The CEOs of the Seven, Nine and Ten networks will make a joint appearance at a Senate inquiry this morning to argue the importance of access to free TV for millions of Australians.
The commercial TV executives will appear today alongside Free TV's chair Greg Hywood and CEO Bridget Fair before the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee to call for the prominence and anti-siphoning bill to be strengthened.
The prominence framework concerns new laws that require manufacturers to provide free of charge: access to all TV channels provided by Australia’s free local networks; installation of all local TV apps in the first positions on home screens; and free local TV content first in search results and recommendations.
The anti-siphoning scheme stops pay television broadcasters from buying the rights to events on the anti-siphoning list unless free-to-air broadcasters have the right to televise the event.
On the prominence front, Free TV is calling for the bill to be changed to: reduce the implementation period from 18 months to a maximum of six months; extend the rules to existing TVs that receive software updates; ensure that viewers are presented with both free and paid options when searching for content; and require electronic TV guides to include local free TV services.
For the anti-siphoning section of the bill, Free TV is requesting that the government: require that both the free broadcast and free digital streaming rights be acquired by a free broadcaster before the event can be acquired by a pay TV or subscription streaming provider; and does not extend the automatic de-listing period from six to 12 months as many sporting events are acquired within this timeframe.
Fair says the government has rightly acknowledged that Australians’ access to free TV is under threat - but there are some crucial gaps in the bill.
“With just a few simple changes, it could become an excellent piece of legislation that fulfills its purpose and safeguards Australians’ access to free TV for years to come,” she says.
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au
Sign up to the AdNews newsletter, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day.