Commercial broadcasting tax review – consultation 38/2020

The Australian Government is currently seeking feedback on a number of media reform proposals.  As a part of this process, we are reviewing the Commercial Broadcasting (Tax) Act 2017 (CBTA). This consultation outlines our views on whether to repeal or amend the CBTA, including proposals for a pricing methodology and administrative processes.

Section 216AA of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (BSA) requires the ACMA to review whether the CBTA should be repealed or amended on or before 1 July 2022, with a report of the review due to the Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts before 1 July 2021. However, the Minister has requested that the ACMA provide our report by 30 March 2021. The BSA also requires us to publicly consult as part of undertaking this review.  

This consultation coincides with the Government’s consultation on its Media Reform Green Paper which was released on 27 November 2020 and proposes a new kind of licence for television broadcasters. Commercial television broadcasting licence holders will have the ability to make a one-time, irrevocable transition from their ‘traditional licence’ to a ‘new licence’ for which they would no longer be required to pay a tax for the use of spectrum on the condition that they transition to using less radiofrequency spectrum, under a multi-year process to be initiated by the government when certain conditions are met

The ACMA’s consultation on the CBTA is relevant to the traditional licensing arrangements for commercial radio and for commercial television where some or all television broadcasters elect not to transition to the new licences proposed in the government’s Media Reform Green Paper.  Interested stakeholders are encouraged to make submissions to both consultation processes.

Feedback provided in this consultation process will be considered in the ACMA’s final report to the Minister on the CBTA.

The ACMA invites comments on the issues set out in the consultation paper by COB, Thursday 4 February 2021.

Use the ‘Make a submission’ button at the top of this page to upload your submission.

Submissions by post can be sent to:

The Manager
Economics Advisory
Australian Communications and Media Authority
PO Box 13112 Law Courts,
Melbourne Vic 8010