ACMA investigates local access to regional content
Amid continuing speculation that parliament may move to repeal restrictions around audience reach for broadcasters the media watchdog, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, has launched an investigation into local regional television content.
The investigation, which was commissioned shortly before Stephen Conroy resigned as communications minister, will look at whether regional Australians have sufficient access to material of local significance on commercial TV.
Kathleen Silleri, executive manager in the content and consumer branch at the ACMA, said that while the ‘reach rule’, which limits broadcasters to an audience reach of no more than 75 per cent of the Australian population, may be a concern for government. The inquiry was sparked by concerns about the lack of local content.
“A number of members of parliament have been concerned that regional Australians were missing out on local news and, following discussion in parliament, the minister committed to looking at the issue,” said Silleri.
The ACMA said the inquiry would focus on what people in regional areas are viewing and where they are getting news from, particularly in the wake of the closure and consolidation of some local TV newsrooms in regional South Australian and New South Wales in recent years.
“(The reach rule) may well be part of the government’s thinking but from the ACMA’s perspective, we’re solely looking at where regional Australians get their local information and recognising that in the time since this was last looked at, there are a lot more sources of information,” said Silleri. “However, it may well be that this hasn’t changed things and people still want to get their 6pm commercial TV bulletin or it may be that they are getting it from the ABC, online or print.”
The ACMA has six months to conduct the investigation and has published a consultation paper calling for submissions from Australian living in regional areas.
Nic Christensen
This story first appeared in the weekly edition of Encore available for iPad and Android tablets. Visit encore.com.au for a preview of the app or click below to download.
