Free TV Australia

Television General Television Topics
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The proliferation of betting agency advertising during the early evening has led to family members ceasing the tradition of having commercial television news on during dinner time. They feared the bombardment of such advertising was normalising gambling for their children. There’s rarely an ad break during Nine News that doesn’t contain an ad for Ladbrokes, Sportingbet, William Hill, Lottoland, the TAB etc. Entire segments are now being sponsored by a betting agency.

You have to wonder if this short sighted greed by networks is going to accelerate the decline of younger viewers watching free to air TV when there are many parents making an effort to keep their kids away from this stuff.

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Mitch Fifield to dodge Senate vote on betting-ad ban

Rather than take the risk of legislating a ban through a difficult Senate, it is believed Senator ­Fifield has struck a deal in private talks with broadcasters to give ­effect to the ban through amendments to the broadcasters’ codes of practice.

Any amendments to broadcasters’ codes of practice would carry full regulatory weight because they would constitute legally binding measures registered with ACMA. As with a ban on “live betting” ads on TV, introduced in 2013, ACMA would be proposed to have full regulatory powers for enforcing the ban.

It is believed a cut in licensing fees for FTA networks will be ­announced in the budget.

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In the budget next week: Commercial television licences to be scrapped in the budget and replaced by a cheaper spectrum fee; gambling ads during sport to be restricted before 8:30pm, racing and lotteries to be exempt from the restrictions; the 75% reach rule and the 2 out of 3 ownership rules both to be removed; and the anti-siphoning rules changed to remove some international soccer, rugby and tennis matches.

More:
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/exclusive-government-to-ban-tv-betting-adverts/news-story/66406ac69f8a1d1abf5567836279048e

Will it all pass the Parliament?

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If the reach rule was repealed, WIN would have money on the table to buy TEN the next morning

I’m sure SCA and Prime would like to be bought out but I don’t see Seven or Nine interested in buying them/their television assets

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The Australian has a longer ‘exclusive’ that includes this:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/130-million-tv-lifeline-in-shakeup-of-media/news-story/5e7c227256db73dbe71a4ef2de9d66e3

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Ten Network Welcomes Media Reform Package.

Urges Parliament To Support Australian Media Companies.

Ten Network Holdings Chief Executive Officer, Paul Anderson, today welcomed the Government’s announcement that it will abolish commercial television licence fees effective immediately as part of a balanced package that assists all Australian media companies and addresses community concern around gambling advertising in live sport.

Licence fees and datacasting fees covering 2016-17 (payable in December 2017) will be scrapped and replaced from 2017-18 by a new spectrum-based charge.

Mr Anderson said: “The Government’s package provides very welcome, immediate financial relief for all commercial free-to-air television broadcasters. It provides a boost for local content and the local production sector.

“Every dollar from today’s changes will be reinvested into our great Australian content and into continuing to enhance our services for viewers across all platforms.

“Recent financial results and announcements from across the Australian media industry clearly demonstrate that this is a sector under extreme competitive pressure from the foreign-owned tech media giants,” he said.

“A critical element of this holistic package is the removal of two of the current cross-media ownership rules: the two out of three rule and the 75% reach rule.

“These cross-media rules arbitrarily prevent Australian television, radio, and newspaper companies from operating across media platforms. They are stifling growth and costing jobs,” Mr Anderson said.

“Now that we have a holistic package, it is time for Parliament to get rid of these pre-internet rules to give Ten and other Australian companies a fair go against the foreign tech media giants whose dominance and influence is growing rapidly in Australia.

“This package is not just about Ten or free-to-air television. It is about ensuring that there is a future for Australian media companies – for local journalism, for Australian stories on screen and for a local production sector that provides jobs and training for thousands of Australians, many of whom go on to success on the global stage,” he said.
“Anyone who supports a future for Australian media companies must support this package and we call on the Parliament to pass these reforms urgently or risk losing local voices altogether.

“We welcome the review of the content rules also announced today. The rules need to be looked at in the context of the changing media landscape,” Mr Anderson said.

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47

Seven West Media Welcomes Media Package

Seven West Media has welcomed the Government’s package of media law changes announced earlier today by Communications Minister, Senator Mitch Fifield.

Seven West Media Chairman Kerry Stokes AC said: “I endorse the complete legislation package proposed by the Government, including licence fee reductions, media ownership changes, gambling advertising restrictions, anti- siphoning and the spectrum charge. It will give us a real opportunity to compete in the new media environment.I am pleased that the Turnbull Government is backing the Australian media industry through these reforms.”

