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Issue No. 144 | 12 July 2002 |
The Lotto Economy
Interview: Capital in Crisis Industrial: No Sweat Bad Boss: Super Spam History: Living Treasures International: Axis of Evil Solidarity: Pride of Place Technology: The Art of Cyber-Unionism Poetry: The Masochism Tango Satire: Foxtel-Optus Merger 'Anti-Repetitive' Review: Bob Carr's Thoughtlines
Sweat Shops � Coming To A Street Near You Glassworkers Walk for the Umpire Drivers Frozen Out by Corporate Spin Coca-Cola Brews Storm In A Tea Cup Bush Prepares for War on the Wharves Safety Summit A Hit With Unions Beattie Faces Bargaining Face-Off Casual Work Exploits � Catholic Church Agency More Effort Required On Disabled Workers Protecting Security Officers From Disease
The Soapbox The Locker Room Bosswatch Postcard Week in Review
GST Agenda Amanda's Mediocrity Capital Ideas
Labor Council of NSW |
Satire Foxtel-Optus Merger 'Anti-Repetitive'Extracted from The Chaser
"This is a clear violation of the Staid Practices Act," said Commission chairman Professor Allan Fels. "As a result of this proposal we could see two weather channels reduced to one and four finance channels reduced to two, not to mention the devastating potential effects on the various home shopping networks." "Make no mistake, this deal means less consumer choice - less choice about which channels to flick past hurriedly and less choice about which channels to randomly watch when stoned." The competition watchdog has been monitoring both pay TV networks carefully since their inception for signs of monotonistic behaviour. But the Commission's hand was forced by the latest deal, offering unprecedentedly low access to Australian television for shithouse programming. Of particular concern to the ACCC was Foxtel's potential acquisition of Optus' content in the advent of Optus' commercial failure. "That would mean Foxtel would acquire a virtual monopoly in boutique country music programming," said Fels. "Then nothing could stop them." Foxtel and Optus have already entered negotiations with the regulator, offering a wide range of suggestions designed to increase the levels of inanity of any joint venture. Amongst the proposals on the table are tripling the number of hours each consortium spends advertising itself and quadrupling the number of Gilligan's Island marathons.
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