The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has found Prime Television (Victoria) Pty Limited, a licensee of the Seven Network, in breach of the local content rules.
Seven has not broadcast any local content in Mildura during the 16-month period since it has had a regulatory obligation to do so.
The requirement for Seven to provide local content in the Mildura area was triggered when Seven acquired the Prime regional television network in December 2021. The local content rules began to apply to the Mildura service and to former Prime services acquired by Seven in other regional markets from July 2022. This was the first time these rules were triggered following a network acquisition. Seven met the local content requirement for its television services in seven other regional markets.
Under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, regional commercial TV licensees must broadcast a minimum amount of local news or other material of local significance. Seven is obliged to provide 100 minutes of local content or 50 minutes of local news per week as a condition of its licence to broadcast TV in the Mildura area.
ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin said local content is hugely important for regional audiences.
“Regional television audiences are entitled to content that is meaningful to their local area and, in the case of Mildura and its surrounding areas, Seven has let its viewers down.”
“This is especially disappointing given a network of Seven’s size and sophistication should have been on top of and meeting its regulatory obligations.”
“The period of non-compliance has remained unresolved for more than a year, to the detriment of local residents in and around Mildura,” Ms O’Loughlin said.
Non-compliance was discovered by the ACMA after reviewing compliance reports submitted by Seven.
Following this breach by Seven, the ACMA has accepted a court enforceable undertaking from the licensee, requiring it to
Do we think it will be just the bare minimum news updates for that area, or another “bulletin” with local stories out of Canberra with Madelaine and Nick?
Seven has also responded to ACMA’s press release, according to Mediaweek:
The breach now identified by ACMA arose out of a miscommunication, compounded by having two different types of broadcast licence in Mildura, one of which is exempt from local programming requirements.
There was previously no requirement for local content in the Mildura/Sunraysia licence area, whereas all other ‘trigger events’ (that is, following Seven’s acquisition of Prime in 2022) impacted markets that had existing local programming obligations. All other Prime licence areas met the increased local programming obligations.
Seven has confirmed they are recruiting a journalist to produce news for Mildura/Sunraysia.
They should have to make up the hours - the punishment just being “follow the rules” is hardly appropriate.
The breach now identified by ACMA arose out of a miscommunication, compounded by having two different types of broadcast licence in Mildura, one of which is exempt from local programming requirements.
If I can work out how their licenses work - they have no excuses. It was extremely clear in the legislation, and you’d think reading that over before acquiring a regional TV network would be worth it.
When the local content rules were updated, it should’ve been written in that post-trigger content also needs to be provided in a program format, not as short noodle updates in ad breaks.
Have you seen them? Poor quality and presentation, looks like high school students presenting them. I guess a time quota is just that, nothing stated about quality.