CANBERRA: The Australian government's long-anticipated media ownership reforms could face further amendments before they are deemed ready for the statute books.
Communications minister Helen Coonan has offered to consider "worthwhile" changes to overcome Parliament's concerns that looser ownership rules would allow media companies to create regional monopolies.
Some of the country's biggest media groups have condemned other proposals for two new digital television licences to be auctioned next year, with one of them devoted to mobile TV or internet services.
Publisher John Fairfax, owner of the Sydney Morning Herald among others, has complained the auction would unfairly benefit TV companies by allowing them to control new mobile TV services.
Data sourced from Financial Times online; additional content by WARC staff
