The bill’s provisions include the following:
- New quotas for the free-to-air networks which will see captioning on their primary channels rise to 100% of programs broadcast between 6am and midnight in 2013-2014.
- The introduction of the first legislated quotas for subscription television. Channels will be divided into 9 categories, with captioning levels ranging from 60% in 2012-2013 (Category A subscription television movie service) to 5% in 2012-2013 (subscription television music service).
- The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will be empowered to determine caption quality standards for free-to-air and subscription television, taking into account readability, comprehensibility and accuracy, and broadcasters will have to comply with these standards.
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