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Introduction

On 4 December 2009, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, announced the release of the discussion paper, ‘Content and Access: The future of program standards and captioning requirements on digital television multi-channels’.

The discussion paper sought public comment on the standards (for children’s programs and Australian content) and captioning requirements that should apply to commercial digital television multi-channels.

Submissions closed on 31 December 2009. Nineteen submissions were made to the review from a variety of stakeholders, including the national broadcasters, organisations representing the commercial free-to-air and subscription broadcasters, organisations representing the hearing and vision impaired and advertising organisations. A complete list of submitters can be found at Appendix A. The submissions to the review have been published online on the Department of Broadband, Communication and the Digital Economy (the Department) website and can be accessed at http://www.dbcde.gov.au/multichannels.

Legislation

The Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (the Act) required the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy to cause to be conducted by 31 December 2009 a review of:

1. the operation of program standards and captioning rules applicable to standard definition and high definition multi-channel commercial television broadcasting services; and
2. whether program standards and captioning rules should be amended in relation to standard definition and high definition multi-channel commercial television broadcasting services.¹

The Act further requires the Minister to cause to be prepared a report of the review, copies of which must be laid before each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the report is completed.

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[1] Broadcasting Services Act 1992, Schedule 4, Clause 60C.

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