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Free tv australia

The real price of television protectionism

Crikey / Bernard Keane / Monday, 28 November 2011

Commercial television broadcasters receive hundreds of millions of dollars of benefits from government each year, and no one’s debating why.

Free TV bans second pro-euthanasia ad in a month

Crikey / Tom Cowie / Wednesday, 6 October 2010

Commercials Advice, the watchdog set up by Free TV Australia to classify and approve television commercials, has banned another pro-euthanasia commercial for promoting suicide. The decision comes just weeks after the body refused classification for a controversial ad produced by right to die lobby group Exit International.

Free TV was right to dump euthanasia ad

Crikey / Diana Cruikshank / Tuesday, 14 September 2010

The decision by Free TV Australia to ban an advertisement by a voluntary euthanasia group raises serious questions about the role of the industry in deciding what can and cannot go to air, writes Diana Cruikshank.

The day Free TV Australia didn’t like a bit of free speech

Crikey / Bernard Keane / Monday, 13 September 2010

Last week Free TV Australia banned an advertisement calling for euthanasia reform made by Exit International on the basis that ad “promoted suicide”. In fact, the ad contrasts the strong levels of public support for euthanasia with its lack of support by the government.

Euthanasia ad: the constitution says it should air

Crikey / Greg Barns / Monday, 13 September 2010

If Australia were to include an explicit freedom of speech right in its Constitution or in a human rights charter, as all other democracies now do, then Exit International would have a strong case.

Figures prove $250m Free TV rebate to be a total crock

Crikey / Glenn Dyer / Wednesday, 21 July 2010

The federal government’s decision earlier this year to give the major commercial TV networks a $250 million rebate on their licence fees to help fund Australian content has been exposed as a complete crock.

New code will have TV networks rolling in the dough

Crikey / Glenn Dyer / Monday, 21 December 2009

A new code of practice for commercial TV will enable the industry to make hundreds of millions of dollars a year in extra ad revenues over the next three years, starting Jan 1, 2010.

Sports, TV and anti-siphoning laws: tripe for the picking

Crikey / Glenn Dyer / Monday, 19 October 2009

Major sporting organisations claim that anti-siphoning laws are bad for viewers, Foxtel argue it would be bad for sporting codes to have their sports shown to as many people as possible, and Rupert Murdoch is threatening to force his US cable rivals to pay him for carrying his Fox TV network.

Bracks v. Goss in the battle for TV regulation

Crikey / Bernard Keane / Wednesday, 8 October 2008

Having an ex-premier as front man is evidently now de rigueur in the broadcasting sector, writes Bernard Keane.

Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Comments, corrections, clarifications, and c*ckups

Crikey / Wednesday, 7 May 2008

Wayne Goss and Free TV Australia … Paul Keating’s rant … Neil Mitchell … housing prices and grants … same-sex rights … Underbelly …

Wayne Goss and Free TV: cashing in on connections

Crikey / Monday, 5 May 2008

Wayne Goss presumably spoke to his former chief of staff Kevin Rudd before accepting the appointment as chair of Free TV Australia, so our new Prime Minister has some questions to answer, writes Stephen Mayne.

Media briefs and TV ratings: Sky News satin watch, speaking of talking turkeys, Let Murdoch be Murdoch

Crikey / Thursday, 1 May 2008

Sky News satin watch … speaking of talking turkeys … Goss becomes commercial TV lobby group boss … the stupidest person in New York … another one bites the dust … can Oprah save the Tom Cruise brand? … Let Murdoch be Murdoch.