The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has provided its submission to the first of the Federal Government's reviews of digital television.
The ACCC's submission comments on the impacts of current multi-channelling* restrictions on competition and efficiency in the free-to-air (FTA) and pay-TV markets in Australia. The ACCC submission also attaches a report by consultants LECG on multi-channelling in overseas countries.
"The ACCC believes that the costs and benefits of current broadcasting legislation, including multi-channelling, need to be comprehensively analysed", ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, said today.
"The ACCC believes that a number of important benefits arise from allowing multi-channelling, such as increased consumer choice and potential for greater competition between existing pay TV and free-to-air broadcasters.
"The Government's objectives for diversity, innovation, quality and competition in broadcasting may be better achieved by allowing multi-channelling".
The ACCC submission notes that Australian viewers are currently restricted in their viewing options compared to overseas audiences.
It also notes that the transition to digital services will free-up existing spectrum for other broadcasting or telecommunications services, with significant potential benefits.
"International experience suggests that increased consumer choice from additional digital TV channels may be a key driver in promoting the take-up of digital services", Mr Samuel said.
*Multi-channelling is the transmission of more than one discrete stream of programming over a single television channel. Digital television enables the transmission of up to four different channels of programming using the same amount of spectrum that is currently used to provide a single channel.