What the authors did not address, regarding the consequence of opening media channels to new operators, is the correlation with quality broadcasting.

My argument is that if you dilute the current ownership structures, therefore increasing competition, in time it will lead to reduced returns to media owners (advertising for example) which inevitably then leads to reducing investment flows into new, innovative and expensive programming, such as Australian content, which is already thin.

While choice in broadcasting is good in principle, sometimes too much choice then takes you into the argument about quantifying 'poor quality'.

Its rather interesting that one of the authors was also until recently I think (last federal election anyway) a senior adviser to the Opposition spokesman for Communications. It's interesting that the author talks about choice, but the ALP is laregly opposed to choice applying in superannuation; opposed to choice in terms of industrial relations contracts (union vs non-union); and 'reluctantly' supports the ability of small businesses to bargain collectively in regards to commerical agreements.

Roberto