Broadcasting Policy

1
Broadcasting Policy

• Julianne Stewart

2
Summary of Topics

• WHAT is regulated?
• WHO does the regulating?
• World Wide Web policy resources
• The regulation of public broadcasting
• Digital Television
• Issues relating to pay television
• Discussion and critique

3
What is Regulated?

• Spectrum planning and technical quality
• Allocation of licenses
• Australian content on commercial television
• Ownership and control of commercial broadcast
  licences
• Policy directions (eg How/If pay tv or digital tv
  will be implemented)

4
Who regulates these things?

• The Australian Broadcasting Authority
• Created in 1992 by the Broadcasting Services Act
  (1992) to replace the Australian Broadcasting
  Tribunal

5
Web Policy Resources

• http//www.aba.gov.au
• http//www.dcita.gov.au
• http//www.noie.gov.au
• http//www.aph.gov.au

Australian Broadcasting Authority Website
6
Who regulates public broadcasting? (ABC)

• The ABC is regulated by a board of directors
  directly responsible to Parliament via Minister
  for Communication, Information Technology and the
  Arts
• The board is governed by a charter and by the
  Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act (1983)

7
Who regulates public broadcasting (SBS)?

• The Special Broadcasting Service is regulated by
  a Board of Directors which is responsible
  directly to Parliament via the Minister for
  Communication, Information Technology and the
  Arts
• SBS is governed by a charter and by the Special
  Broadcasting Services Act (1991)

8
Digital Television

• What is digital tv?
• How is policy formulated?
• Examples of methods of processing social claims
  in relation to digital television

9
Issues Relating to Pay Television

• Siphoning hoarding
• Australian content
• Advertising
• Program classifications

10
Discussion and Critique

• Independence of ABA, ABC and SBS from direct
  government interference or from interference from
  powerful private interests
• Convergence of broadcasting and
  telecommunications
• Internationalisation and weakening of local
  content ownership requirements