Australia’s media ownership laws to receive major overhaul
The federal government has approved plans to overhaul Australia’s pre-internet media ownership laws, marking the biggest shake-up in nearly 30 years.
The reform is the biggest since the Paul Keating government in 1987, when Keating said media owners could not own radio, TV and newspapers in a single market. The ‘two out of three rule’prevents any TV broadcaster from engaging with more than 75% of the population. It also stops takeovers of the regional networks by media conglomerates like Nine Entertainment, Seven West Media and the Ten Network.
This ‘two out of three rule’was discussed yesterday at the Coalition backbench communications committee and the Federal cabinet has approved plans to abolish it.
The plans to endorse a reform should open doors for media mergers between TV, newspaper and radio companies. Meaning, Nova Entertainment could merge with Southern Cross Austereo, and News Corp Australia could buy Channel Ten or Foxtel.
Broadcasters Southern Cross Austereo, WIN Corporationand Prime Media were among the media companies represented to raise concerns, with Southern Cross Chief Grant Blackleyin attendance.
ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority)recently released a graphicshowing media interests across Australia. It features major commercial television and commercial radio networks and associated newspapers. See below:
A formal endorsement of a reform will be delivered at the full Coalition party room meeting in Parliament House today. If Liberal and Nationals MPsapprovedthe changes this morning, Communications Minister Mitch Fifield will unveil the plans for new legislation.
According to The Australian, its sources haven’t advised when the bill will be introduced into parliament, due to the short timeframe leading up to the election in either late July or August. However, the legislation is expected tobe tabled in Parliamenteither tomorrow or Thursday with Fifield telling the ABC he hopes to get thelegislation passed “this side of the election”.