Moves to introduce prominence regulation on smart TVs met with serious concerns from industry
The Labor government’s move to take control of how Australians view content on their smart TVs has been met with significant pushback from within the media industry.
The federal government’s push to have greater control over what Australian viewers can watch on new TV sets is being met with serious concern from the media industry ahead of a new prominence bill being finalised.
The peak body representing the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association (ASTRA) launched a public campaign on Monday warning Australians of the potential risks involved if the government has control of a person’s TV.
The federal government received submissions earlier this year for a framework to ensure that Australian TV services are able to be easily found on connected TV devices, however the proposed changes could see taxpayer-funded broadcasters including the ABC and SBS given increased prominence ahead of other commercial TV outlets on their smart TVs.
Foxtel Group chief executive officer Patrick Delany told The Australian the proposed changes by the federal government – which are yet to be finalised – could result in viewers being dictated to on how they can search for content, including services that they pay for.
“This is a hugely emotional issue for Australians who treasure time spent in front of the TVs they spend their hard-earned money on,” Mr Delany said.
“Pay TV and streaming has become an equal part of the diet in addition to free TV – there is no way Australians will be told what to watch or how to search for content. It is an invasion of the living room.”
In the ads across print and on social media on Monday ASTRA said: “Don’t let the government tell you what to watch or limit your search results.
“You wouldn’t allow it on your phone. It’s your TV.
“It’s your living room.
“The choice should be yours.”
Foxtel is 65 per cent owned by News Corp, publisher of The Australian.
The peak body representing free-to-air broadcasters, Free TV Australia, is pushing prominence legislation to ensure their apps are given priority including their channels, BVOD (broadcast viewing on demand) services and content on smart TVs.
This includes ABC iview, SBS on Demand, 7plus, 9now and 10play.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said the government is still working on an “election commitment to legislate a prominence framework for smart TVs in Australia”.
“The government wants to ensure Australians can readily access the local TV services they rely on for Australian content, sporting events and news and emergency information,” she said.
“The prominence framework is intended to ensure this continues to be the case.”
Ms Rowland also said the media landscape had undergone dramatic change over the past decade and she stood by the move to implement a prominence framework.
“This is a priority reform and we’re working towards the introduction of a bill as soon as practicable,” she said.
Despite this, an ASTRA spokeswoman said there were serious concerns about the government’s moves to introduce new prominence legislation.
“Millions of Australians rely on subscription TV services and we are very concerned that the government could take control of what and how these Australians watch their TVs with new prominence legislation,” she said.
“ASTRA has a responsibility to protect Australia’s right to decide how they watch their content and that the shows and apps they love and subscribe to remain accessible to them. “This campaign intends to raise awareness of this issue and galvanise Australians who love their TVs and the content they pay for to act now.”
Mr Delany likened the change to prominence of apps on smart TVs to having control over how a person accesses apps on their smartphone.
“Australians would be shocked if the order of their apps were controlled on their mobile phones and their ability to search was altered,” he said.
“We will fight for this right for Australian consumers.”
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