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Cash back for Aus broadcasters
Rose Major ©RapidTVNews | 07-02-2010
Australia’s federal government has reportedly agreed to give the country’s three commercial networks rebates on their licence fees for the next two years, should they meet domestic content quotas.
The networks, Seven, Nine and Ten, will get 33% of their A$287 million back for this financial year, some A$95 million. And 50% will be returned to them next year, or A$144 million. Commercial networks must broadcast 55% domestic content between 6am and midnight.
With broadcasters facing extra costs as they build up their digital portfolios – all launched new digital-only services in 2009 – the government wants to support the continued production of domestic content.
A release from the Communications Minister Senator Stephen Conroy will reportdly say: “''[Broadcasters] are faced with a converging media environment and [the] switch to digital television, as well as the impact on revenue created by a decline in advertising spend as a result of the global financial crisis. The government recognises that the commercial broadcasters will require assistance to maintain Australian content production, while investing in a new delivery platform.''
The move appears to have cross-party support.
© Rapid TV News 2010
