THE new head of Channel 31 has vowed to raise the standard of programming as well as improve opportunities for community groups to make programs.

Mike Zafiropoulos, a former general manager of SBS in Melbourne, has been elected chairman of the public broadcaster's board. He is a former mayor of Fitzroy, has been a radio broadcaster and television producer and has been active in public organisations including Multicultural Arts Victoria, the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria and Regional Arts Victoria.

Mr Zafiropoulos told BusinessDay that Channel 31 was well placed to take advantage of all the benefits the digital broadcasting era would offer.

The Federal Government announced last month it would include public television in the digital broadcasting roll-out.

Mr Zafiropoulos said recent technological changes in the media, such as people increasingly producing their own programs and downloading television to watch later, suited Channel 31.

''Channel 31 has a great advantage, compared to the national broadcaster and commercial broadcasters, because the nature of our product is community-based and community-driven. These days, most people are capable of producing television content, so the big challenge is for the other broadcasters to come to terms with that,'' he said.

People increasingly wanted to be more active in the media, which suited the premise of public television, Mr Zafiropoulos said.

Although he had not met the board since his appointment, and therefore could not discuss the station's plans in detail, there would be many changes at the broadcaster during the coming year, he said.

Channel 31 attracts 1.4 million viewers a month and began broadcasting in 1994.

The station broadcasts to Melbourne, greater Melbourne and Geelong.

Its programs include educational shows and those designed for seniors, youth, fans of local sports, indigenous communities and the disabled.

There are 23 different ethnic groups represented in its regular programs.

Funding is mainly from advertising, and the Federal Government recently gave public television throughout Australia $2.6 million to help with the transition to digital broadcasting.

Mr Zafiropoulos said he aimed to ensure that Channel 31 developed closer ties to all its stakeholders, including sponsors and community groups.