A blockbuster year for the media and communications sector

It has been a busy year in the Australian media and communications sector. There is the constant arguing over the National Broadband Network (NBN) – both between political parties and the telcos themselves – and a Federal election in the early part of the year saw the re-election of the Coalition Government, and a new Communications Minister, with new priorities for the sector.

The media ownership reforms introduced in 2017 are also having an impact, with the dust settling on the Nine takeover of Fairfax and the very recently announced acquisition of Prime Media by Seven West Media.

The communications sector regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), has also been active on a number of fronts, from ushering in new protections for consumers under the Telecommunications Consumer Protections Code, to taking action under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (Cth) and also in progressing regulatory action in relation to spectrum to assist the