The Australian Communications and Media Authority has decided to undertake a comprehensive review of the three commercial radio standards introduced by the Australian Broadcasting Authority in 2000.

Introduced after the ‘Cash for Comment’ inquiry, the standards govern:

* the disclosure of commercial agreements entered into by presenters of current affairs programs and their sponsors;
* the need to distinguish advertisements from other programs; and
* compliance by licensees with their regulatory obligations.

“ACMA has decided to review the commercial radio standards to ensure they deliver appropriate and contemporary community safeguards, given the current standards have been in operation for over seven years,” said Chris Chapman, ACMA Chairman.

“The review will focus on the provision of current affairs programs, including talkback, seeking to ensure that providers of commercial radio broadcasting services remain responsive to the need to treat advertising and other sponsored content in a way that does not lead listeners to believe that it is editorial comment, free from commercial influence,” Mr Chapman said.

Initially, ACMA is undertaking a comprehensive program of research directed toward establishing an evidence base for the review. This includes research into community attitudes and comparative research on international approaches to regulation.

ACMA expects to conduct three rounds of public consultation, commencing with the release of an issues paper and a call for submissions in the first half of 2009. The issues paper will be built on findings from the research.

“ACMA has been aware of industry concerns about a range of operational issues within the existing standards which merit review. In addition, the review is expected to consider what model of regulation is most appropriately applied to advertising in the evolving commercial radio market, as well as commercial agreements that have the potential to influence the content of current affairs programs,” said Mr Chapman.

In undertaking the review, ACMA will examine contemporary business models operating in the commercial radio sector and changes to the commercial radio industry and to the regulatory environment since the standards commenced in 2001. Consideration will also be given to international approaches to similar issues.