wow!!! big change."Under the Government's plan, the moratorium...

wow!!! big change.
"Under the Government's plan, the moratorium on new commercial TV licenses will not be extended at the end of this year."

Anybody can have a TV license!!!!

see article
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Foreign media ownership laws to be relaxed
The Federal Government has unveilled its plan for a major relaxation of media ownership and digital broadcasting laws.

Communications Minister Helen Coonan announced the proposals at a conference in Sydney.

Senator Coonan has told the Committee of Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) conference digital technologies are challenging traditional media services and current laws are at risk of becoming out-dated.

"There is a genuine risk that Australians will become a dinosaur, trapped in the analogue age," Senator Coonan said.

There are plans to change foreign investment rules, and relax laws preventing media companies from owning newspaper and broadcast operations in the same market.

Senator Coonan says the laws are outdated.

"What we have to recognise is that the whole landscape for media has changed," she said.

Under the Government's plan, the moratorium on new commercial TV licenses will not be extended at the end of this year.

Restrictions on TV multi-channelling will be removed as will foreign ownership rules, with the Treasurer given the final say.

Cross media ownership will be allowed, with conditions, and laws requiring free-to-air broadcasts of certain events will remain, but with the new 'use it or lose it' clause.

Analogue TV

Senator Coonan says the discussion paper will also set out a revised time frame for switching off analogue television services.

"It'll probably be in the order of about 2010 - at the moment we have a date, 2008, which is unachievable," she said.

"But 2010, I think, will be achievable to start switching off, subject to getting a proper digital action plan in place to ensure that no-one misses out and that everybody is able to take advantage of the digital world."