The Australian Communications and Media Authority has given CVC Group companies one year to remedy breaches of the media control rules in relation to two television services in Darwin.
Eleven CVC companies are in a position to exercise control of both an analog commercial television licence (NTD Darwin) and a section 38B digital commercial television licence (DTD Darwin) in Darwin. This contravenes the ruling that only allows for control of more than one commercial television broadcasting licence in the same area.
Last month there was speculation that Imparja Television in Alice Springs was looking to buy the NTD Darwin licence from PBL Media, but reports said financing fell through.
Source: ACMA
The ACMA media release states that there is Federal Court action taking place relating to another breach. It would seem that Macquarie Media has taken ACMA to the Federal Court. There is no indication whether this action is in relation to the Darwin or Tasmania licences.
https://www.comcourts.gov.au/public/esearch/federal/query?last_name=macquarie+media&partial_last_name=yes&given_name=&filed_after=&filed_before=&court=fca&file_status=Open®istry=any&action_type=any&search_by=general
Nine Darwin broadcasts in analog and digital and will only broadcast in digital when the analog signals are switched off, so it’s strange that ACMA calls Nine Darwin an analog licence.