On Wednesday 13 November 2002, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission announced the court-enforceable undertakings proposed by Foxtel, Optus, Telstra and Austar addressed the ACCC's concern about the potential anti-competitive effects of the planned pay-TV arrangements between Foxtel and Optus.
The ACCC does not therefore intend to oppose the arrangements, which allow Optus and Foxtel to share pay TV programming. The undertakings provide access to programs for pay TV operators, broader choice for consumers and access to Telstra's cable network and Foxtel's set-top boxes. The various undertakings can be viewed using the links below.
The decision follows extensive consultations between the ACCC and the industry since June, when the ACCC concluded the proposed arrangements were likely to have the effect of substantially lessening competition in a number of pay TV markets.
Foxtel, Telstra and Optus originally approached the Commission with proposed undertakings under section 87B of the Trade Practices Act on 5, 12 and 16 July 2002 respectively.
