$250m TV gift needs to be rechannelled

There are no obligations on the free-to-airs to screen local content on their multi-channels.

The US free trade agreement, however, actually allows the additional application of local content rules on them within certain parameters; that is, the content standard can be applied to no more than two multi-channels.

But the commercial free-to-air broadcasters have been taking the mickey.

All the minister needs to do is sit down and switch his TV to Nine's multi-channel Go! to see that Australian programming is far from a priority.

In fact, it has been seen as more of an opportunity to pull out the back catalogue of old favourites such as I Dream of Jeannie, Bewitched and The Partridge Family.

The only Australian program to screen on Go! all year has been repeats of the somewhat ironically titled Wipeout Australia. This has led to a mere 3.2 per cent Australian content level on Go!.

Things are not much better on 7Two at 15.1 per cent (which at least screens our golden oldies, such as Sons and Daughters) and One HD 14.3 per cent (which is made up of a fair amount of Australian fishing programming and repeat AFL games).

Therefore this is one rather obvious way to ensure that the $250 million gift to the free-to-air networks will be directed towards the creation and broadcasting of Australian content.

The public spectrum has long been and will continue to be an incredibly valuable public resource both in terms of the commercial opportunities it enables and the social cohesion it promotes.

This is why local content obligations are placed on the free-to-air commercial broadcasters in the first place.

And it is clear that the federal government still sees the value in the public spectrum, despite the effect of digitisation.

Conroy is confident he will make up the loss of the $250 million in revenue in selling off the so-called digital dividend, the leftover spectrum we will have once we finally switch over from analogue to digital TV.