West TV
West TV was a Perth-based free-to-air community television station serving Western Australia.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
West TV, also known as WTV and identified by the call sign CTW32, was a community television station based in Perth, Western Australia. It was established after the closure of Access 31, the previous community television licence holder in Perth, and became part of Australia's transition toward digital-only community broadcasting. The station began regular standard-definition digital transmission on logical channel 44 at 10 a.m. on 10 April 2010. The station's role was primarily local and community-oriented rather than commercial. Its programming reflected the cultural, educational, religious, sporting, social and linguistic diversity of Perth and Western Australia. West TV broadcast a mixture of locally produced programs, material supplied by other Australian community broadcasters, acquisitions from independent producers and selected international news and information services. Its schedule included documentaries, films, sport, music, education, religion, multicultural programming, entertainment, leisure and lifestyle content. Local examples included the entertainment program Friday Night Live and the current-affairs program Undercurrent. The station also carried classic films and television programs, live events and news or information feeds from services including Deutsche Welle, Al Jazeera English and RT World News. West TV developed a distinctive position within Australian community television by providing an outlet for organizations, producers and communities that were not generally represented on mainstream commercial or public broadcasters. The station's Western Australian emphasis was supplemented by programs from interstate community channels and professional producers elsewhere. It also participated in event broadcasting, including a broadcast of a concert by Sir Cliff Richard and The Shadows and local outside broadcasts such as the Tom Hoad Cup VIII international water-polo tournament in Melville. The station operated in a difficult regulatory and financial environment. Its initial operating authority followed a two-year trial licence awarded by the Australian Communications and Media Authority after Access 31 closed in 2008. In April 2009 West TV received an apparatus licence, and in November of that year the federal communications minister approved a digital television-only community licence. Like other community stations, it faced repeated uncertainty over the future of metropolitan community television as the Australian government announced and then extended deadlines for the termination of the relevant licences. West TV also expanded beyond terrestrial transmission by streaming its service through its website, allowing viewers outside its traditional broadcast footprint to access the channel. On 20 February 2020 West TV announced that financial difficulties had forced it to end its free-to-air television transmission. It said that it would continue engaging audiences through social media and YouTube, and a GoFundMe appeal sought A$30,000 for facilities, equipment and administration. The cessation of free-to-air broadcasting marked the end of West TV as a terrestrial television station, although its digital and social presence was presented as a continuation of its community role.
History
West TV emerged from the disruption of community television broadcasting in Perth. Access 31, the city's previous community television licence holder, closed in 2008. Following that closure, the Australian Communications and Media Authority awarded West TV a two-year trial licence to provide a replacement community service. The station received an apparatus licence at the end of April 2009, and on 4 November 2009 Communications Minister Stephen Conroy approved a digital television-only licence. This authorization placed West TV within the group of Australian community broadcasters preparing for the country's transition to digital-only television in metropolitan areas. Before the formal launch, West TV conducted its first video test on 1 April 2010. The test consisted of a test card followed by a promotional video loop. Regular broadcasting began at 10 a.m. on 10 April 2010 in standard-definition digital format on logical channel 44. The service used the call sign CTW32 and operated as a free-to-air community station directed primarily at viewers in Perth and Western Australia. West TV's programming model emphasized access, diversity and local participation. It broadcast around the clock, seven days a week, with a schedule spanning documentaries, films, sports, music, education, religion, multicultural affairs, entertainment, leisure and lifestyle. The station concentrated on Western Australian content but also used programs supplied by community channels in other states, independent professional producers and international program providers. Locally associated programs included the entertainment series Friday Night Live and the current-affairs program Undercurrent. Its schedule also included classic movies and television programs, live programming and news or information bulletins from Deutsche Welle, Al Jazeera English and RT World News. The station also undertook event-oriented broadcasting. West TV held the rights to screen an exclusive concert featuring Sir Cliff Richard and The Shadows, which was broadcast in June 2010. It produced local outside broadcasts, including coverage of the Tom Hoad Cup VIII international water-polo tournament held in Melville. These activities broadened the station's role from a scheduled television outlet to a platform for local events and community participation. West TV's operating environment became increasingly uncertain after the federal government announced plans to end licensing for metropolitan community television. Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced in September 2014 that community television licences would end in December 2015. The deadline was extended to 31 December 2016, then to 30 June 2017 and 31 December 2017. A further extension took the deadline to 30 June 2018, and an announcement on 1 June 2018 provided another two years, through 30 June 2020. During this period West TV, like other community stations, began streaming its channel live online, allowing people outside the traditional terrestrial coverage area to access its content. The combination of regulatory uncertainty and financial pressure ultimately ended West TV's free-to-air service. On 20 February 2020 the station announced that it was forced to cease broadcasting on terrestrial television because of financial difficulties. It stated that it would maintain contact with viewers and the wider community through social media and YouTube. A GoFundMe appeal sought A$30,000 to support facilities, equipment and administration costs. The available reference material does not establish whether the fundraising target was reached or whether the online service continued indefinitely. West TV is therefore best characterized as a defunct free-to-air television station whose community-media activities later shifted toward digital platforms.
