Australia’s top sports organisations are calling on the government to loosen restrictions on which matches can be streamed for free, arguing that tighter regulations could prevent them from earning the funds needed to invest in their sports.
The Sydney Morning Herald has revealed that the Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports (COMPPS), a group representing major sports leagues including the AFL, Cricket Australia, and the NRL, has submitted a proposal to a government review of Australia’s anti-siphoning laws, requesting that the number of sports competitions and matches required to be aired on free-to-air television be reduced.
Australia’s anti-siphoning laws, which were introduced in 1992 to keep major sporting and cultural events free for the public, are facing a review by Communications Minister Michelle Rowland.
The laws give free-to-air networks first dibs in broadcast negotiations on a range of events such as the Melbourne Cup, State of Origin, and the winter AFL and NRL football finals.
However, COMPPS has submitted a proposal to the review arguing that easing the restrictions would allow sports to access more money that could be used to invest in women’s games and diversity and inclusion programs.
While the proposal has received support from Foxtel, which is currently prevented from acquiring major sporting events before the free-to-air networks, it is opposed by Australia’s largest free-to-air television networks.
These networks argue that the anti-siphoning laws are necessary to protect their profits and influence, and want to see more regulation rather than less.
The review comes as a number of new services, including Stan Sport, Amazon Prime Video and Paramount+, have expressed interest in obtaining the rights to sports in order to boost subscribers.
Somewhat bizarrely, these internet-based streaming platforms are currently exempt from Australia’s anti-siphoning laws.
Foxtel added a free-tier to its Kayo sports streaming service in 2020, and is now pushing for this product to be allowed to compete on a level playing field against free-to-air broadcasters to secure sports rights.
Earlier this year a spokesperson for Foxtel told TV Blackbox;
“In the digital age, free is free, and there should be no difference from a regulatory perspective between distribution via a free to air broadcast service and free via the internet.”
“For example, the Foxtel Group has made games from every competition supported by the women’s and under-represented sports grant available for free on Kayo Sports.
“The recent 2022 Women Cricket World Cup final between Australia and England was also made available free, in front of the Kayo paywall, after free to air television declined to broadcast the tournament.”
In its submission to the review, COMPPS argued that the current anti-siphoning laws are outdated and hinder competition and innovation in a rapidly evolving media landscape.
The group called for the list of events covered by the laws to be narrowed down to those that are “genuinely” nationally important and culturally significant, and said that the current requirement for the Australian Open to remain free is “inappropriate and unnecessarily restrictive.”
Meanwhile, Australia’s free-to-ar broadcasters argue that the anti-siphoning laws are necessary, and want to see more regulation rather than less.
Free TV CEO, Bridget Fair recently said:
“It is clear that we currently have analog rules in a digital world. As a result, there is a real risk that our iconic sporting events could disappear behind streaming paywalls.
With cost-of-living pressures top of mind for Australians, we cannot allow access to key sporting events to be limited by the subscriptions Australians can afford, their internet access or their data plan.
There is nothing more quintessentially Australian than live and free sport on TV. We are global leaders in ensuring that socially and culturally important sporting events are available for all, regardless of how much you earn or where you live.
The current anti-siphoning list is due to expire in April 2023. This outdated scheme currently only protects Australians from sports being acquired by subscription television and would not stop a streaming service or digital platform from buying exclusive rights.
Our proposed model would ensure live and free access to key sporting events for all Australians whether they choose to watch our services through terrestrial broadcast or online streaming.
Only Australia’s free-to-air networks can offer the community the best of a ubiquitous free broadcast network and streamed content via our BVOD apps—providing a seamless experience as audience preferences evolve.
We look forward to working with the Government to ensure that the current 30 year old rules are updated so that all Australians can continue to enjoy live sport on their TVs, free and for everyone,”
The review of Australia’s anti-siphoning laws is expected to continue into the new year, with a final decision on any changes yet to be announced.
Source – Sydney Morning Herald
We have to keep live free to air sports on tv. Don’t have to pay anything and especially older people who don’t have the internet at all.
It’s ok in the us & uk, they have the population to support it.
Don’t they realise that here, ending free to air would kill the sport (c’mon Aussie c’mon – one day cricket anyone?)
WE need to keep live sport on free-to-air television to survive, or else the sport will suffer and so will the fans.