Seven West Media CEO Tim Worner said: “Seven has maintained a consistent position since 2013 on the issue of media ownership changes. We have called for a broad reform package that will truly empower free-to-air broadcasters to meet the increasing pace of change that we are facing. We believe that the package announced by the Government today will go a long way to achieving that objective.

“In particular, we welcome the Government’s move to reduce television licence fees, which have been the single biggest regulatory impediment facing this industry for some time. Removing these outdated fees will allow us to invest in more and better local content and to transform our businesses for the future and we thank the Turnbull Government for taking this initiative.

“We support the proposed changes to the media ownership rules as part of the Government’s comprehensive package. We recognise that the changes we are witnessing in media consumption and delivery are challenging the traditional sector-based regulations that are currently in place and we call on the Senate to pass the bills currently before the Parliament,” Mr Worner said.

Seven also indicated its commitment to implement the package of gambling advertising restrictions announced by the Government, which will see gambling ads prohibited in live sport shown before 8.30pm including a 5 minute buffer before and after the event.

“The anti-siphoning list is still the best way to ensure that Australia’s iconic sporting events remain available live and free to all Australians. I am very pleased that significant events such as the AFL, Australian Open Tennis, Olympics and Commonwealth Games will remain on the list,” said Mr Worner.

“We look forward to working with the Government to deliver all the elements of the package announced today.”

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MEDIA RELEASE - NINE 2017 BUDGET

Nine today welcomed the package of media reform announced by the Federal Government.

Hugh Marks, Nine CEO, said: “Nine believes this total package tackles the various elements of media reform required for the industry to compete with global players in a rapidly changing media environment. We would encourage the parliament to pass all elements in their entirety.

“The move from licence fees to a spectrum use-based fee addresses the onerous and prohibitive charges we have been facing, at a time when our business is competing with global giants who have no such restrictions in our market.

“This decisive package is welcomed by Nine and we thank the Government for the foresight it shows in providing a more level playing field while removing outdated ownership rules to encourage innovation and investment in local content by us.”

Nine recognises the need for an overall reform to benefit all players in the market, and as such accepts the need for changes to the anti-siphoning list as part of the broader process, but welcomes the guarantees that Australians will continue to get their favourite sports including NRL, AFL and cricket live and free.

“Community calls for reform to gambling advertising is something we are very aware of and while it will cause our business a loss of revenue we will work with our partners to ensure compliance.

“Nine has always maintained that licence fees are the most important reform for our industry. Now that this is being addressed it is sensible to also address the outdated media ownership rules. The two-out-of-three ownership rule and 75 per cent reach rule are redundant and have been superseded by agreements such as Nine delivering regional news through our partner Southern Cross Austereo, and technology advances including streaming services such as 9Now.”

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Broadcasting reforms positive for Aussie content and local jobs

Free TV Australia today welcomed the Government’s comprehensive Broadcast and Content Reform Package.

“This package is crucial for Australian jobs and our ability to continue creating great local programming that is watched by millions of Australians every day. I congratulate the Government and Minister Fifield,” Free TV Chairman, Mr Harold Mitchell AC said today.

“Broadcasters must be able to effectively compete with the giant multinational media companies taking advertising dollars out of Australia. Our industry supports more than 15,000 jobs and invests
$1.5 billion each year in Australian content,” Mr Mitchell said.

The Government’s Broadcast and Content Reform Package abolishes the outdated licence fee and adopts a spectrum charge.

“Until today, Australia’s free-to-air broadcasters had been paying the highest licence fees in the world,” Mr Mitchell said.

“Repealing the 75% audience reach and cross media ownership rules is vital for Australian media companies to be able to compete in our modern media environment and we urge the Senate to support the legislation already in Parliament,” Mr Mitchell said.

As part of this package, broadcasters are committed to addressing community concerns regarding frequency of gambling advertising in live sport during children’s viewing hours. The industry will move to amend the Commercial Television Code of Practice to ban gambling ads in live sport before 8.30pm, and during a five minute buffer before and after the event.

“We welcome the Government’s recognition that any new restrictions must apply across all media platforms, including online, in order to be effective,” Mr Mitchell said.

The Government package also comprehensively addresses calls from the subscription television sector to revise the anti-siphoning list with the removal of several major events and the extension of the automatic delisting period to 26 weeks.

“The anti-siphoning list remains crucial for ensuring Australians can enjoy major sporting events for free,” Mr Mitchell said.

“A review of the Australian content rules is long overdue and we welcome the Government’s decision to conduct a root and branch review of the content ecosystem,” Mr Mitchell said.

