Commercial Radio 1999: New Networks, New Technologies

Abstract

It is six years since the Keating Labor government's deregulation of commercial radio in Australia opened up opportunities for commercial radio networking, invited substantial overseas investment (and consequently, linkages with overseas media organisations) and virtually closed down the public regulation of content on radio. From any perspective, it remains important to understand precisely how ownership, production and distribution systems mesh with historically particular social and cultural formations. In addressing that context, this essay asks three questions: Citizen Kane issues aside, how have management decisions on networking influenced program quality? Second, how important is geography in this? And third, is technology driving the process?