You’d think after the mess with Nine trying to push them around and try and keep 2CH/2UE/2GB, the ACMA might be a bit prepared and proactive in enforcing these changes.
WA markets with literally 2 media voices is an unacceptable situation - especially when one of those is WIN with no requirements for local content. There’s no reason to think that a legislation change would be forthcoming which would basically remove our one remaining decent media diversity law.
I would be okay if they successfully argued in those cases like Mt Isa - where media diversity hasn’t in practice changed - that the voices are the same number as they were in 2024. But in Mildura and regional WA, those are active reductions in voices.
One possible fix in locations where there is no frequency congestion is allow SCM to keep their radio stations and issue another commercial licence - there would likely be takers either from other established broadcasters outside that market or even local bussinesses. You only need to support a couple of staff nowadays to run a commercial radio station.
As an aside, there has been some press about the possible Nine Radio sale - these conglomerates and their big head office overheads(HR, regulatory, C suite salaries etc) kill a lot of the small businesses they absorb. It has happened also in retail with companies like Mosaic Brands even though some of their retail outlets were very profitable.
With SCA’s merger with Seven, who would have ever thought TV stations would ever be worth less than radio stations?
Yes.. But SCA wouldnt want that either and neither would ACMA and I doubt the markets we are talking about could support it
Thats been the case for 10 years and TV industry is partially to blame for their own death
Death Spiral… Less viewers = more cheap/shit programming = Less Viewer = More cheaper/shit programming and so on.
Yes and that death spiral was helped along by some of the previous owners and managers - many were from places like the regional TV monopolies and the old capital city duopoly where $$$ were easy and staff that had been ill treated were not able to set up a rival business. Of course the viewers didn’t matter to those rogues either. Sadly most of the rogues got their bonus’ and retired to the beach.