Media & Broadcasting Law & Lawyers

Regulation of the media in Australia is limited to a narrow range of specific areas. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is the broadcasting regulator for radio and television in Australia, and also the co-regulatory Online Content Scheme. Consumers who have complaints about programs on television and radio or certain types of content on the Internet can apply to the ACMA. The Commercial Television Code of Practice is a set of regulatory guidelines, registered with the ACMA, with which commercial television broadcasters should comply.

If you need legal help regarding any aspect of media and broadcasting law, then please complete your free legal enquiry form on the right, or click here.

The Australian Press Council is the self regulatory body of the print media. The Council deals with complaints from the public about editorial material in newspapers and magazines published in Australia, and aims to maintain the freedom of the press.

If you need legal help regarding any aspect of media and broadcasting law, then please complete your free legal enquiry form on the right, or click here.

The primary piece of legislation regarding media and broadcasting legislation in Australia is the Broadcasting Services Act 1992. The administration of the Broadcasting Services Act is the responsibility of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). This body commenced operation in July 2005, having subsumed the functions of the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) and the Australian Communications Authority (ACA).

If you need legal help regarding any aspect of media and broadcasting law, then please complete your free legal enquiry form on the right, or click here.

Lawyers practising in the area of media broadcasting law generally work for broadcasters, production companies, animation studios, music producers, live event producers, authors, creators, artists, musicians, and television personalities, across various media including film, television, music and theatre.

Other media related sectors that lawyers can provide advice include:

• Internet & digital
• Publishing
• Broadcasting and music
• Privacy and data protection issues
• Content delivery
• Intellectual property and libel

Broadly speaking, media and broadcasting lawyers generally have expertise in the following areas:-

Content:

• Programme content and advertising;
• Advising on all areas of law and regulation affecting all forms of broadcast and media content, eg confidence, copyright, contempt, defamation & privacy; Broadcasting Code & Broadcast Advertising.

Regulatory:

• Broadcasting and Communications legislation;
• The licensing regime for television programme services and digital broadcasting;
• The new regime for VOD Services;
• Listed Events and other regulatory codes and rules;
• Gaming and Lotteries.
• Media/Infrastructure:
• Distribution and transmission of channels;
• Carriage agreements;
• Technology and infrastructure agreements.

General Advisory:

• Dispute avoidance;
• Due diligence on corporate media transactions.

If you need legal help regarding any aspect of media and broadcasting law, then please complete your free legal enquiry form on the right, or click here.

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