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Industry awaits Anti-Siphoning outcome

How will the new government resolve the issue of sports rights for television?

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Now that the government has been confirmed, all eyes are on the outcome of the Anti-Siphoning list.

Foxtel yesterday urged Labor to shorten the list of more than 1300 sporting events to “those events the terrestrial networks actually broadcast, as this will ensure more live sport on television, better funded sports codes and money for grassroots development”.

This has been the basis of its “Use It or Lose It” campaign.

Both the AFL and NRL are awaiting clarity ahead of negotiating new broadcast deals.

The Australian reports there is speculation the federal government could allow Foxtel to bid directly for some AFL and NRL games while Free to Air networks would be permitted to show protected sport on their multichannels.

The unknown ingredient in the equation are the Independents and their championing of regional Australia. Logic would suggest they will be leaning in favour of Free to Air networks over city-based Foxtel and even regional provider Austar.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy is expected to announce changes to the list in coming weeks.

Source: The Australian

10 Responses

  1. No one watches “Super” rugby now. Its get out rated by the NRL pre game and post game shows on Fox Sports.

    We need to have the major sporting events on Free To Air, and I’d suggest for the NRL and AFL, commercially for them, they make so many millions from the extra exposure FTA give them, it wouldnt make sense to go completely to Pay TV.

    The problem is really with smaller sports that don’t attract a big audience. I think sport in Australia has changed over the last decade, the NRL and AFL have pushed everything else to the background to the point where even the Cricket season is just seen as a break in the Footy seasons.

    Smaller sports just cant get exposure now, they rely on Pay TV to stay afloat.

  2. I’m not into either AFL or NRL but I think that major sports like those should be on FTA in the capitals and (at least) the major regional centres. It would be a travesty if followers of those codes were forced to pay a subscription to watch them, given their popularity.

    They should also be shown as close to live as possible without affecting attendances too much. (So some matches would be live and some might be delayed a couple of hours). If that means that for AFL in NSW/QLD and NRL in every other state, they are broadcast on a secondary digital channel, so be it.

    Thing is, I’d like to see the Super Rugby and ‘A’ League on FTA too and I’m not sure where it will all fit.

  3. They should scrap the anti siphoning laws and let the highest bidder get the sports they want.

    Hopefully that means deep pockets Murdoch would sweep them all up onto cable where sports nuts could pay for the privilege.

    This then leave a programming gap on free to air which would require them to mkae more local content and thereby strengthen opoortunities in the local industry (by which I mean those who actually work on the shows not rapacious networks or production companies) which been slowing decaying during the last decade.

  4. You just have to look at the way Channel 9 has blown up about Matthew Johns being at the Dally M awards (Which are on Foxtel FFS!) to see their attitude towards the sport. They said as far as they are concerned, the Matthew Johns Show doesn’t exist. They said they were upset that their contracted players didn’t rudely refuse to be interviewed by Johns, who was in character at the time. Now, if Channel 9 wants to pretend that no other TV station exists, thats fine. I just hope those make believe, fictional stations put in a massive bid for the NRL TV rights and we’ll see them split between two stations that Channel 9 doesn’t acknowledge exist!

  5. @League Freak – There need be no more discussion, in 4 lines you have nailed how ridiculous this 1980’s strategy really is. NRL finals 11.50pm into adelaide.

  6. Championing regional Australia… I reckon, the provisions for digital FTA will happen, but with large concessions towards subscription broadcasters, (e.g: Fox Sports needing to supply own commentators, and crews, if they want to air FTA-contracted NRL/AFL games live, against FTA.)

  7. Hey my team the Titans are still in the finals but i’ll have to stay up to watch the game and avoid the internet and tv news for a few hours. I love footy and rugby league, why can’t they put it on at a decent time in Adelaide

  8. I’m lucky, I live in Sydnwy, but nothing angers me’ mire than when Ray Warren boasts that Channel 9s NRL coverage is going into Africa, the Unuted States, the Middle East and Europe, when you know full well that Victoria, South Australua and WA are either nit getting the game at all, of it’s on at 2am!

  9. how about mexico….err I mean Melbourne!!

    Penrith is in the finals, and I have to wait till sunday morning around midnight to watch the game!!

    absolutely no coverage down here…. even when melbourne is playing!

    get rid of channel 9, and give it to fox sports, or one!

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