Review of the commercial radio standards Research briefing and release of issues paper 23 February 2010

Context >First principles approach >Appropriate community safeguards – no burden on industry >Evidence based >A significant body of independent research >Within the Australian community >Across international jurisdictions >Among industry >Best practice on submissions

The research base >Community Attitudes to Radio Content >Listener Attitudes to Advertising, Sponsorship and Influence on Commercial Radio >International Regulation of Advertising, Sponsorship and Commercial Disclosure for Commercial Radio Broadcasting >Industry Compliance with the Compliance Program Standard

Australians love listening to radio and news and information is a favourite format > 91 per cent of Australians listen to radio at least once a week > similar across different age groups Base: all radio listeners aged 15 years and over, 2009 (n=1423) Source: ACMA Community attitudes to radio content

For AM talkback listeners commercial radio is an important source of news and current affairs Base: commercial AM talkback listeners aged 15 years and over, 2009 (n=205) Source: ACMA Community attitudes to radio content

Commercial talkback programs are important for social, political and economic matters Base: commercial AM talkback listeners aged 15 years and over, 2009 (n=205) Source: ACMA Community attitudes to radio content

Radio listeners live in the real world >Listeners acknowledge that commercial radio is a business >60 per cent of the commercial radio listeners sample agree that >Advertising on commercial radio doesn’t bother me because it’s a business that relies on advertising to operate >As long as they know what’s advertising and what’s content >75 per cent of commercial radio listeners agree that >Advertising content on radio should be clearly distinguishable from other radio content Base: commercial radio listeners aged 17 years and over, 2009 (n=1214) Source: ACMA Listener attitudes to advertising, sponsorship and influence on commercial radio

They are comfortable with ‘commercial’ radio Base: commercial radio listeners aged 17 years and over, 2009 (n=1214) Source: ACMA Listener attitudes to advertising, sponsorship and influence on commercial radio

They expect transparency Base: commercial radio listeners aged 15 years and over, 2009 (n=1018) Source: ACMA Community attitudes to radio content

International research supports the content integrity findings >A range of approaches > UK, Ireland, Canada and U.S.A. and Australia >Common core principle >Transparency >Integrity of content is key

This research had been undertaken to inform the review > Release of issues paper and call for submissions > Today - submissions due Friday 16 April 2010 >Options >Later in 2010 >Outcomes >End 2010 >For more information go to the ACMA website and click on the button – Review of commercial radio standardswww.acma.gov.au

Thank you