Networks welcome licence fee relief
The govt has abolished the licence fee for 2016 / 2017, ahead of the media reform's new 'spectrum fee.'
- Published by David Knox
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- Filed under News
Free to air lobby group Free TV Australia has welcomed today’s announcement from the Government for interim relief from the broadcast licence fees.
The regulation announced by the Government today sees the abolition of the licence fee for 2016/2017.
“This provides welcome relief for our industry, which is challenged by increased competition from large multinational tech and media companies,” Free TV Chairman, Harold Mitchell said today.
“In the internet age, it makes no sense to continue to impose the world’s highest licence fees when these foreign media tech companies pay nothing.”
A new spectrum charge is due to be approved in the the media reform package which is awaiting passage by the Senate.
“Licence fee relief is critical for broadcasters to invest and transform their businesses. It is now up to the Senate to do its part in permanently replacing the licence fee with a spectrum charge,” he said.
“It is crucial for Australian jobs and our ability to continue creating great local programming that the Parliament passes the media reform package in August.”
3 Responses
“…when these foreign media tech companies pay nothing.”
They pay nothing to have exclusive use of public RF spectrum because they don’t use any. Nothing stopping the FTA commercial networks from charging people $10 a month to watch their programs over the internet but they’d rather stay in 1996 and hold out their begging bowl.
The spectrum fee better be higher than the licence fee, otherwise Australia is being ripped off.
‘Its now up to the Senate’ is a moot point.