Power Play: Media heavyweights in Canberra for law reform
![](https://radiotoday.com.au/wp-content/uploads/CEOs-from-radio-companies-media-reform.png)
Chief executives from Australia’s major commercial and subscription TV, newspaper and radio companies united in Canberra on Wednesday to demonstrate support for the Federal Government’s broadcast and media reform package.
The consortium – which included NE’s Cathy O’Connor, ARN’s Rob Atkinson and SCA’s Grant Blackley – issued the following joint statement:
The industry is making an unprecedented show of support to send a strong message to Parliament that urgent changes are required to modernise Australia’s outdated media laws.
The Government’s package includes:
- Abolishing broadcasting licence fees and datacasting charges
- Applying a fee for the spectrum that broadcasters use at a level more reflective of the current media landscape
- Further restrictions on gambling advertising in live sporting events across all platforms
- Amending the anti-siphoning scheme and list
- Repealing the two out of three and 75% audience reach media ownership rules
- A broad ranging and comprehensive review of Australian and children’s content
- Funding to support the broadcasting of women’s and niche sports.
Change is crucial to bring media regulation into the digital age and preserve the future viability of the sector, which supports more than 30,000 jobs.
Australian media operators must be allowed to compete more effectively against multinational internet giants that are taking hundreds of millions of advertising dollars out of Australia.
All Australians benefit from having a competitive and independent media sector that is able to deliver checks and balances in a healthy democracy. Australian media needs to be empowered to continue to reflect Australian values and tell Australian stories.
This package is key to the entire industry’s ability to keep creating great content that is read, watched and listened to by millions of Australians every day.
Media CEOs call on Parliament to preserve Australian content, voices and jobs by supporting the passage of the broadcast and media reform package in its entirety.
The joint statement is endorsed by the following:
- Hugh Marks, CEO, Nine Entertainment
- Tim Worner, CEO, Seven West Media
- Paul Anderson, CEO, Ten Network
- Ian Audsley, CEO, Prime Media Group
- Andrew Lancaster, CEO, WIN Corporation
- Harold Mitchell, Chair, FreeTV Australia
- Pam Longstaff,Acting CEO, FreeTV Australia
- Peter Tonagh, CEO, Foxtel
- Tony Shepherd, AO, Chair, ASTRA
- Andrew Maiden, CEO, ASTRA
- Greg Hywood, CEO, Fairfax Media
- Michael Miller, Executive Chair, News Corp Australasia
- Grant Blackley, CEO, Southern Cross Austereo
- Cathy O’Connor, CEO, NOVA Entertainment
- Rob Atkinson, CEO, ARN
- Russell Tate, Executive Chair, Macquarie Media
- Adam Lang, COO Macquarie Media & CRA Chairman
- Rowley Patterson, Chair, ACE Broadcasters
- Grant Cameron, CEO, Grant Broadcasters
- Bill Caralis, Owner, 2SM Supernetwork Radio
- Ron Camplin, Owner, Bathurst Broadcasters
- Hans Torv, Chair, Hot Tomato
- Stephen Sweeney, CEO, SEN
- Ian Kennedy, CEO, Redwave
- Les Hawton, Chair, West Coast Broadcasters
- Glenn Wheatley, CEO, EON Broadcasters
- Rex Morris, CEO, Resonate Broadcasters
- Joan Warner, CEO, Commercial Radio Australia
Endorsed by 30 odd Execs, ensuring that there will be about 4 of you in the future. Popped Women and Children into the mix too I see? Great stuff LEADERS. At least you can always say, it was the digital age that killed us.
What a disturbing photo. Thank god for Cathy O’Connor
Looking at this photo, i can see why the industry is in such a pickle. And yes, thank goodness for Cathy O’Connor. The ultimate survivor in an industry dominated by old men.
Before we go commenting on the abundance of white males in the photo let’s not forget that Australian Media and Advertising has an abundance of talented female leaders. Anyone who works in the industry can attest to this and should be actively celebrating it.
Also …. this media reform is an unfortunate economic reality but a necessity nonetheless.