Radio industry calls for overhaul of prominence and anti-siphoning bill

Finding radio stations has become increasingly difficult on new technology prompting the radio sector to make a last-ditch plea to have a proposed Bill amended.

KIIS 106.5 radio hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson.

The commercial radio industry has made an urgent plea for changes to a parliamentary bill to ensure Australians can access and listen to their favourite stations more easily.

The peak industry body representing the radio sector, Commercial Radio & Audio, has made a submission to the senate committee working on the Communications Legislation Amendment (Prominence and Anti-Siphoning) Bill, requesting that it be amended to include radio.

CRA chief executive officer Ford Ennals said it was not too late to make changes to the bill that currently focuses on the TV industry, arguing that it should be broadened out to include the radio sector. “We’re very supportive of what TV and the government are doing to protect local Australian content on smart TVs but we feel very strongly that it should be extended to local radio services,” he said.

The submission by CRA — which has 261 member stations nationally — states there should be no cost to radio broadcasters to have radio easily discoverable on smart speakers and connected car entertainment systems, and also calls for restrictions on platform operators.

Mr Ennals said unless radio was included in the bill “then a window of opportunity for this important reform would be lost.” The CRA submission suggests that Britain’ s Media Bill, which is expected to become law in the coming months, should be used as a model in Australia.

Commercial Radio & Audio chief executive officer Ford Ennals.

A spokesman for Communications Minister Michelle Rowland told The Australian the government had not committed to amending the existing bill.

“Both television and radio are important forms of broadcasting that keep Australians entertained, connected and informed,” he said. “The government is preparing a separate public consultation on radio prominence this year, because the principle that Australians should be able to easily access local services holds true for radio as it does for television. The government’s bill introduced in 2023 focuses on prominence for local television services only.”

One of the biggest barriers facing the radio industry is that in some newer vehicles which allow streaming, the cars only have screens with no buttons, making it difficult to locate radio services.

“We know that motorists have problems finding their local Australian radio and in many cases it’s not on the first menu,” Mr Ennals said. “Our view is very clear, radio has to be on the front home menu and provide clear options for listeners, it can’t be buried.”

Under the existing bill, within the next 18 months TV manufacturers will be forced to ensure that apps for free-to-air Australian services are put on smart TVs first.