PerthNorg

Access 31 is dead

Western Australia's community television station, Access 31, has closed down.

This afternoon the station stopped airing programs, instead showing a "rest in peace" message to viewers, which says August 6 would be the last day of operation.

"18th June 1999 - 6th August 2008," the message reads.

"Access 31 thanks all our loyal viewers, sponsors and program providers for your support."

The closure follows massive financial problems at the station, which narrowly avoided closure last month when Perth architect Gary Baverstock provided the ailing station with a last-minute bail-out.

He pledged $500,000 to keep Perth's only community TV channel on the air.

Staff were shocked this evening to find out about the closure, with many angry the money offered to bail out the station had apparently been withdrawn.

Fred Mafrica, host and producer of program The Couch, said at 3pm he visited the station and nothing was wrong.

But at 5pm he received a call to say the station had shut up shop.

"Staff are very shocked," he said.

"I am really annoyed because I believed they wanted to resurrect it."

Scott Hunt, producer of morning news program Wake Up WA, said it was a sad day for the State and people who wanted an alternative to commercial media.

"It's a huge blow to the independent media," he said.

"It is the end of community television in WA."

Earlier this week the chief executive of Access 31, Andrew Brine, revealed he had resigned.

Lotterywest had also pledged $250,000 to keep Access 31 afloat but WAtoday understands the backer was apprehensive about the grant being realised.

Mr Brine led the station for 11 years.

The financial management of Access 31 has been heavily criticised.