Prominence Framework for Connected Television Devices—Proposals Paper

Listen

We're seeking feedback on design options for a framework to ensure that Australian TV services can easily be found on connected TV devices.

Why we want your input

The Australian Government has committed to legislating a prominence framework to ensure Australian TV services are easy for audiences to find on connected TV devices. The proposals paper (located below under Relevant documentation) presents a range of design options for consultation.

How you can voice your opinion

Click on the ‘Have your say’ button below to provide your input to the review. You can do this in 2 ways: provide a short comment; and / or make a ‘formal submission’. All submissions (other than confidential submissions) will be published on the website. Comments will not be published but will inform the review process in the same manner as submissions.

An accessible version of the paper will be published in late January 2023. If you require an accessible version prior to its publication, please contact media.reform@communications.gov.au.

What will be the outcome of this consultation?

Comments and submissions will inform the Government’s design of a legislated prominence framework.

The Issue

The Australian Government committed to legislating a new prominence for Australian TV services on connected TV devices.

A legislated prominence framework would shape the way TV applications and/or content are presented to Australian audiences. It would seek to ensure that local TV services can be easily found on TV devices, so that they can continue to contribute to Australia's public and cultural life.

Legislating a prominence framework is part of the Australian Government's commitment to media reform, which has already seen a consultation on the future of the anti-siphoning scheme to ensure that Australians continue to have the opportunity to enjoy free coverage of events of national significance.

We are seeking feedback on a number of design issues grouped around key elements of a prominence framework, including:

which TV services should be included
which devices should be regulated
which entities should be responsible for compliance with the framework
which regulatory model should be used
what legislative mechanism should be used to implement the framework.

Relevant documentation

Please contact the department if you would like an accessible copy of the consultation paper at media.reform@communications.gov.au.

Outcome

The proposals paper for a prominence framework for connected television devices was open to submissions from 23 December 2022 to 24 February 2023. The Government considered the issues and views provided in the submissions and these informed the development of a Bill to implement a prominence framework—the Communications Legislation Amendment (Prominence and Anti-siphoning) Bill 2023—which was introduced into Parliament on 29 November 2023.

The Bill and Explanatory Memorandum are available on the Australian Parliament House website.

The Parliament passed the Communications Legislation Amendment (Prominence and Anti-siphoning) Act 2024 on 4 July 2024.

On 17 December 2024, the Broadcasting Services (Minimum Prominence Requirements) Regulations 2024 were made, establishing the minimum requirements for the prominence framework. The regulations and the associated explanatory statement can be found on the Federal Register of Legislation website.

Further information on the prominence framework is available on the department website.

Submissions

The following submissions have been created by third parties and may not meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2. For accessible copies, please email media.reform@communications.gov.au.