If TV networks really think they are paying too much to broadcast, test the market; 'LinkedIn lecher' boosts Vinyl stake
Welcome to a Tuesday edition of Unmade. Today: If the TV networks think they are paying too much for accessing Australia’s airwaves, let’s put it to the test. And disgraced billionaire Richard White has become the dominant shareholder in Mediaweek’s new owner Vinyl Group.
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If the TV networks think $45m is too much to access the airwaves, let’s test the price in the market
By the time Anthony DeCeglie begins his speech at the Melbourne Press Club this afternoon, his audience could be forgiven for thinking they know most of what they’re about to hear.
Monday’s edition of The Australian contained the attack lines on Meta and X, and yesterday, Mumbrella carried the news that DeCeglie will call for a scrapping of broadcast spectrum fees.
According to Mumbrella, at 2.30pm this afternoon, DeCeglie will say the following:
“Free to air networks like Channel 7 still pay an archaic ‘broadcast tax’ that was designed 60 years ago during an era of super profits that simply no longer exist.
“At a time when a viewer can access to 10 hours of news on our Seven on any given day … the so-called Commercial Broadcast Tax is actually just a tax on journalism. Even more so, it’s a tax on the truth and it’s a tax on facts.
“The cost of the Commercial Broadcasting Tax this financial year for stations like Seven, Nine and 10 will be a combined $45 million.
“I ask the Albanese Government how many journalism jobs do they think that is? How many TV newsroom shifts will disappear so we can pay it? How many regional reporters will be let go?
“Make no mistake, I am using today’s speech to call on the Albanese Government and the Dutton Opposition to vow to scrap the Commercial Broadcast Tax immediately in the name of journalism.”
A tax on journalism? Emotive stuff. Or is it a tax on advertising revenue raised via a public resource?