Community TV stations given brief reprieve

Community television stations in Melbourne and Adelaide have been thrown a last-minute lifeline.

Channel 31 and Channel 44 have secured another year on the air as they transition to digital-only delivery.

In return, both stations have promised the federal government they will cease television services by June 30, 2021.

The government had wanted the stations to go online since 2014 but extended the deadline several times.

"Spectrum is a scarce and valuable community resource which needs to be managed in a way that delivers the best value to the Australian public," Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said on Tuesday.

"The government continues to examine the potential options for using the vacated broadcast spectrum."