- 2020
Free-to-air service ends
[1]West TV announced on 20 February that financial difficulties had forced it to stop terrestrial free-to-air broadcasting.
- 2018
Community television deadline extended to 2020
[1]The Australian government extended the metropolitan community television licensing deadline by two years, through 30 June 2020.
- 2010
First transmission test
[1]West TV conducted its first video test on 1 April using a test card and promotional video loop.
- 2010
Regular broadcasting begins
[1]The station began standard-definition digital free-to-air broadcasting on logical channel 44 in Perth on 10 April.
- 2010
Concert broadcast
[1]West TV screened an exclusive concert featuring Sir Cliff Richard and The Shadows in June.
- 2009
West TV receives an apparatus licence
[1]West TV was granted an apparatus licence at the end of April, supporting the development of its replacement community television service.
- 2009
Digital-only licence approved
[1]Communications Minister Stephen Conroy approved a digital television-only community licence for West TV on 4 November.
- 2008
Access 31 closes in Perth
[1]The closure of Access 31 left Perth without its previous community television licence holder and created the context for West TV's establishment.
Products and positioning
A Western Australian community broadcaster providing locally relevant, diverse and accessible television programming outside the mainstream commercial and public broadcasting systems.
Community television station · 2010
West TV free-to-air channel
The station's principal service was a standard-definition digital community television channel broadcast in Perth on logical channel 44. It operated around the clock and combined Western Australian productions with material from other community broadcasters, independent producers and selected international news providers. The channel ended its free-to-air transmission in February 2020.
Online video service
West TV online stream
West TV later streamed its channel live through its website, enabling viewers outside the traditional Perth terrestrial coverage area to access the station. After the end of free-to-air transmission, the station indicated that it would continue its community engagement through online channels including social media and YouTube.
Entertainment program
Friday Night Live
Friday Night Live was a locally associated entertainment program carried by West TV. The available reference material identifies it as part of the station's Western Australian programming but does not provide further production or broadcast details.
Current-affairs program
Undercurrent
Undercurrent was a current-affairs program associated with West TV's local programming slate. It represented the station's role in providing community-oriented discussion and reporting alongside entertainment, cultural and lifestyle content.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020GoFundMe support appeal
Australia · Western Australia
After announcing the end of free-to-air broadcasting, West TV launched a GoFundMe appeal seeking A$30,000 for facilities, equipment and administration expenses.
Outcome. The available reference material does not state whether the target was met or how the funds were ultimately used.
Brand decisions
2020
Withdrawal from free-to-air televisionStrategyBackground
West TV stated that financial difficulties made continued free-to-air broadcasting unsustainable.
Action taken
On 20 February, the station stopped terrestrial free-to-air transmission and shifted its stated audience engagement toward social media and YouTube.
Aftermath
West TV ceased operating as a free-to-air television station. The available material does not establish the long-term status of its online activities.
2010
Launch of digital community television serviceProduct launchBackground
The service was created after the closure of Access 31 and under a digital television-only community licence.
Action taken
West TV began regular standard-definition digital broadcasting on logical channel 44 in Perth on 10 April 2010.
Aftermath
The station operated as Perth's community television outlet and developed a schedule focused on Western Australian and community-produced content.
- Addition of live online streamingStrategy
Background
Online distribution offered a way to reach viewers beyond the station's conventional terrestrial coverage area.
Action taken
West TV began streaming its channel live through its website.
Aftermath
The station gained a digital distribution channel that later became particularly relevant after terrestrial broadcasting ended.
Recent events
- 2020
West TV ends free-to-air broadcasting amid financial difficulties[1]
Bankruptcy
West TV announced on 20 February 2020 that it would cease free-to-air television transmission because of financial difficulties, while continuing its community presence through social media and YouTube.
- 2010
West TV begins digital community television broadcasting in Perth[1]
Product launch
West TV commenced regular standard-definition digital transmission on logical channel 44 in Perth, establishing a new community television service after the closure of Access 31.
West TV expands access through online streaming[1]
Other
The station later made its channel available through live streaming on its website, extending access beyond its conventional Perth broadcast area.
Sources2 sources
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