Free access to TV repeats

by Briana Young

May 15, 2008

Have you ever had to watch a news story for class but your mate tells you about a party you just have to go to?

Or do you never watch TV and wonder why everyone at work is talking about South Australian incest?

If you sometimes feel out of the loop, and always seem to be watching Antiques Roadshow or Big Brother when the news is on, there is now a resource to help.

The Murdoch University library recently started a service called TVNews that will let you watch over 40 news programs dating from September 2007 to now.

Murdoch librarian Jenny Smith, says the website is “fantastic, going by what other people have said”.

 “I’ve only used it once or twice, but for students doing media it must be wonderful,” she added.

Fellow librarian Helen Bronleigh agrees.

“It was quite expensive, but worth it,” Ms Bronleigh said. “It’s cut out the recording process and made the news much more immediate for students.”

And unlike the usually exorbitant cost of watching video at Murdoch, TVNews can be watched without logging into the uni internet quota, so all programs can be viewed for free.

That’s what lured psychology student Jennifer Young.

“I went to the library website and I saw the link on the front page,” Ms Young said. “I use it if I’m bored or if I missed something on the news.

“I watch it for fun and entertainment.”

You can now view popular shows such as Mythbusters, Australian Story, The New Inventors, and Today Tonight the morning after they air. To find out how, hit the implausibly elongated: http://0-search.informit.com.au.prospero.murdoch.edu.au/titles;res=TVNEWS.