ABA^Update

Restraining orders sought against the A B A

D arwin, Griffith and Mildura television not satisfied that it w as ‘unlikely that another licensees have taken legal action to person would be interested in, and likely to stop the ABA auctioning new com­ be in a position to, operate another commer­ mercial television licences for their markets. cial television broadcasting service’ in the Applications lodged with the Administrative Mildura/Sunraysia licence area. Appeals Tribunal (AAT) by Darwin-based Ter­ In making its assessment, the ABA consid­ ritory Television Pty Ltd, WIN Television ered three expressions of interest from par­ Mildura and Griffith-based MTN Television ties interested in providing a second Pty Ltd seek to stop the ABA continuing with commercial television service — Prime Tel­ its price-based allocation process. evision Ltd, Imparja Television Pty Ltd and The stay application relates to applications one other party, which has asked for com­ to the AAT by each of the licensees for a mercial-in-confidence status. (For more de­ review of the decision made by the ABA to tail about this decision, see ABA Update 38, refuse permission to each of the licensees to December 1995.) operate a second television service in their WIN Television Mildura Pty Ltd made an licence areas. application to the AAT for a review of the The AAT has set the date of 12 February 1996 ABA’s decision under the Act to refuse it for a hearing of the stay applications. permission to operate a second commercial ‘None of the legal actions currently under television broadcasting service in Mildura way against the ABA stops it inviting licence which was served on the ABA on 7 Decem­ applications,’ said Mr Peter Webb, ABA Chair­ ber 1995. man. The price-based allocations process was ad­ G riffith vertised nationally on 6 December 1995. Ap­ plications to the ABA for the new licences The ABA decided on 13 November 1995 to close at 12.00 midnight, Friday 16 February refuse permission to MTN Television Pty Ltd 1996 (and the auctions are proposed for to operate a second commercial television March 1996 in Sydney). broadcasting service in the Griffith licence area. D arw in It made this decision on the basis that it was not satisfied that it was ‘unlikely that Territory Television Pty Ltd has another person would be interested in, and made an application to the likely to be in a position to, operate another AAT for a review of the ABA’s commercial television broadcasting service’ decision to refuse it permis­ in the Griffith licence area. (For more detail sion to operate a second com­ about this decision, see ABA Update 38, mercial television broadcasting December 1995.) service in the Darwin licence In making its assessment, the ABA consid­ area. This application was ered three expressions of interest from par­ served on the ABA on 17 Janu­ ties interested in providing a second ary 1996. (For more detail about commercial television service - Meridian this decision, see page 5.) Communications, A J Fulton Enterprises Pty Ltd and one other party (which has asked for M ildu ra commercial-in-confidence status). MTN Television Pty Ltd made an applica­ The ABA decided on 3 November 1995 to tion to the AAT for a review of the ABA’s refuse permission to WIN Television Mildura decision to refuse it permission to operate a Pty Ltd to operate a second commercial televi­ second commercial television broadcasting sion broadcasting service in the Mildura/ service in the Griffith licence area. This Sunraysia licence area. application was served on the ABA on It made this decision on the basis that it was 11 December 1995. ES

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