Screenrights has made a submission in response to the Federal Government’s proposal to remake the Broadcasting Services (Broadcasting Service Definition – Exclusion) Determination 2019.
In essence, the Government is proposing to defer any potential update to the definition of “broadcasting services” in the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 for a period of 3 – 5 years, while it consults on a range of other media regulation reforms.
Currently, the definition of “broadcasting services” does not include live-streamed or on-demand content. Screenrights’ educational licence includes broadcast TV and radio, subscription broadcast TV (pay TV) and simulcast and catch-up TV and radio services such as ABC iView (provided the content has already been broadcast). The licence does not otherwise include content streamed over the internet, for example subscription video on demand (SVOD) services such as Netflix.
Screenrights has endorsed the Government’s decision to defer any update to the definition, for a time-limited period, preferably no more than three years. Screenrights is monitoring fast-moving trends in the way we consume media content, and we are committed to ensuring that our licences – and the regulatory framework more broadly – balance the needs of consumers and creators. We look forward to continuing to work with Government on these matters.
