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Seven permitted to switch Australian Open to 7TWO

The Government has lifted restrictions on the Australian Open to allow the Seven Network to continue its broadcast on 7TWO.

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The Government has lifted restrictions on the Australian Open to allow the Seven Network to continue its broadcast on 7TWO.

Senator Conroy announced the changes yesterday, which relaxes an anti-siphoning rule that requires the events to be broadcast on Seven’s primary channel.

“I am pleased to announce changes that will allow the Seven Network to continue coverage of matches on its digital multi-channel 7TWO where they clash with regularly scheduled programming on the primary channel,” he said.

“These changes will provide tennis fans with improved coverage of one of Australia’s premier sporting events.”

As recently as last year Seven suspended some closely-fought matches to cut to Seven News, Today Tonight and Home and Away.

Seven yesterday welcomed to changes.

In a statement Seven boss David Leckie said, “We welcome the Minister’s decision to allow flexibility in our broadcast schedules for the Australian Open.

“It is a pragmatic positive for our viewers and the sport and recognises the reach of digital television which is available to over 75% of Australians and increasing.

“The past couple of days have provided an indication of how we will approach the issue of managing match coverage and our commitment to Seven News, in particular.

“Our switch in scheduling of the tennis to 7TWO to allow Seven News‘ continuous coverage of the floods impacting Queensland and northern New South Wales graphically indicates the benefits of the flexibility of the new digital channels in ensuring we meet the demands of all television viewers.”

This week Seven has switched Medibank International and AAMI Kooyong matches to 7TWO to continue coverage of the flood crisis, but neither was on the anit-siphoning list.

The new anti-siphoning list will only require Finals to remain on the primary channel once legislation is passed.

The Australian Open broadcast begins on Monday.

A Seven spokesperson explained to TV Tonight that use of 7TWO for matches would be made as needed.

36 Responses

  1. How about showing it live on 7mate? I note 7mate is showing Magnum PI, Baywatch, Night Rider, The A team etc, all SD at best, while watch a far from sharp image on my large screen. HD scheduling/usage in Australia is a joke that isn’t funny.

  2. Worse is the potential Federer-Nadal Men’s Final delayed again in WA. How come Seven Perth telecast the Skyworks (R), Home Improvement (R), Mecurio’s Menu and News instead of showing us a live coverage of the blockbuster match?

  3. The only reason this has not be “allowed” up until now is that the commercial channels didn’t want it, finally they’ve embraced multichannelling .. one day i might start watching them again.

    Now, it might be great that the tennis might be shown on the 7two channel … but how about getting the matches Live … Hewitt’s match was 2 sets behind real-time the other night!

    I’m from WA but when it is sport .. show it Live … i do not care about your stupid news, makeup current affairs or wishywashy soapies .. i want Live sport!

  5. Seriously the anti-siphoning rules have not improved Channel 7’s coverage in Queensland and I dare say it hasn’t in other states like SA, NT & WA. Even though they are allowed to use their 2nd channel 7Two so it doesn’t interrupt normal programming, Channel 7 do not use it, or do not know how to use it. We still get the night matches on 1 hour delay. Surely they could use 7Two to broadcast the night session ‘Live’ from 6pm (Qld Time) while they show News & Today Tonight on normal Channel 7 and then at 7PM (Qld Time) continue showing the match or switch it to Channel 7 from 7Two and continue showing it Live. That way we get to see Live Tennis and they still get to show News & Today Tonight (if anyone wants to watch them).

  6. Why isn’t 72 currently broadcasting the Groth vs Wickmayer match?

    Today Tonight is currently aired whilst this match is taking place, and now QLD viewers have just missed an entire set of live tennis?

  7. I’m pleased that you are showing the tennis and the commentary is informative and entertaining.
    You do let yourselves down though when broadcasting sports like tennis when its not in HD.
    Sport is The reason I bought a HD tv.
    In the long run it will be to your detriment and many viewers like myself will be bitterly disappointed.

  8. @Jerome – If you think HD is overated then you havent really watched a HD program!

    Would Nine be allowed to show the Cricket on the Digital channels or didnt they ask?

  9. Jerome, haven’t watched any tennis but I think it would be different based on the difference between motorsport on One (live and in HD where available) and motorsport on 7 (SD and delayed to fit in more ads). One have shown repeatedly they take sport much more seriously than 7 and 9 (the latter reneged on their commitment to show the cricket in HD on Gem).

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