Communications Minister Stephen Conroy set the cat amongst the pigeons this week when he told the Australian Broadcasting Summit there was need for another review and further reform of broadcasting regulations. “In the face of massive technological change, the very concept of broadcasting is challenged. . . Many current regulations are out-of-date already; others will be as soon as the national satellite television service and NBN are up and running; and others are well-intentioned but inadequate for the convergent media era,” said Conroy.
In the recent discussion paper on telecommunications reform for the 21st Century, the Government “flagged its intention to consider the overall regulatory framework for communications services in a converged environment.” Conroy’s recent remarks indicate that this is likely to happen sooner rather than later. With a federal election looming towards the end of this year, it is certain to become a hot issue if work begins on a review now.
Conroy posed this question in his speech. “As a dizzying range of new content delivery platforms entrench themselves in our lives, we must ask: what is broadcasting today? More importantly, what do Australians want it to be in the future?”
The Rudd Government has shown that is willing to make large regulatory changes with its approach to the telecommunications sector. Broadcasting could be next. A number of inquiries are currently under way, including the review of localism in regional radio and spectrum issues discussed in the Digital Dividend green paper. A wider review might roll these issues into it.
The Howard government made significant ownership reforms in its last term of government, but did not tackle definitions of what ‘broadcasting’ is in the modern multiplatform digital environment.
Conroy signalled that content is still the highest priority for regulators, saying in his speech:
“As I have said previously, regulatory issues such as media diversity, ownership controls, audience reach rules and local content obligations will all need to be re-visited.
“I’m sure you will all agree that consideration of all aspects of media regulation is important if we are to maximise the cultural and social benefits of digital television and the NBN, as well as the economic ones.
“The objective of protecting local content must remain at the centre of our approach to regulatory reform, but as international content competes ever more fiercely for Australian audiences, we must look at how we can continue to deliver that content in the future…”
He did not specifically mention radio, which is comparatively less regulated than television, but if ownership and content issues are being considered, then radio will clearly be affected in some way.
To read Senator Conroy’s full speech to the Broadcasting Summit, click the link below.