The launch of Foxtel’s public affairs channel today means there is a fresh need to make the case for government funded public broadcasting.The ABC and pay television are going head to head in a battle for access to what is perhaps our most valuable natural resource – the broadcasting spectrum. Read more in the Crikey e-mail later today.
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I am getting the impression that the ABC is becoming scared of political commentary, take as an example the dumming down of 774. If it becomes nothing more than talkback one has to wonder why spend the 8 cents a day.
I disagree that broadcast spectrum is “perhaps our most valuable natural resource”. Its value is rapidly decreasing as internet bandwidth increases. While the number of broadcast channels may be limited, the number of potential internet channels is — literally — infinite. The naming convention of 12345.channel.apac.tv or whatever can be extended as much as you like — certainly to the point where there are vastly more channels than humans on the planet.
Rather than pay ludicrously high prices for broadcast channels, anyone can set up show and stream video on the internet. That’s already happening now through services like Ustream and Justin.tv and Stickcam,. Distribution costs are trending to zero. Fast.
Someone wants to broadcast a meeting of interest to maybe 20 people? Stick a webcam in front of the meeting and start streaming. People are already doing this to include distant relatives in their Christmas dinner.
Traditional broadcasters like Foxtel and the ABC make such a mountain out of this molehill because they want to wrap it up in managers and fancy graphics and marketing and other justifications for an endless series of hangers-on.
If the aim is to know what just happened in Senate Estimates, we certainly don’t need to see Senator Conroy’s face in full 1080i HD.
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