Broadcasting Services Clarification Notice 2016
made under paragraph 19(1)(b) of the
Broadcasting Services Act 1992
Compilation No. 1
Compilation date: 30 September 2017
Includes amendments up to: F2017L01299
Prepared by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, Melbourne
About this compilation
This compilation
This is a compilation of the Broadcasting Services Clarification Notice 2016 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 30 September 2017 (the compilation date).
The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.
Uncommenced amendments
The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Federal Register of Legislation (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Federal Register of Legislation for the compiled law.
Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments
If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.
Modifications
If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the series page on the Federal Register of Legislation for the compiled law.
Self-repealing provisions
If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.
Part 2 Clarification for AM and FM radio services
5 Purpose of Part 2
(1) For paragraph 19(1)(b) of the Act, this Part clarifies the criteria specified in section 18 of the Act as they apply to a broadcasting service:
(a) provided as a radio service; and
(b) provided using an AM or FM signal within the broadcasting services bands; and
(c) that is not made available only on payment of subscription fees (whether periodical or otherwise).
(2) If a broadcasting service does not comply with a particular section of this Part, the broadcasting service may still be an open narrowcasting service under section 18 of the Act because of its individual characteristics.
6 Low power transmitter: urban centres and localities
(1) This section applies if the broadcasting service is provided:
(a) in an urban centre or locality; and
(b) within the FM radio band; and
(c) using a transmitter with a maximum effective radiated power of 1 watt or less.
Note In broad terms, under the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) 2001, an urban centre is a population cluster of 1,000 or more people while a locality is a population cluster of between 200 and 999 people.
(2) The broadcasting service is not an open narrowcasting service by reason only of the maximum effective radiated power of the transmitter used to provide the broadcasting service.
7 Limited period
(1) This section applies if the broadcasting service is provided for:
(a) a continuous period of not more than 30 days in any 12 month period; or
(b) separate periods which, in total, are not more than 30 days in any 12 month period;
in accordance with the conditions of the transmitter licence or licences issued by the ACMA for the provision of a limited-period service.
(2) The broadcasting service is an open narrowcasting service.
8 Special event
(1) This section applies if the broadcasting service is provided for a continuous period of not more than 30 days to cover an event that:
(a) has major cultural significance, sporting significance or other community significance; and
(b) is organised by 1 or more persons.
(2) The broadcasting service is an open narrowcasting service.
Note While it is likely that cultural and sporting events of major significance will be organised by 1 or more persons, it should not be presumed that all events are organised in a way that meet the requirements of subsection (1). For example, events such as the Moomba Festival and the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race are clearly organised. On the other hand, the ski season, which occurs if and when particular weather conditions exist, is an example of an event which is not an ‘organised’ event for the purposes of this section.
9 Pre-recorded, regularly repeated audio content
(1) This section applies if the broadcasting service has the following characteristics:
(a) the content of the broadcasting service consists solely of not more than four hours of pre-recorded material, which is repeated in the same order; and
(b) the material is not updated or otherwise varied more than once in any week.
Note A service of this kind is also known as a pre-recorded, regularly repeated audio content service.
(2) The broadcasting service is an open narrowcasting service.
10 Information service
(1) This section applies if the content of the broadcasting service:
(a) relates only to specific information about a subject; and
(b) does not include general news.
Note Information services may include, for example, stock market reports, weather services, real estate information and entertainment information.
(2) The broadcasting service is an open narrowcasting service.
11 Religious service
(1) This section applies if the broadcasting service is provided for 1 or more of the following purposes, and for no other purpose:
(a) the propagation of religious beliefs, religious values and religious lifestyles;
(b) the broadcasting of religious rituals and events of religious significance;
(c) the provision of information and services relevant to religious beliefs, religious values and religious lifestyles.
(2) A broadcasting service does not comply with subsection (1) if the content of the service includes material that is not relevant to 1 or more of those purposes.
Note ‘Mainstream’ music which has no obvious religious significance, and is not broadcast for the purpose of analysis or commentary, is material that is not relevant to the purposes mentioned in subsection (1).
(3) The broadcasting service is an open narrowcasting service.
12 Non-English language service
(1) This section applies if the content of the broadcasting service is provided:
(a) wholly in a language other than English; or
(b) in a language other than English, except to the extent that the broadcasting service includes content in English that is incidental to the provision of the service in the other language.
Note Examples of incidental content for paragraph (1)(b) include interviews broadcast in English with a translation into the other language, and broadcasts in English of station identification.
(2) The broadcasting service is an open narrowcasting service.
13 Racing service
(1) This section applies if the broadcasting service has the characteristics set out in subsections (2), (3) and (4).
(2) At least 80% of the content of the broadcasting service on a day (except Christmas Day or Good Friday) is:
(a) descriptions of any combination of horse races, harness races and greyhound races; and
(b) the provision of information directly related to horse racing, harness racing or greyhound racing (including selections, scratchings, betting information and track conditions); and
(c) material (such as music, news reports, weather reports, announcements and advertisements) that is:
(i) incidental to the provision of the content mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b); and
(ii) provided only during periods between particular races on that day; and
(iii) provided to the minimum extent practicable between particular races; and
(iv) provided for a total of not more than 15 minutes in each hour of the day.
Note For subparagraph (2)(c)(iv), the hours to be used are the hours starting at midnight, 1am, 2am, and so on.
(3) A significant proportion of the content of the broadcasting service other than the content described in subsection (2) is:
(a) relevant to horse racing, harness racing or greyhound racing; or
(b) of interest mainly to persons involved in horse racing, harness racing or greyhound racing.
(4) The broadcasting service is promoted, in the content of the broadcasting service:
(a) as a service of interest mainly to persons involved in horse racing, harness racing or greyhound racing; or
(b) using the words ‘racing radio service’.
(5) The broadcasting service is an open narrowcasting service.
14 Ancillary service
(1) This section applies if the broadcasting service is provided by way of an ancillary communication service.
Note A service of this kind is provided using a subcarrier channel.
(2) The broadcasting service is an open narrowcasting service.
15 Services targeted on the basis of age of audience
(1) This section applies if the broadcasting service is targeted to persons of a particular age, or a particular range of ages.
Note If a broadcasting service is targeted at an audience described in terms such as ‘Generation X’ or ‘baby boomers’, the broadcasting service is likely to be targeted to persons of a particular age or range of ages.
(2) If the broadcasting service is targeted to persons less than 10 years old, the broadcasting service is an open narrowcasting service.
(3) If subsection (2) does not apply, the broadcasting service is not an open narrowcasting service by reason only of being targeted to the persons.
16 Groups other than formal groups
(1) A group is able to be a special interest group for the purposes of subparagraph 18(1)(a)(i) of the Act whether or not the group is organised on a formal basis.
(2) Subsection (1) is not intended to affect the operation of section 15.