Westlink Network
Encyclopedia
The Westlink Network, often shortened to Westlink, is a TV channel broadcast to regional and remote areas of Western Australia
, mainly via satellite
but also via analogue terrestrial
in some areas. It also serves as a platform for Information Radio - a radio service from Perth, Western Australia
for the print handicapped.
It is fully funded by the Government of Western Australia
and is managed and operated by the Department of Local Government and Regional Development.
, corporate training videos, and health and educational focused training segments. Many of the programs are viewed in group situations, such as telecentre
s and TAFE
colleges. Some bodies that utilise Westlink are;
Community broadcaster Indigenous Community Television entered into an agreement with Westlink to allow them access to the channel on weekends.
format. It is currently part of the Optus Aurora
service on the Optus C1 satellite. Approximately 25% of all Optus Aurora users in Western Australia watch Westlink. The Goldfields-Esperance region has the most viewers, with approximately 6.1% out of a total 11.8% satellite households report viewing the service.
Analogue terrestrial transmissions are also broadcast in Albany
and Bunbury.
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, mainly via satellite
Satellite television
Satellite television is television programming delivered by the means of communications satellite and received by an outdoor antenna, usually a parabolic mirror generally referred to as a satellite dish, and as far as household usage is concerned, a satellite receiver either in the form of an...
but also via analogue terrestrial
Terrestrial television
Terrestrial television is a mode of television broadcasting which does not involve satellite transmission or cables — typically using radio waves through transmitting and receiving antennas or television antenna aerials...
in some areas. It also serves as a platform for Information Radio - a radio service from Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
for the print handicapped.
It is fully funded by the Government of Western Australia
Government of Western Australia
The formation of the Government of Western Australia is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1890, although it has been amended many times since then...
and is managed and operated by the Department of Local Government and Regional Development.
Programming
The channel is primarily used for educational and talk-back style programs, including video conferencesVideoconferencing
Videoconferencing is the conduct of a videoconference by a set of telecommunication technologies which allow two or more locations to interact via two-way video and audio transmissions simultaneously...
, corporate training videos, and health and educational focused training segments. Many of the programs are viewed in group situations, such as telecentre
Telecentre
A telecentre is a public place where people can access computers, the Internet, and other digital technologies that enable them to gather information, create, learn, and communicate with others while they develop essential digital skills...
s and TAFE
Technical and Further Education
In Australia, training and further education or TAFE institutions provide a wide range of predominantly vocational tertiary education courses, mostly qualifying courses under the National Training System/Australian Qualifications Framework/Australian Quality Training Framework...
colleges. Some bodies that utilise Westlink are;
- Department of Health
- Rural Health Education Foundation
- Telethon Institute
- Office of Shared Services
- Diocesan Pastoral Formation Centre
Community broadcaster Indigenous Community Television entered into an agreement with Westlink to allow them access to the channel on weekends.
Availability
Westlink delivers its service primarily via satellite in DVB-SDVB-S
DVB-S is an abbreviation for Digital Video Broadcasting — Satellite; it is the original Digital Video Broadcasting forward error coding and demodulation standard for satellite television and dates from 1994, in its first release, while development lasted from 1993 to 1997...
format. It is currently part of the Optus Aurora
Optus Aurora
Optus Aurora is a free-to-view satellite television platform in Australia, aimed at providing television and radio services to remote and black spot areas using the Optus C1 and B3 satellites...
service on the Optus C1 satellite. Approximately 25% of all Optus Aurora users in Western Australia watch Westlink. The Goldfields-Esperance region has the most viewers, with approximately 6.1% out of a total 11.8% satellite households report viewing the service.
Analogue terrestrial transmissions are also broadcast in Albany
Albany, Western Australia
Albany is a port city in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, some 418 km SE of Perth, the state capital. As of 2009, Albany's population was estimated at 33,600, making it the 6th-largest city in the state....
and Bunbury.
Bunbury, Western Australia
The port city of Bunbury is the third largest city in Western Australia after the State Capital Perth and Mandurah. It is situated south of Perth's central business district...
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.See also
- Access 31Access 31Access 31 was a free-to-air Community television station based in Perth, Australia which operated between 1999 and 2008 before closing due to insolvency. The station had broadcast on UHF 31 from the ABC's television mast at Bickley in the Perth Hills...
, some programming was carried on Westlink until Access 31 ceased broadcasting. - Optus AuroraOptus AuroraOptus Aurora is a free-to-view satellite television platform in Australia, aimed at providing television and radio services to remote and black spot areas using the Optus C1 and B3 satellites...
- Government of Western AustraliaGovernment of Western AustraliaThe formation of the Government of Western Australia is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1890, although it has been amended many times since then...