Overview of children’s television regulation The Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (the Act) gives the ACMA the power to determine program standards for children’s programming on commercial free-to-air television. The CTS were determined by the ACMA following consultation with the commercial television industry and the public. Compliance with program standards is a licence condition for commercial television broadcasters under Clause 7(1)(b) of Schedule 2 to the Act. The CTS does not apply to the ABC or SBS.
The CTS The CTS regulate the content of children’s programs and non-program material (for example, advertising) during designated children’s viewing times on commercial free-to-air television. The objectives of the CTS are to ensure that children have access to a variety of quality television programs made specifically for them, including drama and non-drama programs, and to protect children from possible harmful effects of television.
Children’s television quotas The CTS require commercial free-to-air broadcasters to broadcast at least 390 hours of C and P television each year. Of the 390 hours, a minimum of 260 hours must be C-classified and a minimum of 130 hours must be Pclassified. These are the C and P quotas. In addition, the Broadcasting Services (Australian Content) Standard 2005 (the ACS) requires that 50 per cent of the C-classified programs must be first-release Australian programs and that all P-classified programs are Australian programs. A summary of the C and P quotas and the ACS requirements for Australian programming is provided in Table 1. Table 1: Summary of C and P quotas and the ACS requirements for Australian programming Classification type
C and P quotas (hours per annum)
Australian programs (per annum)
C
260
50% must be first-release Australian programs
P
130
All P programs must be Australian programs
Refer to the CTS and the ACS for more information about quotas (and sub-quotas) for C and P programs as well as matters relating to the repetition of broadcast of C and P programs.
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