Media reforms will turn SA soviet: Labor

A federal Labor MP fears media reforms expected to pass with the support of Nick Xenophon will devastate diversity in South Australia.

A federal Labor MP fears Adelaide will become a "one media voice town" if fellow South Australian Nick Xenophon gets his way on ownership reforms.

A revised package is expected to get the tick of approval in the Senate after the government struck a deal with the Xenophon team.

Senator Xenophon says his deal, which includes a three-year government assistance fund for small and regional publishers, was all but done.

But opposition MP Nick Champion fears the reforms, which also repeal rules that normally limit a single proprietor from owning radio, television and print assets in one licensed market, will devastate his city.

"(Adelaide) essentially will go from not just being a one paper town, but being a one media voice town," he told reporters.

Mr Champion doubts additional money for cadet journalists, secured by Senator Xenophon, will help because newsrooms will close.

"I mean we will sort of have a Soviet or dictatorship system where there will simply be one media outlet, it will be something like Pravda," he said.