Court image from Beth June,
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has found Prime Television Victoria, a licensee of the Seven Network, in breach of the local content rules.
Seven has not broadcast any local content in Mildura during the 16-month period since it has had a regulatory obligation to do so.
Seven is obliged to provide 100 minutes of local content or 50 minutes of local news per week as a condition of its licence to broadcast TV in the Mildura area.
The requirement for Seven to provide local content in the Mildura area was triggered when Seven acquired the Prime regional television network in December 2021, this was the first time these rules were triggered following a network acquisition.
Seven met the local content requirement for its television services in seven other regional markets.
A statement from Seven said the network is hiring one journalist for the Mildura/Sunraysia licence area.
"The breach now identified by ACMA arose out of a miscommunication, compounded by having two different types of broadcast licence in Mildura, one of which is exempt from local programming requirements. Seven is now recruiting a journalist to produce news for Mildura/Sunraysia," the statement said.
"There was previously no requirement for local content in the Mildura/Sunraysia licence area, whereas all other 'trigger events' (that is, following Seven’s acquisition of Prime in 2022) impacted markets that had existing local programming obligations. All other Prime licence areas met the increased local programming obligations."
Nerida O’Loughlin, ACMA chair, said local content is hugely important for regional audiences.
“Regional television audiences are entitled to content that is meaningful to their local area and, in the case of Mildura and its surrounding areas, Seven has let its viewers down," O’Loughlin said.
“This is especially disappointing given a network of Seven’s size and sophistication should have been on top of and meeting its regulatory obligations.”
“The period of non-compliance has remained unresolved for more than a year, to the detriment of local residents in and around Mildura."
Non-compliance was discovered by the ACMA after reviewing compliance reports submitted by Seven.
Following this breach by Seven, the ACMA has accepted a court enforceable undertaking from the licensee, requiring it to take steps to begin complying with the local content rules by no later than 4 February 2024.
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au
Sign up to the AdNews newsletter, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day.
Seven breaches local content rules - AdNews
Read More
No comments:
Post a Comment