Both ABC and SBS are statutory authorities functioning as independent corporations with their own legislation and charters. ABC is governed by the Australian Broadcasting Act of 1983, while SBS is regulated according to the Special Broadcasting Service Act of 1991. Both acts set forth a variety of legal protocols to ensure editorial independence (Hitchens 2006). The Australian Communications and Media Authority is an independent agency with regulatory oversight over all broadcasting, radio, and telecommunications. It is governed by a board of seven members. ABC is presided over by a board of directors with eight members: seven are appointed by the.
