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DRAC Discussion Paper - Services
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Service objectives |
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Existing services |
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Service opportunities |
DRB has the potential to increase the total number of radio services available, to provide services of a higher sound quality than AM and FM radio, and to deliver a range of new and innovative services. Such new and innovative services could include multilingual programs, program associated data and other information services - using audio, still pictures, data and text - and communications services (for example, paging and global satellite positioning). Some of these have not traditionally been provided as broadcasting services.
Service objectives
Parliament has established objectives for broadcasting services which are set out in the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (Broadcasting Services Act). These relate to diversity in the range of services; an efficient and competitive industry responsive to audience needs; diversity in, and Australian control of, broadcasting services; Australian identity, character and cultural diversity; high quality and innovative programming; fair and accurate coverage of matters of public interest and coverage of matters of local significance; respecting community standards, addressing complaints; and protection of children. The objectives are shown in more detail at Appendix 4.
Comment is invited on whether the introduction of DRB would make it necessary to reassess the current broadcasting service objectives.
Existing services
There are currently five categories of radio services in Australia.
National radio broadcasting - the ABC and the SBS provide radio services primarily funded by government.
Commercial radio broadcasting - commercial broadcasters provide free to air radio programs for profit, primarily from the sale of advertising time. The peak body is the Federation of Australian Radio Broadcasters
Community radio broadcasting - community broadcasters provide free to air radio programs, on a non profit basis, using donations and sponsorship. Services are generally defined under either local or a specialist interest criteria. The peak body is the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA).
Subscription radio broadcasting - subscription radio services are made available on payment of fees. The Federation of Australian Narrowcasting and Subscription Services (FANSS) is the peak body.
Open and subscription radio narrowcasting - narrowcasters provide services - which are entitled to make a profit - to special interest groups, for limited locations, for limited periods, or that are of limited appeal in some other way. They may be open (free to air) or subscription. FANSS is the peak body.
Introduction of DRB may pose a challenge to the current system for classifying radio services. DRB can provide services that have not been considered as broadcasting (for example data and text) and this may produce a blurring of the distinctions between the various types of licences. Also, some broadcasters may wish to offer 'value added' services, such as data and information services, on a subscription basis, as ancillary services to the main free to air programs. There is further discussion on how these services fit within the existing licensing framework in the section on licensing.
Comment is invited on whether industry categories are sufficiently flexible to accommodate the opportunities offered by DRB.
Service opportunities
DRB offers many service opportunities. However, adoption of DRB would impose costs on listeners and broadcasters. If the introduction of DRB is to be successful, these costs would need to be offset by an increase in what listeners could expect from radio broadcasting. DRB would need to provide high quality signals subject to less interference as well as new and innovative types of services and an increase in the number of services throughout Australia. This may require greater innovation in service provision than has traditionally been necessary, but would encourage audiences to make the shift from analog services to the new technology and provide for a vigorous and sustainable radio broadcasting industry.
While cautious about the current economics of DRB, existing broadcasters have expressed a strong interest in delivering digital broadcast and associated data services. Broadcasters see DRB as the technology of the future that will eventually replace AM and FM broadcasting. They believe digital radio should be treated as an enhanced, not an alternative, technology and that community interest is best served by existing broadcasters being able to explore the new opportunities afforded by DRB. This would require that they be given the flexibility to deliver more and varied services, and to experiment with different service concepts.
In the short term, DRB would require a major commitment by participants, whether it was existing broadcasters or new entrants. This may inhibit their ability to invest in new program formats and concepts. While an increased number of channels would provide an opportunity for diversity, more diverse programming may not be an automatic outcome. There may be increased choice but not increased diversity.
There may be a need for special policies to address the concerns of Australians with particular needs. For example, channel splitting to permit broadcasting in several languages could extend the current range of ethnic broadcasting services offered by the SBS and community broadcasters, including Radio for the Print Handicapped. There may also be a need to consider special initiatives to address local and regional interests.
Comment is invited on:
- the types and range of programming and other services that should be expected from DRB; and
- whether some people may be disadvantaged by the introduction of DRB and, if so, whether this requires any special consideration and what form this should take.
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- Document ID: 9357 |
- Last modified: 6 February 2008, 2:24pm