<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div apple-content-edited="true"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><b>TVS Chief Executive signs off on a high digital note<br><br></b>See <a href="http://www.tvs.org.au/" eudora="autourl">http://www.tvs.org.au/</a> <br><a href="http://www.tvs.org.au/news/tvs-chief-executive-signs-off-on-a-high-digital-note" eudora="autourl">http://www.tvs.org.au/news/tvs-chief-executive-signs-off-on-a-high-digital-note<br><br></a>Having overseen the station's recent transition to digital broadcasting, TVS Chief Executive Laurie Patton today announced that he is signing off at the end of the month.<br><br>As Secretary of the Australian Community Television Alliance, Mr Patton spearheaded the community television sector's negotiations with the Federal Government. Late last year the Government allocated a digital channel in each of the mainland state capitals, along with funding for a new transmission system, for each community station through until the switchover to digital-only broadcasting in 2013. <br><br>TVS launched its digital service on 1 March 2010. In a media release to mark the occasion, Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, said: "Laurie Patton was instrumental in delivering this outcome for Community TV and its passionate audiences nation-wide, so it is fitting that Laurie is the first to get his station to air in digital".<br><br>Mr Patton joined TVS in 2004 shortly after it was awarded Australia's first permanent Community Television Licence. Over the past six years he has supervised the construction of a fully automated broadcast centre, along with the acquisition of programming and most recently the successful launch of the TVS digital channel 44 service.<br><br>TVS Chairman, Geoffrey Roberson acknowledged the skill and the experience that Mr Patton has demonstrated as the station's inaugural CEO. "Without someone of Laurie's calibre in charge TVS would probably not exist. His passion and his determination have been key ingredients in the creation of the channel," he said.<br><br>Speaking on behalf of the hundreds of volunteers who make programs for TVS, host and producer Joy Hruby OAM ("Joy's World" - 7pm Mondays) said that TVS provides a much needed outlet for community groups and individuals to express their views and provide valuable information. "Without TVS programs like mine could not be made. I sincerely thank Laurie for his role in making it all possible".<br><br>Commenting on the station's significance in the emerging multi-channel digital TV market, Mr Patton said: "TVS represents a new age for community television. The advent of digital has created the opportunity for community based producers to do things that could not have been envisaged a decade ago. Community TV is the real 'user generated content' platform. What's more, there is nothing like it anywhere else in the world".<br><br>After just four years on air TVS has a loyal audience watching a wide range of unique programs increasingly made by and for local community groups. Currently, around 40 percent of the programs shown on TVS are made in Sydney. "For less than $1000 you can buy a digital camera that produces broadcast quality images", according to Mr Patton. "With enough enthusiasm and a little creative talent community groups can make interesting programs that are relevant to the growing audiences that are attracted to TVS".<br><br>While he is leaving TVS Mr Patton will remain Executive Director of the Television Sydney Foundation. The Foundation has been created in order to solicit public donations and to provide financial support to not-for-profit community groups and individuals wishing to make programs for TVS.<br><br>14 April 2010<br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></div></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"> </div><br></body></html>