Dalton calls for web TV controls

26Jun08

Source: Simon Canning, The Australian

ABC television chief Kim Dalton has called on the federal Government to extend Australia’s TV content standards to web-based video, a move that would greatly increase government regulation of the internet.

But Mr Dalton will argue in a speech at the CCI International Conference in Brisbane today that with more TV being delivered through broadband internet services there is a risk of our culture being lost under a tide of cheap-to-access overseas programming.

He warns that unless urgent moves are taken, Australian content could be wiped from the new broadcasting landscape in as little as five or 10 years.

"Consumers are demanding more extensive online, video-based entertainment," he says in the speech. "The business model here favours cheap, foreign video content and … online content is putting pressure on established business models.

"It is likely that existing regulatory arrangements to deliver local drama, documentaries, comedy, children’s, news, current affairs and other programming may have diminishing effects on the market as the existing business models of broadcasters are challenged and the content offered becomes, increasingly, foreign.

"It is time to reassess and reshape the Australian content policy
framework.

"By making new connections between the previously distinct fields of
communications, media and cultural policy, the Government can address
the issue ofensuring Australian content ismade available in the digital
environment."

Mr Dalton says our existing content policies, which for example require
55 per cent of all programs broadcast on free-to-air TV between 6pm and
midnight to be Australian, were first drafted in the early 1960s and
are out of touch with the multimedia environment of the 21st century.

"In my view the availability of Australian content in these many forms
in the broadband environment is a key policy challenge for the Rudd
Government," he says.
"We are living with a policy framework designed for the analog world
that is no longer fit for purpose. As consumers we are embracing
convergence across terrestrial broadcasting, satellite, cable,
broadband and mobile. We are the ‘what, when and how we want it’
generation.

"Yet, as we engage with these unlimited options and choices, our analog
policy framework is letting us down and in fact is arguably putting at
risk a fundamental social and cultural choice: availability of Aus-
tralian content."

Although Mr Dalton admits regulating the online industry is
problematic, the Government has shown it is capable of such regulation
in the areas of online gambling and pornography.
Ahead of delivering the speech Mr Dalton told The Australian the
failure to protect the Australian culture in the online environment
could have wide implications in as little as five years.

"There needs to be a policy response if we are not to wake up in five
or 10 years and a whole generation is no longer able to partake in
Australian culture," he said. "What we know is that market forces will
not deliver that content."

Mr Dalton denied a call for government regulation to preserve
Australian culture on broadband platforms was an attempt to hold back
the tide, saying policy-makers in Europe and North America were working
to make sure their cultures were not being undermined by the
globalisation of content.

He highlighted Canada’s solution, with its Government proposing a range
of options such as directly regulating broadband content, with new
media or multi-platform distribution requirements as part of licence
obligations, including new media explicitly in trade agreements and
even developing terms of trade between portals, ISPs and content
developers.

It even goes so far as to suggest making the promotion of Canadian new
media content a regulatory obligation for Canadian broadcasters.

And in Britain, the regulator Ofcom recently said the emerging new
media structure would not be able to deliver the existing levels and
diversity of British content.

"I think we are running a real risk over time with an important part of
our culture," Mr Dalton said.

At the same time, he said the ABC could
become a test bed for innovation in content creation, delivery and
development by providing a space where Australian culture would
continue to thrive.

"What jumps out immediately are the possibilities in collaboration,
mentoring, training, accessing the latest technologies, making
connections throughout Australia and linking with local communities,"
he said.
"(And) by providing multiple national digital platforms for Australia’s
digital content creators, innovators, artists and arts organisations
… the ABC can facilitate innovation and encourage entrepreneurial
initiatives."

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