Issues included:

• the future of licensing and regulation
  DTTB coverage and uptake
• Australian content, and where it should fit in the future policy options
• plans for an indigenous DTV channel
• community TV's digital 'place in the sun'
• HDTV, enhanced and multiview TV
• the datacasting trials
• the fate of the Productivity Commission report on broadcasting
• the mix-and-match combinations of channels and policies for multichannelling

SEMINAR PROGRAM

To read discussion openers comments from the seminar click on the links below:

SESSION 1: (9:35-11:00) What the reviews are about
James Cameron, Chief General Manager, Broadcasting Division, DCITA
Giles Tanner, General Manager, ABA

• Overview of the policy issues in the reviews

• The policy framework we have now, and the future of licensing and regulation under that framework

• The review process: plans for receiving submissions and producing final outcomes

SESSION 2: (11:20-12:50) How the reviews look, from 3 different sectors
Ian McGarrity, Chairman, Digital Broadcasting Australia
Creina Chapman, Director, Regulatory & Corporate Affairs, PBL Media

John Corker & Rachel Perkins, Indigenous Television Working Group
Barry Melville, GM, Community Broadcasting Association of Australia;

• DTTB coverage and uptake; how are they going and what are their prospects
• Australian content: where does it fit under the various options?
• Plans and prospects for an indigenous DTV channel
• Community TV's digital 'place in the sun'

SESSION 3: (1:40-3:20) Subscription and fta/open divergence and convergence
Debra Richards, Executive Director, ASTRA
Ian McGill, Partner, Communications, Media & Technology Group, Allens Arthur Robinson
Paul Walsh, Network Manager Regulatory, Network Ten

• Subscription and free-to-air viewpoints and issues
• Should we look at more original and creative policies?
• High-Definition, enhanced and interactive TV

SESSION 4: (3.40-5:00) New and different services and approaches
Graeme Barclay, Managing Director, Broadcast Australia
Stuart Simson, Executive Chairman, eMitch Ltd
Bridget Godwin, Manager, Regulatory & Business Affairs, Seven Network

• Datacasting: alive, growing and heralding convergence?
• Whatever happened to the PC report?
• Multichannelling: the mix and match combinations of channels and policies

Click here for details of another seminar which focused on the market aspects of DTV.