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ACMA Finds Prime Television Victoria Breached Election Blackout With 23 Liberal Ads on Racing.com

The regulator says the licensee is accountable for compliance despite partner-produced programming.

Overview

  • The ads for Liberal MP Dan Tehan aired on May 1 between 1:29am and 8:45pm during the Grand Annual Day racing broadcast, with no suggestion of wrongdoing by the candidate.
  • Content was supplied by Racing Victoria under a partnership, but ACMA ruled that licensees cannot outsource their legal obligations.
  • Prime Television Victoria told the regulator it removed the material once notified by complaints and has reviewed procedures to prevent a repeat.
  • The breaches totalled 23 fifteen-second spots during the blackout period from 12am on May 1 until polls closed on May 3.
  • ACMA is considering enforcement action as industry group Free TV renewed calls to update blackout rules that do not cover digital advertising.