Australia's media ownership rules would be significantly
overhauled, if the Convergence Review's recommendations are
accepted by the Australian Government.
Based on a principle of technology neutrality, the Report's
recommendations focus on the regulation of content service
enterprises, which would be limited to only the most substantial
and influential entities delivering professional content which they
also control.
Media ownership – minimum number of owners +
public interest
The Convergence Review recommends removing the:
- the "75 per cent audience reach" rule;
- the "2 out of 3" rule;
- the "two-to-a-market" rule;
- the "one-to-a-market" rule;
and replacing them with a test of the minimum number of owners
plus the public interest. A new communications regulator would be
able to block mergers that are deemed not to be in the public
interest. What is to be regulated is the content rather than the
platform from which it is delivered.