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[quote=“Tim Worner (Seven West Media CEO)”]
Every dollar from today’s changes will be reinvested into our great Australian content and into continuing to enhance our services for viewers across all platforms…[/quote]

Am I being too skeptical in thinking that despite the sentiments said in the above quotes and the “sky is falling” notion we’ve heard by the commercial networks in campaigning for a licence fee cut, they won’t actually take a significant amount of the money they’ll save as a result of this package to create more local content?

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Of course not. And how is this $90 million shortfall in fees now going to be recovered? I’m tipping more “efficiency cuts” to ABC and SBS and then who knows where the rest will come from.

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More like paying off their debt instead. We didn’t come down in the last shower.

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Freeview Plus has received an upgrade to the user interface but it is much too slow to react to commands - practically useless at the moment IMO :thumbsdown: Also no sign of SC 9 in the guide.

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There is a suggested content section now with such useful tips in the “Live” section as 2 programs on shopping channels and 7.30 on both ABC and ABC HD - thanks for that!

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Also of note, it looks like SC9 channels appear in the 9 series in the guide - a bit confusing if the everything else on the TV, VCR etc uses 5xx.

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From FreeTV Australia

INTERIM RELIEF ON TV LICENCE FEES A WELCOME STEP

Free TV Australia welcomes today’s announcement from the Government for interim relieffrom the broadcast licence fees for 2016/2017.

The regulation announced by the Government today sees the abolition of the licence fee for 2016/2017.

“This provides welcome relief for our industry, which is challenged by increased competition from large multinational tech and media companies,” Free TV Chairman, Mr Harold Mitchell AC said today.

“In the internet age, it makes no sense to continue to impose the world’s highest licence fees when these foreign media tech companies pay nothing,” Mr Mitchell said.

Abolishing the broadcast licence fees and imposing a new spectrum charge are key components of the media reform package announced by the Government on 6 May 2017.

“Licence fee relief is critical for broadcasters to invest and transform their businesses. It is now up to the Senate to do its part in permanently replacing the licence fee with a spectrum charge.

“It is crucial for Australian jobs and our ability to continue creating great local programming that the Parliament passes the media reform package in August.

“If we are serious about diversity of Australian voices, we have got to get serious about comprehensive media reform. We cannot allow local media companies to continue being strangled by out-dated media ownership laws,” Mr Mitchell said.

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Statement from FreeTV

TV NETWORKS COMMITTED TO GREAT AUSTRALIAN CONTENT

Australia’s commercial free-to-air television broadcasters are committed to telling Australian stories that Australian audiences value and demand.

We need a strong local production sector to provide the talent, writers and technical professionals that sustain Australian story-telling and local voices on television.

Commercial free-to-air television broadcasters play a vital role in the ongoing sustainability of the local content eco-system, investing over $1.5 billion per annum in high quality Australian content.

We look forward to the Australian content review examining how today’s audiences are engaging with Australian content and how we can best reflect Australian identity, character and cultural diversity through the modern media environment now and into the future.

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Interesting to hear the suggestion yesterday to make overseas streaming services have a 30% Australian content quota and be forced to produce a certain amount of local content every year. Apparently this has already been looked at overseas and has been or is being implemented in some countries.

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New approach needed to secure the future of Australian content

Free TV Australia has called for a range of adjustments to quotas and financial incentives in its submission to the Government’s Australian and Children’s Screen Content Review.

“Some of our content regulations date back to the 1960s and most haven’t changed substantially for 15 years, despite the arrival of the Internet and subscription video on-demand services,” Ms Pamela Longstaff, Acting CEO, Free TV Australia said today.

“We need to move towards a system that is more relevant and flexible, and where networks are free to invest in the Australian content that today’s audiences want to watch,” she added.

Free TV’s key recommendations are for the government to remove quotas for commercial free-to-air broadcasters to deliver C (Children) and P (Preschool) content and for drama quotas to be made more flexible. The Producer Offset should also be increased to 40% for eligible TV production – as it is for film – and maintained after a series reaches 65 episodes.

Commercial free-to-air broadcasters are the largest producers of Australian content, spending$1.5 billion a year to create programming for almost 20 million weekly viewers. This news, sport, entertainment and other content provides extensive social and economic dividends.

Free TV’s submission notes how much viewing habits have changed. Audiences for children’s content and drama have fallen, while major event programming has become the dominant new avenue for telling Australian stories. People also watch more TV on demand.

“Our members need to be able to follow their audiences. This means changing requirements that are no longer delivering social outcomes and putting in place the right settings to generate new Australian content and keep our production ecosystem strong,” Ms Longstaff said.

