, from the ABQ-2 transmitter tower on Mount Coot-tha. 31 offers newcomers to the media field an opportunity to gain experience before entering commercial broadcasting. The station also carries a number of programs originally developed at other Channel 31 stations in other states. 31 has always broadcast old movies, classic television shows, the best in community made programming and original productions.

After a long time of uncertainty 31 went digital on 7 June 2010.

Branding

The station was originally called "Briz 31" and began transmission on the 31 analog bandwidth on 31 July 1994. In November 2009 the station was re-branded as "31 qctv" with the intention to later scrap "qctv" from the name altogether. As the station promised, in April 2010 there was a complete return to the name "31". Due to the station beginning transmission on the new digital channel 44, the station was again rebranded as "31 Digital".

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  Previous 'QCTV' logo

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  Current '31 Digital' logo

Broadcasting

The station began broadcasting during a 2 week test transmission in 1992, during the opening of South Bank Parklands. During the broadcast week many different formats produced by the members went to air. Live footage from the opening of South Bank, member produced formats including a variety show "On the bed with Simon and Karen" where guests were invite to come and sit on a bed in the studio in their pyjamas and be interviewed by the hosts.

The following two years were spent lobbying the ABA (Australian Broadcasting Authority) for permission to broadcast on a full time basis and developing a draft funding model for the organisation. At this time there were no licence categories available except the experimental broadcasting category.

The station begain broadcasting in the Brisbane area in July, 1994 after an arrangement was struck with Telstra to provide broadcasting facilities on Mt Cootha. In 2007 the station had a major transmitter upgrade, which allowed it to reach another 40% of viewers mainly in the Ipswich & surrounding areas. In March 2010 the station announced it would begin broadcasting in digital by 7 June 2010. In May 2011 the station reported it's analogue broadcast would cease on 15 May 2011.

Shows

Programmes produced by the station are as follows:

Restaurant Wars - A local cooking show where owners of restaurants compete to cook the best meal.
360 - A local talk show.
Art Studio - This programme is about painting.
Naturally Calm - A meditation show.
The Stomping Ground - Panel discussion show focusing on youth issues, hosted by Melanie Dinjaski.
Between The Lines - Meet the people with the greatest stories and the most interesting lives.
The Late Nite Show
Meet The Ministers

History and Development

• Brisbane Community Television was formed by foundation members Wes Tatters, Ric Adams, Simon Bunker, Ben Morrisson, and Cait Spreadborough. (more names to come)
• In 1992, Brisbane Community Television broadcast its first shows during the opening of South Bank Parklands
• In July 1994, Briz31 begins broadcasting from Vulture Street Studios

See also

• Channel 31
• Television broadcasting in Australia

External links

• Official website
• Campaign to go digital
• Couriermail article
• ABC blog article
• call signs of broadcasters in Brisbane