Free TV welcomes News Bargaining Incentive passage – Free TV Australia has welcomed the passage through Parliament of the News Bargaining Incentive and the News Journalism Payments scheme, calling the move a critical step for Australian journalism.
The industry body said the new framework should help ensure global technology platforms contribute fairly to the Australian journalism they rely on, while encouraging genuine commercial deals with news businesses.
For commercial free-to-air broadcasters, the issue sits at the intersection of public-interest journalism and platform economics. Free TV’s argument is that trusted local news remains expensive to produce, especially in regional Australia, while digital platforms continue to benefit from journalism in ways that traditional media companies say have not been fairly valued.
Closing A News Bargaining Loophole
Free TV said broadcasters invested $408 million in trusted news during FY24, including $35.2 million in regional Australia.
The organisation said the News Bargaining Incentive closes a loophole in the News Media Bargaining Code that had allowed digital platforms to withdraw news services and avoid obligations under the code.
Free TV also said the incentive is designed to encourage global technology platforms to strike commercial arrangements with Australian news businesses rather than step away from news distribution.
Free TV CEO Bridget Fair described the passage of the scheme as a significant milestone, saying the News Bargaining Incentive creates a workable mechanism for global tech platforms to pay for Australian journalism.
“Trusted news is essential to our democracy.”
Bridget Fair, Free TV Australia CEO
Fair said Free TV had long advocated for a mechanism that allows Australian media companies to negotiate fair value for their content. She also thanked Minister Anika Wells and Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino for delivering the outcome.
Support For Local News Services
The News Journalism Payments scheme is intended to provide support for news services Australians use every day, including those delivered by commercial television broadcasters.
Free TV said the passage of the legislation matters because trusted television news continues to play a central role in national, local and regional information services.
The debate has been especially important for broadcasters and publishers following earlier tensions with large digital platforms over the News Media Bargaining Code. Free TV said the new incentive provides a clearer route for commercial arrangements and implementation.
Free TV Australia represents Australia’s commercial free-to-air television licensees. Its members include Southern Cross Media Group, Nine Entertainment Co, Network 10, WIN Network and Imparja Television.
For more free-to-air television coverage, visit TV Central’s Free to Air section. Read more on TV Central about Free TV broadcasters and Australian content, or visit Free TV Australia.
