Regulations on convergent media to be reviewed by the government says Conroy

During the roll out of its National Broadband Network and its overseeing of a digital-only broadcasting switch the federal government has announced that it will be carrying out a full review of its regulation on convergent media.

As well as the increase in the number of TV channels that will be created by the move over to digital broadcasting the NBN would be a “game changer” for screen producers in Australia according to an address given by the Communications Minister Stephen Conroy to the Screen Producers Association recently.

An assessment, which will be as a response to the changes, of whether regulator settings will “remain relevant” for audiovisual content that will also include programming in Australia according to Senator Minchin.

Senator Conroy said “Consideration of these issues is extremely important if we are to maximise the cultural and social benefits of digital television and the NBN, as well as the economic ones.”

The delivery of programs over the  internet currently has no requirements regarding content in Australia that specifically applies to this media said Conroy.

Conroy went on to say “The challenge facing the government, and indeed creators and distributors, is how to ensure that quality Australian stories are widely available in the future. I can assure you the government has no desire to see Australian cultural content swamped by a massive influx of cheap, overseas programming.”

With a timetable for the transition now firmly established Senator Conroy also said that December 31st 2013 was the date that had been set for the switch to digital only broadcasting throughout Australia.

Mildura and the Sunraysia district of Victoria will initially be leading the switchover with the analog services turned off by 30th June 2010 and Conroy advised that the switchover dates would be formally registered by the government.

Source – Business Spectator