The 2023 Antenna Awards will celebrate the best of Australian community TV on 28 October 2023 at Fed Square, Melbourne, broadcast live on Channel 44 and CTV+.
The list of nominees announced this week is a celebration of the diversity in our community and the breadth of talent in the community TV sector. The Antennas recognise and raise up the stories, cultures, and experiences that often go underrepresented in mainstream media.
“The 2023 Antenna Awards recognise and celebrate the diverse, hyper-local and high-quality content that is being produced by local program makers all around Australia every week,” says C44 Adelaide general manager Lauren Hillman. “These awards also represent the strength in our sector. Despite many challenges over the past ten years, community TV continues to deliver pathways to industry for grass-roots creatives learning the craft of producing content for television and online on our national free streaming platform, CTV+.”
The awards could not have come at a more exciting time for the community TV sector. With a renewed sense of purpose and a clear vision for the future, community broadcasters are optimistic about a long-term future. The 2023 Antenna Awards are a powerful reminder of the essential role that community TV plays in fostering emerging local talent and providing space for Australian stories.
This year sees the introduction of the CTV+ Program of the Year award, which will recognise the most popular program among the 110 available on the newly established community TV streaming service CTV+. The CTV+ platform offers viewers the opportunity to stream community TV programs anytime, anywhere, making the content accessible to a broader audience. CTV+ is currently available via the web at ctvplus.org.au, on iOS and Android stores, and coming to smart TVs in mid-2024.
“These awards come at a pivotal time for our sector,” says C31 Melbourne and Geelong general manager and Australian Community Television Alliance president Shane Dunlop. “After a decade of instability and destructive Federal policy, community TV still stands. We are now well placed to secure a long-term future on free-to-air television and are excited about ushering in a new national footprint for community TV behind the excellent CTV+ service. The Antenna Awards have always been a fantastic expression of what makes community television great and will represent a chance for our program makers, staff, volunteers and viewers at home to celebrate our ongoing contribution to the cultural landscape of Australia.”
The Antenna Awards, produced by C31 Melbourne, will be broadcast live from Federation Square’s Deakin Edge. Hosted by comedian Lizzy Hoo and featuring musical guest The Putbacks, the 2023 Antenna Awards will honour the outstanding work of 90 program makers, broadcasters, and producers.
Watch live on 28 October from 7.30pm CST on Channel 44 or stream it on CTV+ at ctvplus.org.au.
