ABSTRACT
Regulatory, commercial and technological changes within Australian media after November 1986, when taken in conjunction with changes in business, politics and government regulation, reshaped the culture of television in Australia towards a high communications policy. The changes towards a high communications policy saw the Australian television industry further integrated with the international television system. The Australian Broadcasting Tribunal took an increasingly hands-off approach to broadcast regulation in the late 1980s as evidenced in its 1987 decision to lift restrictions on the amount of advertising shown on commercial television as a trial of industry self-regulation. Understandings of television are taking new forms to accommodate changes in what is possible to contest politically. Regional Television Australia, the buying consortium set up by the regional stations, was also involved in importing programs and in producing its own program segments for members.
