Media industry organisation Free TV Australia has called on the federal government to implement key recommendations from the ACCC’s Digital Platforms Inquiry Final Report.
Free TV CEO Bridget Fair says it is now the "time to act" on the recommendations of the ACCC's report on the behaviour of digital platforms.
“We are experiencing unprecedented disruption within the broadcast media industry because of the growing dominance of the largely unregulated digital platforms such as Google and Facebook," Fair says.
“While review processes around the world are revealing the problem, the Morrison Government has a chance to lead by implementing the solutions."
Fair reiterated her previous stance that reform of media regulations is "long overdue", particularly in areas such as Australian content quotas and advertising restrictions that she claims "penalise commercial Free TV broadcasters".
Free TV Australia is actively engaging with relevant stakeholders, as she says consultation needs to "start immediately" on the creation of a Code of Conduct governing how digital platforms must negotiate with media businesses.
"This is vital to address the unequal bargaining position between media businesses and the digital platforms," Fair says.
“The Digital Platforms Inquiry Final Report represents a golden opportunity for the Government to rein in these global monopolies, and at last create a truly level playing field for the benefit of all Australians."
The key comments in Free TV’s submission on the recommendations of the ACCC’s Final Report include:
- Harmonising the regulatory framework
- Commercial negotiation Code of Conduct
- Mandatory Standard for the takedown of illegal material
- Proactive support for competition and the prevention of anti-competitive conduct
- Broadening the regional and small publishers fund for news and journalistic content
- Increasing the accountability of the digital platforms
- Data and Privacy
In response to Free TV's submisssion, Network Ten CEO Paul Anderson says the media landscape continues to be "disrupted at an enormous pace" and that these rules need to be updated, before "it's too late".
“In the interests of every Australian, we need to urgently bring about fairer local content rules. We also need much closer scrutiny of the advertising and data practices of digital platforms so that every media company can compete," Anderson says.
“The ACCC report is a roadmap to a more level playing field between the free to view networks and the ever-growing number of online content providers.
"To continue to provide Australians with the home-grown content they actually want, in a way that’s accessible across the platforms they use, we need local content rules that are fairer and more flexible."
Seven West Media CEO James Warburton says the Digital Platforms Inquiry process has shown is what [the industry] has "known all along", that regulation has not "kept pace" with technology and the foreign owned platforms have been given a "free kick for too long".
“Foreign digital platforms are almost entirely without rules and urgent action is needed to remedy the regulatory disparity that is holding Australian companies back and has given digital platforms a free ride off the back of our content investment - all while they aren’t paying their fair share of tax and take no social responsibility," Warburton says.
“These platforms do not invest in quality Australian content and are not subject to the controls and rules we must adhere to, creating an uneven playing field."
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