Foxtel’s domination challenged

ETHNIC pay TV operator Television & Radio Broadcasting Services Australia Pty Ltd (TARBS) expects to soon begin broadcasting its 19 English language and ethnic channels on Telstra Multi-Media’s pay TV cable network, following a recent Federal Court appeal judgement.

TARBS conducted a sustained campaign over the past two years to force Telstra to provide it with carriage services, rather than locking up the $4 billion cable for the exclusive use of Foxtel. TARBS managing director Mike Boulos said the company was the first to challenge “the ridiculous situation in 1998, where the taxpayers’ cable could only be used by Foxtel under a so-called exclusive arrangement”.