Communications News

Australian Government modernises country’s media industry

Eliza Sayon Feb 8, 2022

2 min read

The Australian Government has released its Media Policy Statement, which provides a range of measures in a program of reform to modernise television services.

“We are setting out the next steps for Government to work with the broadcast television sector on a future regulatory structure that is optimised for the technology changes the sector faces,” Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher said.

The Media Policy Statement represents the Australian Government’s response to the Media Reform Green Paper process that was initiated in late 2020.

The measures under the Statement fall under three ‘themes’: Modernising the free-to-air television market, supporting Australian content and enhancing regional news services.

The measures include the following:

A $7.3 million Television Research and Policy Development Program to provide the Australian Government and industry with the information needed to make choices about the future of free-to-air television services in Australia.
The extension of transitional support to relevant regional broadcasters for two additional years.
A proposed Streaming Services Reporting and Investment Scheme to incentivise and, as needed, require large subscription video on demand (SVOD) services to invest in Australian content.
A National Broadcasters Reporting Framework to provide the Government and the public with enhanced information on the provision of Australian content by the ABC and SBS.
A recalibrated drama expenditure requirement for subscription television broadcasters.
A $10 million Journalist Fund to support the provision of public interest journalism in the regions.

The Australian Government has also released a Media Policy Statement that describes these measures in more detail, setting out findings from the consultation process initiated with the Green Paper.

A Future of Broadcasting Working Group will be established as a key mechanism to inform the work of developing the future regulatory structure.

The Australian Government will also commission a range of research to support the consideration of television futures, including research on the current installed base of television receivers.

An early priority for the Working Group will be to examine the issue of the “prominence,” or availability, of Australian content, including news, on connected television platforms.

In addition to the Media Policy Statement, a Discussion Paper on a proposed Streaming Services Reporting and Investment Scheme has been released.

This Paper provides stakeholders with an opportunity to provide their views on the design of the Scheme.

Source: Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications

Eliza Sayon

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Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.