MTV Australia drops regular programming today for equality

MTV Australia has today (Thursday) dropped its scheduled programming for 12 hours to encourage its viewers to vote in the upcoming same-sex marriage postal survey

Between 6 am and 6 pm, MTV, MTV Music, MTV Classic and MTV Dance will broadcast an automated message reminding them that today is the last day to register with the Australian Electoral Commission and ensure their postal details are up-to-date. 

The message will be repeated on its website, which will also host an LGBTQ editorial takeover

Simon Bates, Head of MTV Asia Pacific, said  "As a leading youth entertainment brand that supports inclusiveness and equal rights for all Australians, MTV wants to encourage young Australians to get out and do their part in ensuring their voices are heard in the Australian Marriage Law postal vote.” 

In the past two weeks, 36,000 joined the electoral roll while 424,000 updated their details.

However, 500,000 Australians aged 18—39 have not yet got on the roll. 

Music venues around the country focussed last weekend on an enrolment drive. They offered everything from electoral booths to free booze and live music to draw the punters.

Last night, youth-orientated sites Pedestrian TV, Broadsheet, VICE, Junkee and FBi Radio had a 3-hour blackout on their social channels between 5 pm and 8 pm. 

They said in a joint statement, “Marriage equality is perhaps the most important social fight we’ve faced in the last decade, so we’re doing just that.”

The survey is costing tax-payers $120 million and is neither compulsory nor binding. 

But a strong “Yes” result could see Parliament pass through overdue legislation.