1700 is the only youth-produced music TV show presently made in Melbourne/Naarm. Airing since the late 2000s – the program continues to be a shining example of the outstanding work in community TV that is paving the way for more young people to gain valuable experience and step up to leadership roles within the community broadcasting space.
Co-produced by SYN Media and RMITV, 1700 airs once a week on Channel 31 Melbourne (Digital 44) and features interviews with local and international artists, new music videos along with live studio performances from upcoming musicians. The crossover between SYN & RMITV has created a rich beneficial collaboration that offers unique opportunities for sharing and integration of diverse skills and knowledge for members of the two groups. ‘It has enhanced the skills of members from both organisations and [even] led to volunteer members joining opposite organisations’ says Bill Park, RMITV’s then General Manager and current CBF Grant Assessor.
‘1700 was a tremendous benefit not only in up-skilling volunteers but in long-term member engagement,’ says Bill Park. In 2023, show producer Amelia Geiss joined RMITV’s management team. Six volunteers from 1700 have also recently applied for key leadership roles in RMITV productions as well as senior producing roles. The long-running program continues to reflect the vital role of institutions like RMITV & SYN in nurturing and empowering the next leaders of Australian community TV.
In the wake of RMIT University’s funding cuts following the aftermath of the pandemic, the program faced a number of economical challenges and disruptions to training. Key crew members were also under additional pressures in the face of recent turnovers in management from both organisations. However, managers from RMITV and SYN remain hopeful as they continue to meet regularly in the pursuit of 1700 continuing as a co-production, building on the lessons learnt from last season.
1700 received $6,100 under CBF’s Round 1 Content Grant 2023/24. Funding supported production costs for a new season four (eight episodes) including volunteer producer honorariums.
Catch episodes of 1700 – available to stream now on CTV Plus.
[Photo: 1700 show host Rebecca Martyn & Owen Gonsalves interviewing Australian artist Kitty Rae]