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Broadly there are three types of organisation that are involved
in the media industry:
Regulators
These are usually independent statutory bodies, given powers under
federal government legislation, to exercise some control (via regulations
and standards) over the operations of specified sections and aspects
of the media.
Australian
Broadcasting Authority (ABA) and Australian
Communications Authority (ACA) ceased to exist on July 1 2005, and have been replaced
by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
Australian
Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is responsible
for the regulation of broadcasting, radiocommunications, telecommunications
and online content.
- is given its powers under the Broadcasting
Services Act 1992.
- sets legally binding standards in the area of Australian content
through its Australian
Content Standard
- sets legally binding standards for Children’s (C) and Preschool
(P) television programs through its Children’s
Television Standards
- is a co-regulator with commercial TV, pay TV, community TV and
the Internet
- investigates unresolved complaints against all broadcasters
- has powers to investigate complaints related to potentially
illegal material on the Internet, and to issue "take down"
notices.
ACMA’s responsibilities include:
- promoting self-regulation and competition in the telecommunications
industry, while protecting consumers and other users
- fostering an environment in which electronic media respect
community standards and responds to audience and user needs
- managing access to the radiofrequency spectrum, including the
broadcasting services bands
- representing Australia’s communications and broadcasting
interests internationally.
ACMA has central offices in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney plus
regional offices and operational centres throughout all states and
territories of Australia.
Australian
Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
- is a federal regulatory body which oversees business and competition
practices under the provisions of the Trade
Practices Act 1974
- can take action on misleading and deceptive conduct by corporations.
Classification Board
This federal board, integrated within the Attorney General's Department replaced the Office of Film & Literature Classification (OFLC) from July 2007.
Industry Bodies
These are associations formed by certain sections of the media
provide a vehicle for advocacy and a forum for the development of
self regulatory codes of practice.
Advertising
Federation of Australia (AFA)
- a professional association representing companies in advertising
and marketing communications to industry, government, media and
the public
Advertising
Standards Bureau (ASB)
The Advertising Standards Board provides a free public complaint
service about advertising in the mainstream media, which people
find offensive on the basis of:
- discrimination (race, nationality, sex, age, sexual preference,
religion, disability, political belief)
- violence
- language
- portrayal of sex, sexuality or nudity;
- health and safety
- alarm or distress to children.
Australian
Association of National Advertisers (AANA)
- national association which represents the interests of its members,
companies which advertise to the public.
- operates from a Code of Ethics
Australian
Record Industry Association (ARIA)
- the national association for the music recording industry
- responsible for the industry’s self regulatory Code
of Practice for labelling music that may contain explicit
lyrics.
Australian
Subscription Television and Radio Association (ASTRA)
- the industry body representing companies allocated subscription
television broadcasting licences.
Australian Visual Software Distributors
Association (AVSDA)
- the national association of home video and computer game distribution
companies.
Commercials
Advice Pty Ltd
- operates in conjunction with Free
TV Australia (formerly Commercial TV Australia, formerly FACTS)
- provides advice to advertisers as to whether their television
commercials are likely to meet the range of legislative, regulatory
and self-regulatory requirements that apply
- provides a recommended classification for the screening of the
commercial.
Community
Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA)
- represents the interests of community radio and TV stations
across Australia.
Commercial
Radio Australia (CRA) (formerly FARB - Federation of Australian
Broadcasters)
- the industry body representing the interests of commercial radio
stations
Free
TV Australia (formerly CTVA - Commercial TV Australia, formerly
FACTS - Federation of Australian Commercial TV Stations)
Interactive
Entertainment Association of Australia (IEAA)
- IEAA is a trade association for the Interactive Entertainment
Industry in Australia
- Members are companies that are responsible for the sales, marketing,
distribution and development of computer and video games software,
hardware and accessories.
Internet
Industry Association (IIA)
- the industry body representing the interests of Internet Service
Providers
Media,
Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA)
Motion
Picture Distributors Association of Australia (MPDAA)
- the body representing the interests of the major cinema film
distributors
Telephone
Information Services Standards Council (TISSC)
- an independent regulatory body that sets fair standards for
the message content and advertising of any Australian telecommunication
service with the prefix 190, in the form of a Code
of Practice.
- Service providers of 190 numbers must abide by the Code
of Practice, which is developed by TISSC.
Australian
Press Council
- a self regulatory body set up by the print media, and acts as
a forum for complaints concerning the press.
Broadcasters
Broadcasters include:
- the free-to-air commercial radio and television industries
- the fully government funded Australian Broadcasting Corporation
(ABC) (both radio and television)
- the partially government funded Special Broadcasting Service
(SBS) (both radio and television)
- the Pay TV suppliers
- the local community radio and television stations.
Free to air commercial radio and television
industries
There are three commercial free-to-air TV networks in Australia,
which have associated stations in all capital cities and some regional
areas:
Australian
Broadcasting Corporation (ABC TV)
- Australia’s government funded national TV and radio network.
Special
Broadcasting Service (SBS TV).
- partially government funded
- carries a low level of commercial advertising.
Pay TV suppliers
Both Foxtel
and Optus
subscription services are delivered by cable. Other services are
delivered by satellite.
Community television
Most capital cities have one community television and radio station
which is funded by their communities.
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