• Canberra Times, Friday, July 14, 2006 12:15 PM

Historic changes to Australia's $12 billion media industry have been condemned as a blow for consumers, a disaster for democracy and a squandered opportunity, reports the Canberra Times. Under new rules announced this week, limits on foreign companies owning a piece of the national media will be gone and local firms will get the chance to own print, radio and TV interests in one city or regional area. Communications Minister Helen Coonan said the release of new digital channels could provide up to 30 news, information and entertainment services delivered to mobile phones, TV and computers. Broadcasters ABC and SBS, as well as three commercial TV networks, will each get a new digital multichannel to show more programs. Also, more live sports events can be shown on pay TV and via digital technology. But the opposition was highly critical of the changes, with a spokesperson for the Labor Party saying the changes to cross-media ownership rules are a "total disaster" for the country. "The end result will be too much power in the hands of a small number of big businesses and not enough diversity in public debate," says Lindsay Tanner.

Read the whole story at Canberra Times »