Lexi Webster
Australia's media landscape is characterised by a mix of publicly funded, commercial, and community media outlets. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) are the two taxpayer-funded networks serving the public interest. While these networks are owned by the federal government, they are protected by legislation that ensures their editorial independence. Australia's media ownership concentration is considered one of the highest in the world, with a handful of corporations and family interests, such as the Murdochs and Fairfax, controlling a significant portion of the industry. The country also has a free and diverse press, ranking within the top 40 countries on the World Press Freedom Index.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Media organisations | Government, Commercial, Community |
| Government-owned media | Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Special Broadcasting Corporation (SBS) |
| ABC's editorial independence | Enshrined in legislation |
| ABC's mandate | Maintain an "independent national broadcasting service" |
| ABC's advertising restrictions | Prohibited from broadcasting advertisements |
| SBS's mandate | Maintain the "independence and integrity" of the organisation |
| Foreign ownership restrictions | Removed for broadcasting TV licenses |
| Cross-media ownership rules | Ownership of two out of three media types allowed |
| Media ownership concentration | One of the highest in the world |
| Press freedom ranking | In the top 40 countries |
| Media outlets | Privately-owned commercial media, sponsored community networks |
| Public broadcasters | Accountable to the community that funds them |
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What You'll Learn
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and Special Broadcasting Corporation (SBS)
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Special Broadcasting Corporation (also known as the Special Broadcasting Service) (SBS) are both owned by the federal government. However, the independence of these organisations is protected by legislation, meaning that the government does not have the power to control content or editorial policy. For example, the ABC's editorial independence is enshrined in legislation, with the act specifying that the ABC must maintain an "independent national broadcasting service". The ABC is also prohibited from broadcasting advertisements to ensure it maintains independence from commercial interests.
The SBS was created in 1977 as an independent statutory authority for ethnic broadcasting. It formally came into existence in 1978 as a radio network, with oversight of two existing stations, 2EA and 3EA. SBS now operates six TV channels and seven radio networks, providing multilingual and multicultural content that reflects Australia's multicultural society.
The ABC operates four national radio news networks, 53 local news stations, and several digital radio stations. It also has a television service, which is accessible to almost all Australians and broadcasts state and national news, weather, emergency warnings, and entertainment.
Both ABC and SBS are public service broadcasters funded by tax revenue. They are accountable to the community that funds them, rather than commercial sponsors.
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Foreign ownership restrictions
However, in 2007, under the Howard government and Communications Minister Helen Coonan, the foreign ownership limits were scrapped, along with changes to cross-media ownership rules. This move was intended to improve transparency regarding foreign investment in Australian media companies.
In 2018, the Australian government introduced the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Foreign Media Ownership, Community Radio, and Other Measures) Act 2018 (Cth) or the Registration Act. This Act requires any foreign person or entity with an interest of 2.5% or more in an Australian media company to notify the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). ACMA is responsible for maintaining the Register of Foreign Owners of Media Assets, which includes information about foreign stakeholders, their interests, and details on how these interests were determined.
The introduction of the foreign ownership register was negotiated by One Nation as a condition for supporting broader media ownership reforms. The new rules apply through amendments to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, ensuring that the Australian public has transparent information about foreign ownership in their media companies.
It is important to note that these regulations do not grant the government control over media content or editorial policies, even in government-owned media outlets. Australia's publicly funded media outlets are independent, and their editorial independence is protected by legislation.
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Media concentration and ownership
The Australian media landscape is characterised by a mix of publicly funded and privately owned entities. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) are two taxpayer-funded networks that serve the public interest and are owned by the federal government. However, their editorial independence is protected by legislation, ensuring they are free from government control over content or editorial policy.
In contrast to the publicly funded media, Australia also has a diverse range of commercial and community media outlets. Commercial media organisations are privately owned and driven by profit and ratings. They cater to the interests of their commercial sponsors and compete with each other for exclusive pop culture news. An example of a commercial media organisation is Rural and Regional Media, which is dominated by Australian Community Media and has significant holdings in all states and territories.
Community media organisations, on the other hand, are funded by a combination of government grants, membership fees, and advertising revenue. Content creation is often done by unpaid volunteers. Channel 31, broadcasting in major cities like Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney, is an example of a community television station.
