OzTam to appoint independent chairman after member dispute
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AUSTRALIA— TV ratings body OzTam is expected to appoint an independent chairman after one of the television networks that owns a stake in it complained to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
The Australian reports that Grant Blackley, TV network Ten’s chief executive, turned to the regulatory body to deal with “competition issues” after it complained about OzTam’s measurement of its digital sports channel.
The report said that he had “taken exception” to the way that the sports channel’s ratings were consolidated in the first eight weeks after it was launched last March.
OzTam directors were interviewed as part of the ACCC investigation, and the paper said that the leadership of the body’s three shareholders – TV networks Seven, Nine and Ten – agreed that an independent chairman should be installed to settle disputes.
The paper said Blackley “made headlines” last month by pulling out of a twice-yearly release of revenue data because he felt that his rivals had overstated their share of the market.
