The third annual Australian Broadcasting Authority conference begins at the Hyatt Hotel in Canberra tomorrow (Tuesday 6) and continues on Wednesday.
After introductory remarks by the ABA’s Chairman, David Flint, Communications Minister Richard Alston will give the Conference’s Keynote Address.
The opening morning will focus on the latest broadcasting developments in the UK. Patricia Hodgson, Chief Executive of the UK Independent Television Commission, will provide an update and there will be a discussion of implications for Australia.
That will be followed by what promises to be a lively debate on the proposition that radio is more influential than television. The debate will feature two teams, one led by Susan Oddie, Network Ten, supporting the cause for television and the other by Fiona Cameron, DMG/Nova, talking up the case for radio.
The afternoon kicks off with a presentation on the topic of Personal Video Recorders and digital television uptake.
To close out the day Julian Thomas, Swinburne University, will unveil ABA research into spectrum charging for broadcasting and Jane Schulze of the Australian will probe the issues facing Julie Flynn (Commercial TV Australia), Joan Warner (Commercial Radio Australia), Deb Richards, from pay TV’s peak body ASTRA, and Barry Melville (Community Broadcasting Assocation of Australia).
Day two commences with a session on radio issues. The radio industry in Australia has plenty to ponder as rival digitalisation models continue to emerge in the US, Europe and elsewhere.
Meanwhile, AM is encountering problems with urban encroachment on scarce transmission sites. Does AM need a conversion strategy sooner rather than later? Plus Lee Hubber (I&G Media) looks at radio’s growth at the margins.
The afternoon will include a study on television violence showing how community attitudes may have changed over the last decade.
Other sessions on day two include digital television issues facing consumers and broadcasters in remote regions and how to achieve true interactivity in digital TV.