Despite warnings from government TV regulators saying that companies looking to present gambling and pornographic-related channels were not likely to win a bid for the country’s 30 new digital TV channels, Eros has requested a meeting with Communications Minister Helen Coonan to discuss the issue.
Eros chief Fiona Patten said the government should consider allowing X-rated content on the new digital channels because singling out adult entertainment sends the wrong message.
“The government is effectively saying violence is OK but sex is not,” Patten said. “People can watch ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre,’ but not ‘Debbie Does Dallas.’”
An anonymous Australian media executive said that although they would probably be banned, channels dedicated to gambling and adult content “made the most convincing business cases,” in terms of jumpstarting the country’s digital TV operations.
Coonan, who has yet to decide on a method for allocating the channels, has announced that the government will sell two licenses with up to 15 channels each. The government may elect to grant licenses either via auction or based on which company presents the best business plan for the venture.
Coonan has said that the channels, which can be used to deliver services to mobile phones, would likely include religious, ethnic, home shopping and possibly pay-per-view content.
Macquarie Bank, Telstra, New Limited and John Fairfax Holdings are among those companies expected to bid on the channels. The successful bidders could potentially win the right to lease some or all of their channels to additional content providers.