Fed: Aust govt received seven applications for datacasting

AAP General News (Australia)
02-22-2001
Fed: Aust govt received seven applications for datacasting

Seven companies, including Fairfax and Telstra, have put their hands up for datacasting
licences under the new digital broadcasting regime.

Communications watchdog, the Australian Communications Authority, says it's received
seven applications to provide the new interactive information services, despite industry
criticism of the tough rules.

Media giant News Ltd was not among the applicants but rival Fairfax, which pulled out
of datacasting trials last year along with Telstra, relented on its anti-datacasting stance.

Industry players and the opposition have criticised the government's datacasting rules,
which aim to prevent the new services competing with television, for being too restrictive.

The ACA says the other companies to apply for the 16 licences are Australian Datacasting
Corporation Ltd, ntl Australia Pty Ltd, Online Media Group Pty Ltd and Opentv Australia
Pty Ltd.

The applicants have to lodge a $10,000 application fee but have until next Thursday
(March 1) to pay.

Telstra says it hasn't decided whether to participate in the auction yet, but had lodged
an application to hedge its bets.

Television stations and their associates, including the ABC and SBS, are banned from
the auction, which will be conducted over the Internet in April.

AAP RTV kmh/alt/jn

KEYWORD: DIGITAL (CANBERRA)

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.