CANBERRA, Wednesday: As the NZ Government moves closer to specific financial measures to aid NZ’s news media amid the Covid crisis (including a scheme to bring forward future ad campaign payments) Australia’s Morrison Government has unveiled its own package of media-business measures.
B&T reports (scroll down for the link) that the measures include:
- Tax Relief – A 12-month waiver of spectrum tax for commercial television and radio broadcasters
- Investing in Regional Journalism – An A$50 million Public Interest News Gathering programme
- Short-Term Red Tape Relief – Emergency suspension of content quotas in 2020
- Harmonising Regulation to Support Australian Content – Release of an Options Paper developed by Screen Australia and the Australian Comm & Media Authority, commencing a fast-tracked consultation process on how best to support Australian stories on screens
Comms/Cyber Safety Minister Paul Fletcher said: “Broadcasters and newspapers face significant financial pressure and a sharp downturn in advertising revenue across the whole sector.
“Australia is acting to offer urgent short-term support to the media sector.”
“We are acting to offer urgent short-term support to the media sector. At the same time we are progressing our December 2019 commitment to consult on the future framework to support Australian stories on our screens.”
The Morrison Government will provide A$41 million in spectrum tax rebates, offering immediate financial relief to commercial television and radio broadcasters across Australia.
The new A$50 million Public Interest News Gathering programme will support public interest journalism delivered by commercial television, newspaper and radio businesses in regional Australia.
“The Government recognises that public interest journalism is essential in informing and strengthening local communities,” Fletcher said.
Covid-19 has effectively halted production of Australian screen content, making it impossible for free-to-air and subscription television businesses to meet Australian content obligations.
“NZ moves close to specific financial measures to aid our news media amid the Covid crisis – including a scheme to bring forward future ad campaign payments.”
“As an emergency red tape reduction measure, I have suspended Australian drama, children’s and documentary content obligations on free-to-air and subscription television for 2020. A decision will be taken before the end of this year as to whether this suspension should continue in 2021.
“It remains critically important that we have Australian voices on Australian TV, so there will be no change to the requirement for broadcasters to meet an overall 55% Australian content obligation,” Minister Fletcher said.
The Government is accelerating its work to determine the future extent of Australian content obligations on free-to-air television broadcasters, and whether these should apply to streaming services. This work is critical to the future of the culturally and economically important Australian film and television production sector.
“Regulated free-to-air broadcasters are competing with unregulated digital platforms and video streaming services,” Fletcher said. “It has been evident for some time – and the Covid-19 crisis has made it even more obvious – that this is not sustainable.”
- Read the full B&T story here
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