- Westlink Network
Infobox TV channel
name = Westlink Network
logofile = WestlinkNetworkLogo.jpg
logosize = 200px
logoalt = The Westlink Network ident
launch =1992
picture format =576i (SDTV)
owner =Government of Western Australia
slogan = "Skilling for life"
web = [http://www.westlink.wa.gov.au westlink.wa.gov.au]
broadcast area = RegionalWestern Australia
sat serv 1 = Optus C1
sat chan 1 = Transponder 6
terr serv 1 = Analogue
terr chan 1 = UHF 54 (Albany)
terr chan 2 = UHF 42 (Bunbury)The Westlink Network, often shortened to Westlink, is a TV channel broadcasted to regional and remote areas ofWestern Australia , mainly via satellite but also via analogue terrestrial in some areas. It also serves as a platform forInformation Radio - a radio service fromPerth, Western Australia for the print handicapped. [cite web
url = http://www.rph.org.au/html/wa.html
title = Radio for the Print Handicapped, WA
accessdate = 2007-09-18
date = 2005-09-27
work =Information Radio ]It is fully funded by the
Government of Western Australia and is managed and operated by theDepartment of Local Government and Regional Development .Programming
The channel is primarily used for educational and talk-back style programs, including video conferences, corporate training videos, and health and educational focused training segments. Many of the programs are viewed in group situations, such as telecentres and TAFE colleges. Some bodies that utilise Westlink are;
* Department of Health
* Rural Health Education Foundation
* Telethon Institute
* Office of Shared Services
* Diocesan Pastoral Formation CentreThe channel also retransmited Perth's
Access 31 community TV throughout the week until its shut down in 2008. The retransmission was available analogue format, even though Westlink is a DVB-S service. Access 31 could be seen on Thursday nights between 5.00pm and 12.00am, and all weekend from Friday nights at 5.00pm through to Monday mornings at around 7.00am. [cite web
url = http://accesstvwa.com/tech_op/RuralSat.pdf
title = Report on Access 31 Rural Satellite Pilot
accessdate = 2007-09-17
date = 2005
work =Access 31 TV]Availability
Westlinks delivers its service primarily via satellite in
DVB-S format. It is currently part of theOptus Aurora rural television service on the Optus C1 satellite. [cite web
url = http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/aurora.html
title = Optus Aurora
accessdate = 2007-09-17
date = 2005-06-29
work = LyngSat] Approximately 25% of all Optus Aurora users in Western Australia report using Westlink. TheGoldfields-Esperance region has the most viewers, with approximately 6.1% out of a total 11.8% satellite households report using the service. [cite web
url = http://www.doir.wa.gov.au/documents/businessandindustry/Chapter6RadioAndTelevision.pdf
title = Telecommunications Needs Assessment, Chapeter 6 (Radio and Television)
accessdate = 2007-09-17
date = Unknown
work = Department of Industry and Resources]Analogue terrestrial transmissions are also broadcast in Albany and Bunbury. [cite web
url = http://accesstvwa.com/about/how_to_tune.html
title = How to Tune
accessdate = 2007-09-17
date = Unknown
work = Access 31]Identity
Westlink often plays a loop of still scenic photographs and information slides in between scheduled programs throughout the day. Due to the large gaps between programming, Westlink is often seen by the average viewer as just a part-time Access 31 channel.
References
ee also
*
Access 31
*Optus Aurora
*Government of Western Australia External links
* [http://www.westlink.wa.gov.au/ Westlink home page]
* [http://telinfo.gov.au/RL/toolkits_reports_and_publications/the_new_connections_toolkit/pt2_westlink TelInfo case study on Government initiated works]
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