You may be required to comply with this standard if you are licensed to operate a commercial free-to-air television broadcasting service.
Commercial broadcasting services:
- provide programs that are intended to appeal to the public (e.g. entertainment, sports, news)
- provide programs that can be received using commonly available equipment (e.g. televisions and radios)
- are specific to an area, whether remote, local, regional, national or international
- are usually funded by advertising revenue and are operated for profit or as part of a profit-making enterprise.
The purpose of this standard is to ensure commercial television broadcasting services are developing and reflecting a sense of Australian identity, character and cultural diversity by supporting the community's continued access to television programs produced under Australian creative control. There is a minimum transmission quota of 55 per cent Australian programming between the hours of 6am and 12am.
This standard:
- sets minimum levels of Australian programming to be broadcast by commercial television broadcasting licensees
- requires minimum amounts of first release Australian drama programs, documentary programs and children's programs (including children's drama, but excluding preschool programs) to be broadcast by commercial television broadcasting licensees
- requires preschool programs broadcast by commercial television broadcasting licensees to be Australian programs.
In order to be consistent with Australia's international co-production obligations, this standard recognises Australian official co-productions equally with Australian programs for the purposes of compliance with this standard.
Please note that this standard is revised from time to time and current legislation needs to be complied with at all times.
