Labor to introduce prominence, anti-siphoning legislation

The news: Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has announced the government will this week introduce legislation to advance its media reform agenda on prominence and anti-siphoning, capping off a months-long industry clash that has spilled well into public view.

The context: The prominence framework will include 'must carry' obligations for television manufacturers aimed at addressing concerns free-to-air networks are being crowded out by global platforms on smart devices. The manufacturer requirements will follow a transition period, and will not apply to existing television sets or impact customisation features and search results. The legislation will also see Australia's anti-siphoning laws expanded to include streaming platforms and subscription television broadcasting licensees.

What they said: "The rise of global streaming services means Australians could miss out on the free content and services they have enjoyed for generations, with free local services becoming harder to find on connected devices and content slipping behind online paywalls," Rowland said in a statement.