Free TV has today also released detailed analysis of the viewing behaviour of Australian children aged 0-13: Changing Views; Australian Kids and Commercial Television. It shows children are primarily watching family entertainment programs rather than the C and P classified content specifically made for them on commercial free-to-air television.

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Basically remove regulations; trust us…
Never mind that the licence fee has been replaced by a smaller fee, the networks have many more channels (including ones that are 100% advertising; remember when ads were limited to <15 mn/h?), give us more, and more…

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Bridget Fair Appointed as CEO of Free TV Australia

Free TV Australia, the body which represents Australia’s commercial free to air television industry, today announced the appointment of Ms Bridget Fair as its Chief Executive Officer.

Ms Fair, who is currently Group Chief – Corporate and Regulatory Affairs at Seven West Media will start in her new position in February 2018. She will take over the role from Free TV Acting CEO, Pamela Longstaff who will complete her contract at the end of the year.

Commenting on Ms Fair’s appointment, Free TV Australia Chairman Harold Mitchell, AC said, “We are honoured such a well-regarded and talented professional has joined the organisation to lead it through its next chapter. Bridget has over 20 years’ experience in the industry, 17 of those with one of our members, Seven West Media. I’m confident that with energy and drive, Bridget will take Free TV into the new digital media world, navigating all its opportunities and challenges.”

Thanking Ms Longstaff, Mr Mitchell said, “We thank Pam who re-joined Free TV on a fixed-term contract as Acting CEO to lead the organisation through a critical juncture and to undertake an extensive review of our operations. Her time at the helm saw us close out media reform, secure the removal of licence fees and set Free TV on a course that will take the organisation into the future. We commend her on an outstanding job.”

Ms Longstaff said, ‘It has been a privilege to lead the industry through a period of historic media reform. I thank Free TV’s staff, congratulate Bridget and hand over with enormous confidence that the organisation is well placed to represent the industry into the future.’

On her new role, Ms Fair said, “Commercial free to air television has a special place in the hearts and homes of millions of Australians. It has unparalleled reach and influence despite the new multi- platform world we find ourselves in and I firmly believe it has a very strong future. I’m excited by the opportunity to lead this industry as we continue to innovate and evolve.”

I’m very much looking forward to working closely with Nine, Ten, Southern Cross Austereo, Prime and of course Seven West Media in representing FreeTV and its fundamentally important role in our
community.”

Bridget Fair Bio
Bridget Fair was appointed to the role of Group Chief – Corporate and Regulatory Affairs in February 2013 and was previously Head of Regulatory and Business Affairs with the Seven Network. Ms Fair has over 20 years’ experience in government relations, business strategy, corporate affairs and commercial negotiation. She joined Seven in 2000 and has previously held positions as General Counsel for SBS and legal counsel for the ABC as well as in private legal practice. Ms Fair holds Board positions at Freeview Australia Limited, Free TV Australia Limited and OzTAM Pty Ltd and is a former Chairman of Screenrights. Ms Fair is also a non-executive Director of iSelect Limited.

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Statement from Seven West Media

Bridget Fair Leaves Seven West Media to take up CEO Role at Free TV

Seven West Media has announced Ms Bridget Fair, Group Chief - Corporate and Regulatory Affairs, will resign from the group to become Chief Executive Officer of Free TV, effective 1 February 2018.

Chairman of Seven West Media, Mr Kerry Stokes, said “While we are sad to see Bridget leave us, we are delighted we will be able to continue to work with her in the very important role she is taking on at Free TV.

“I have enjoyed watching Bridget’s career evolve over the last 17 years with Seven to become the best regulatory executive in the country, with the recent media reforms a testament to her exceptional work”, he added.

Chief Executive Officer of Seven West Media, Mr Tim Worner, said “Bridget has been an outstanding member of our executive team and a passionate advocate for our company, not just in Canberra, but all over the country.

"I thank her for her unstinting dedication to our cause and look forward to continuing to work with her in her new role in which she will undoubtedly also excel. I feel certain many politicians and staffers in Canberra will have breathed a little easier once they learnt of Bridget’s resignation. Only to take that breath sharply back again once they realised that her legendary lobbying and negotiating skills were not being lost to free to air television”, he added.

Ms Fair said: “I have had an amazing career with Seven over the past 17 years and have had the chance to work with some of the best in the business. I am very grateful for the rewarding roles and opportunities I have been given during my time here and I am particularly pleased to be able to maintain a connection with Seven in my new role at FreeTV.”

Seven West Media will be appointing a replacement for Ms Fair in the near future.