2012 will certainly prove an interesting one for Australian media and communications players. There are a number of things to watch including:
- More than fifteen years after they both commenced broadcasting we may see changes to the Australian Subscription TV landscape if the ACCC approves the FOXTEL takeover of AUSTAR.
- A change of direction for News Limited Australia under a new CEO, Kim Williams, a man with extensive subscription experience.
- The Convergence Review Committee is currently receiving submissions to its Interim Report, but the general consensus within the industry is that the information contained in the Interim Report will not stray too far from the final report due to be handed to Government in March 2012.
- There was talk that the successful over the top player Netflix would arrive in Australia, but nothing has yet been confirmed. There will be a definite trend to over the top services through connected TVs over 2012.
While the analogue TV switchoff at the end of 2013 seems a long time away the Government’s hand may be forced on a few issues contained in the Convergence Review Committee final report. With the next Federal election due to be held in 2013 there will also be pressure on the Government to appear to have delivered on promises, especially related to the analogue switchoff and the NBN.