Overview

The media regulatory landscape in Australia could be set for a substantial overhaul. The first draft recommendations of the Convergence Review Committee were made public yesterday with the release of an Interim Report confirming the Committee's preference for a new direction in regulatory structure and approach. Headline recommendations include:

• replacing the ACMA with a new regulator with broader rule making and enforcement powers;


• the replacement of many of the existing cross-media ownership restrictions with a more discretionary "public interest" test for M&A transactions in the media space and an amended "diversity of voices" test;


• the removal of the licensing structure for radio and television broadcast content; and


• the expansion of key regulatory policies (including eligible content spend obligations) beyond traditional broadcasters to also cover certain online content providers.

In this briefing, Baker & McKenzie outlines what the above recommendations would mean for media organisations, the interim report's next steps, key reform proposals for restructuring; and the changes to obligations for broadcasting services.

Click 'View Briefing' to read on.