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ASTRA's Codes of Practice







ASTRA is responsible for Codes of Practice for Subscription Broadcast Television, Subscription Narrowcast Television, Open Narrowcast Television and Subscription Narrowcast Radio services.

ASTRA’s codes for subscription narrowcasting radio cover general guidelines for programming, complaints handling and customer service, in the case of subscription services. In addition ASTRA’s codes for narrowcast television also include classification and placement of programming.

The codes provide clear and consistent information to enable consumers to make informed decisions about the nature of the programming they elect to receive.

Additionally, Subscription TV operators are committed to the protection of subscribers' interests in all aspects of their service provider-subscriber relationships. This includes issues relating to subscriber options, fault repair, subscriber privacy, credit management and billing, all of which are covered by the codes.

Those operators who provide both broadcasting and narrowcasting programming are subject to both the narrowcasting and subscription broadcasting sets of codes.

The Broadcasting Services Act Cth (1992) (‘BSA’) sets out a self-regulatory regime for broadcasters where the onus to respond to complaints and matters of community concern rests with the broadcaster, in the first instance. If a complaint is unresolved or community safeguards have proven inadequate, that the regulatory authority (the ABA) steps in.

Each broadcasting sector is tasked with developing their own codes of practice to cover matters of community concern as set out at section 123 of the BSA. These matters include, the classification of programs, accuracy and fairness in news and current affairs, advertising time, complaints handling, captioning, and for Subscription TV licensees, dealings with customers such as billing and fault repair.

Once determined, standards become a condition of licence for all relevant broadcasters (& narrowcasters).

Subscription Broadcast Television Code
Subscription Narrowcast Television Code
Open Narrowcast Television
Subscripton Narrowcast Radio Code



Subscription Broadcast Television Code






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Subscription Narrowcast Television Code






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Open Narrowcast Television






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Subscripton Narrowcast Radio Code






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