Channel 44 (Adelaide)
| Company type | Community television broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television broadcasting |
| Founded | April 23, 2004 |
| Headquarters | Adelaide , Australia |
Area served | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Products | Television programming (local, interstate, international) |
Channel 44 (C44, call sign CTS33) is a free-to-air community television broadcaster based in Adelaide, South Australia. Since its inception on 23 April 2004, C44 has provided a variety of both locally and nationally produced programs. Originally identified as C31 on analogue transmission, the station transitioned to digital broadcasting on 5 November 2010 and discontinued analogue services on 31 May 2012. Its programming lineup includes a blend of content from local, interstate, and international sources tailored to serve its community audience.
History
Before C44's establishment, community television in Adelaide was represented by ACE TV, managed by Adelaide Community and Education Television Inc. ACE TV operated under a temporary licence from May 1994 until December 2002 but was forced to cease operations in May 2002 due to licence violations.
Following ACE TV's closure, the community television licence was awarded to C31 Adelaide Ltd in 2003. The station commenced broadcasting as C31 Adelaide on analogue UHF channel 31 on 23 April 2004. Although permanent licences were granted to most capital city community TV stations in 2004, the allocation process for Adelaide was suspended in 2006; both applicants, including C31, were refused licences for differing reasons.
The station moved to digital channel 44 on 5 November 2010, rebranding as 44 Adelaide, and terminated its analogue broadcast in May 2012. A logo redesign occurred in 2013, followed by adopting the name Channel 44 (C44) in 2014.
In September 2014, communications minister Malcolm Turnbull declared that community TV licences would end by December 2015; this deadline was subsequently extended to 31 December 2016. To broaden its reach beyond Adelaide, C44 launched live online streaming in April 2016.
The licence expiration date was extended several times by Minister for Communications Mitch Fifield: initially to June and then December 2017; again to June 2018 amid media reform discussions; and further prolonged until June 2020. In June 2020, a last-minute extension granted an additional year, followed by a three-year renewal in June 2021 facilitated through amendments introduced by South Australian Senator Rex Patrick.
Partnership with SAFC
In November 2020, the South Australian Film Corporation's First Nations Advisory Committee was established as part of their First Nations Screen Strategy 2020–2025, collaborating closely with Channel 44.
Identity history
- 2010–2016: Bringing You the Community through TV
- 2016–present: Adelaide – It's Your 44