The commercial free-to-air television networks will strongly oppose any move to increase advertising on SBS, as recommended in the recent efficiency Lewis review for SBS and ABC, on behalf of the Department of Communications.
According to the review “options could be explored to allow SBS to earn a higher level of revenue”.
In 2012-13 SBS earned approximately 50 million dollars from advertising, “significantly less than a commercial broadcaster with equivalent share would receive”.
Julie Flynn, the chief executive of Free TV Australia, the lobby group of national and regional commercial television stations in the country, stated to The Australian that “It is fair to say we would be strongly opposed to it”.
“We would be concerned that this would constitute a fourth commercial TV broadcast licence,” said Ms Flynn.
Under current legislation SBS can broadcast up to five minutes of commercials in any hour of broadcasting before or after programs or during natural breaks.
Source: The Australian