SYDNEY: The Australian regional media industry will face a shake up, if the Australian Labor Party is re-elected next month.
Changes could see the potential sale of Southern Cross and Paul Ramsay's Prime Media Group. The sale of the companies would be prompted by the removal of the 75% audience reach rule, which restricts free-to-air television companies from owning stations that reach more than 75% of the population.
The rule restricts the Seven Network and Network Ten to the mainland capital cities and prevents WIN Corp from adding to its TV interests. WIN owns Australia's largest regional TV network and the Nine Network stations in Adelaide and Perth.
If the rule was scrapped, it would pave the way for Network Ten to bid for Southern Cross, which is Ten's main regional affiliate and also owns a large regional radio network.
The potential removal of the rule was proposed by Commincations Minister Stephen Conroy who said it would be included in the government's "convergent media review".
The review will cover all media laws including ownership limits and local content rules. The review was largely driven by the establishment of the national broadband network.
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