‘My government has got your back and we will not give in to the platforms’: Albo tells TV networks he’s picked a side
Prime minister Anthony Albanese has assured Australia’s TV networks that the government will stand up for them in their battle with the global platforms.
Albanese told TV execs he will not cave to platform pressure
Speaking at a showcase event held at Parliament House in Canberra last night, Albanese told the room full of free-to-air TV executives: “My government has your back. We will not give in to some of the platforms when the pressure comes on, which it will, over everything from the Media Bargaining Code to other things including positioning when people turn on their TVs, anti-siphoning laws.”
By contrast, the platforms’ relationships with the Australian government are at a low point. In late 2023, Meta announced it was withdrawing from the deals it made under the shadow of the News Media Bargaining Code. And last month Google axed a YouTube lobbying event in what looked like a fit of pique on the day it was due to be held in Canberra, after learning the platform would be included in the new age gating laws.
Meanwhile, the news industry has been waiting for the last nine months to hear details of the Albanese government’s plan to introduce a News Bargaining Incentive, with platforms to face a digital levy which could be offset against any deals they do with local news providers.
The TV industry’s five asks for the government
Guests at the function left with a gift bag. As well as containing an Australian Survivor buff, Home and Away Beach towel and The Block branded tape measure, it contained a shopping list of the TV industry’s five key policy requests:
- To no longer have to pay to access public broadcast spectrum
- To revisit the updated anti-siphoning legislation
- More help for regional broadcasting
- Ensuring any betting ad bans apply to all media, and that broadcasters get extra financial assistance
- A new tax policy offering media companies a tax perk for news jobs
Communications minister Annika Wells, who also spoke at the event, was asked by Mumbrella about three of the industry’s requests around reducing the licence fee, revisiting the anti-siphoning law and getting on with the News Bargaining Incentive. She told Mumbrella: “I’m pleased to say we’re working on all these things.”
Wells told Mumbrella she is working on the Free TV agenda
However, Wells said yesterday that she did not have a timeline for when details of the News Bargaining Incentive would be shared. The policy – which was announced before Donald Trump retook the White House – is politically sensitive because it would involve a digital levy.
Last week Trump posted: “I will stand up to Countries that attack our incredible American Tech Companies. Digital Taxes, Digital Services Legislation, and Digital Markets Regulations are all designed to harm, or discriminate against, American Technology. They also, outrageously, give a complete pass to China’s largest Tech Companies. This must end, and end NOW! With this TRUTH, I put all Countries with Digital Taxes, Legislation, Rules, or Regulations, on notice that unless these discriminatory actions are removed, I, as President of the United States, will impose substantial additional Tariffs on that Country’s Exports to the U.S.A., and institute Export restrictions on our Highly Protected Technology and Chips. America, and American Technology Companies, are neither the “piggy bank” nor the “doormat” of the World any longer. Show respect to America and our amazing Tech Companies or, consider the consequences! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
The bosses of all the main free to air players attended the event.
Beverley McGarvey, president of Network Ten owner Paramount, told Mumbrella: “It’s critically important for all of us that we get the support we need to make the level of news that we all make. In order to do that the industry needs to continue to be viable. We want the government to work with us on that.”
Joining the lobbying efforts. L to R: Free TV boss Bridget Fair; WIN boss Andrew Lancaster; McGarvey; Albanese; Stanton and Howard
Nine boss Matt Stanton told Mumbrella: “We’re looking for support from the government to continue with Australian content.”
Seven West Media CEO Jeff Howard, who said he has been talking to Wells regularly, told Mumbrella that he believes the government will soon move forward on its stalled attempts to reform the rules around betting ads. He said: “Wagering is probably the first thing on the agenda. Certainty would be good. It’s one of the things the government is spending time on, so it’s probably one of the first things they will try to resolve.”
It’s outrageous that the government gets to decide how a sporting code commercialises it’s product. Even as a consumer, I hope Netflix or Prime pony up over market price to put an end to this madness.
These anti syphoning laws allow for corruption.
It’s hard to say what I’m less impressed by these days: the absolute nothing news stories and rubbish content on commercial TV, or the churn of clickbait headlines on the mainstream press.
Obviously, we do need to protect our local media, but I’m much more intent on our public broadcasters being supported financially than the News Corps and Nines who offer so little of value.
It’s high time the government got out of the ‘business’ of “business”
It’s understandable the government wants to safeguard Australian content and journalism, but protecting the past won’t secure the future. Australians are some of the most connected audiences in the world, and ad budgets follow where audiences go increasingly to on-demand platforms. Linear TV isn’t losing relevance because of unfair competition, it’s because consumer behaviour has fundamentally shifted.
Platforms have invested billions in tech, user experience, and content ecosystems to meet those expectations. The smarter move would be supporting broadcasters to modernise their digital products and compete on equal footing, perhaps through a government backed innovation fund for digital broadcasting, rather than relying on spectrum handouts or anti-siphoning tweaks.
How exciting genuine leadership in our countries best interests within our industry congrats all