Codes - free-to-air TV

Free-to-air TV includes:

• the ABC
• SBS
• all commercial television stations, and
• community TV

ABC

• Australia’s government funded national TV and radio network.
• established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983
• regulated internally by the ABC Charter and the ABC Code of Practice
• the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has a role in the resolution of complaints against the ABC.

SBS

• an independent corporation established under the Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991
• regulated internally by the SBS Charter and the SBS Code of Practice.

Commercial TV

• the content of commercial TV is largely self regulated within the framework of the Commercial TV Industry Code of Practice.
• all stations have to observe the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s (ACMA’s) legally binding Australian Content Standards and Children’s Television Standards
• the ACMA’s powers to set these standards are established in the Broadcasting Services Act 1992
• commercial stations must provide 260 hrs of C classified (specifically made for primary school aged children) programs per year. Of these programs 50% must be Australian made, and 32hrs must be classified as Australian Children’s TV drama.
• in addition, stations must show 130 hrs of P classified (specifically made for preschoolers) programs per year, and all of these must be Australian made.
• to qualify for these quotas, networks must submit representative samples from the series or program, for classification by the ACMA, in advance of screening.

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Regulation of advertisements on commercial TV

Advertisements which occur in C classified programs must meet the ACMA’s legally binding Children’s Television Standards. There is a limit of 10 minutes per hour of advertisements in C classified programs.

There may not be any advertisements in or adjacent to P classified programs.

Advertisements directed to children in programs other than C or P programs, (e.g. in children’s cartoon shows) are subject to the self regulatory Commercial TV Industry Code of Practice requirements for advertising directed to children.

There can be up to 15 minutes of advertising in programs screened outside of prime time. The Commercials Advice Pty Ltd checks advertisements against a range of standards and codes, including the Commercial TV Industry Code standards for advertising and for advertising directed to children.

In summary advertisements directed to children and screened by commercial free-to-air stations must:

• not mislead or deceive a child
• not put undue pressure on children to ask their parents or other people to buy an advertised product or service
• not imply "that a product or service makes children who own or enjoy it superior to their peers" or "that a person who buys an advertised product or service is more generous that a person who does not."
• accurately represent the advertised product or service
• not include advertisements for alcohol.

Community TV

The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia has a Community Television Code of Practice which sets out the principles and procedures to be followed by community TV providers, under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992.