Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, has predicted the national broadband network (NBN) will bring hundreds of TV channels to Australia and flagged a consequential need for radical change in the media sector’s regulatory framework. Finally some-one is begining to realise the NBN is not just about fast Internet services. Hopefully this will bring the death to Foxtel's arrogant approach to the rest of the industry.

During a panel discussion session on the benefits of the NBN, Senator Conroy was asked how the NBN would affect the media sector’s regulatory framework. Conroy, pointed to IPTV providers in Hong Kong as an example of the kind of threat to incumbent TV providers that will force change to the industry.

“Convergence has happened. The broadband network is going to radically reshape the media sector,” Conroy said. “Some get it a lot, some don’t quite get it yet and some have been in a position of privilege for some time [editor: read FOXTEL] and had competition kept away from them. But broadband network IPTV will bring hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of channels of choice for consumers. That is going to force a radical change.”

All I can say is bring it on!

Read the full article on ARN