Labor signals support for licence fee cuts
Good news for TV execs gathering in Canberra tonight to celebrate 60 Years of Australian TV.
- Published by David Knox
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Good news for Free to Air execs who are gathering in Canberra tonight with Labor signalling it will support legislation to reduce licensing fees by $163.6 million.
The Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Television and Radio Licence Fees) Bill will grant a 25% reduction in the licence fees payable by the commercial television and radio broadcasters.
It follows ongoing lobbying by network execs, who recently met PM Malcolm Turnbull, and Free TV Australia.
Screen Producers Australia has previously called upon licence reductions be tied to further investment in local content. Seven CEO Tim Worner has previously said, “We have things that are parked waiting at an amber light. We just do not have the money to fund them.”
Pay TV lobby ASTRA has been against any reforms that do not include changes to the anti-siphoning list.
Tonight television execs gather at Parliament House for a formal celebration marking 60 Years of Australian TV.
Source: News Corp
3 Responses
If the reduction in fees does happen, you will be guaranteed there will be an “out” clause when it comes to new production. After all networks can be trusted right. Right.
It’s all well and good to give a fee reduction but what will the end result be for viewers. The increased advertising content broadcast by FTA TV to bolster it’s flagging bottom line will not help their ratings or stop video streaming being the primary choice of viewer content in the near future.
If the savings go into local content there will be benefit to viewers, as well as jobs kept. But that requires that the monies don’t go into shareholder backpockets.