While Australia enjoys a relatively free and diverse media environment, concerns have been raised about the concentration of media ownership. In 2016, Shadow Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland stated that Australia's level of media ownership concentration was among the highest in the world. This concentration is particularly evident in the newspaper industry, with News Corporation and Fairfax Media dominating the ownership of national and capital city newspapers. The country's ranking on the World Press Freedom Index has improved over time, moving up to 19th place in 2018.
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Press freedom
Freedom of the press and a diverse media landscape are fundamental pillars of democracy. Although the Australian Constitution does not guarantee press freedom, the country ranks in the top 40 countries on the World Press Freedom Index.
In Australia, there are three types of media organisations: government, commercial, and community. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) are government-owned media organisations. Although publicly funded media receives money from the government, it differs from the state-controlled media found in other countries. The Australian government does not have direct control over public broadcasters or their content and editorial policies. The ABC's editorial independence is enshrined in legislation, which specifies that the ABC must maintain an "independent national broadcasting service". The ABC is also prohibited from broadcasting advertisements to ensure its independence from commercial interests. The SBS's board has a similar responsibility to maintain the "independence and integrity" of the organisation.
Community media organisations are funded by the government, membership fees, and advertising. Content is usually created by unpaid volunteers. An example of a community media organisation is Channel 31, which broadcasts in several Australian cities.
Commercial media organisations are privately owned and compete to make profits through advertising and program sales. Some of the main media owners in Australia include the Murdochs, Fairfax, Kerry Stokes, James Packer, and the Gordons.
In the early 2000s, there was a heated debate over a Bill that would have removed foreign ownership restrictions on broadcasting TV licenses. Ultimately, the Keating government retained the foreign-ownership restrictions in its 1992 Broadcasting Act. However, in 2007, the Howard government scrapped the foreign ownership limits and changed the cross-media ownership rules to allow ownership of two out of three media types. Australia's level of media ownership concentration is one of the highest in the world, with a handful of corporations and interconnected family interests controlling much of the media.
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Regulation of the media
Media regulation in Australia is primarily the responsibility of the federal government, which has the power to create laws governing telecommunications. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is the regulatory body for radio, television, and certain online content. Consumers can file complaints about broadcast content with the ACMA, which also enforces rules on commercial TV, radio, and newspapers to ensure media diversity.
The Australian government owns two media organisations: the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS). These organisations are publicly funded and serve the public interest by providing independent national broadcasting services. The ABC's editorial independence is protected by legislation, prohibiting it from broadcasting advertisements to maintain independence from commercial interests. The SBS Act of 1991 also mandates that the SBS board maintains the organisation's "independence and integrity".
While the government does not directly control content or editorial policies, it has the power to set ownership rules for media outlets. Historically, there have been debates over foreign ownership restrictions on broadcasting licences. In 2006, the Howard government loosened these restrictions, allowing for changes to cross-media and foreign ownership laws.
Australia's media landscape includes a mix of privately-owned commercial media and sponsored community networks. Commercial media organisations are privately owned and profit-driven, answering to their commercial sponsors. Community media, on the other hand, is funded by the government, membership fees, and advertising, with content often created by volunteers. Rural and regional media is dominated by Australian Community Media, while Channel 31 is another example of a community television station broadcasting in several Australian cities.
Freedom of the press and media diversity are important hallmarks of a healthy democracy. While Australia ranks within the top 40 countries on the World Press Freedom Index, its ranking has been impacted by restrictions imposed by anti-terrorism laws and the concentration of media ownership.
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Frequently asked questions
In Australia, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and Special Broadcasting Corporation (SBS) are both owned by the federal government. However, the independence of these organisations is protected by legislation, meaning that the government does not have the power to control content or editorial policy.
There are three main types of media organisations in Australia: government, commercial, and community. Commercial media organisations are privately owned and compete to make profits through advertising and program sales. Community media organisations are funded by the government, membership, and advertising, and content is created by unpaid volunteers.
Some examples of commercial media organisations in Australia include Seven West Media, Nine Entertainment, Ten Network Holdings, and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The Murdochs, Fairfax, Kerry Stokes, and the Gordons are also major media owners in Australia.
Australia's level of media ownership concentration is considered one of the highest in the world. However, the country ranks in the top 40 countries on the World Press Freedom Index, indicating a relatively diverse media landscape.
