In a significant move that recognises the growing prominence of women’s sports in Australia, the Federal Government has revised its anti-siphoning regulations.
This change will compel Free to Air broadcasters to be given first priority over Subscription TV providers for future Matildas matches in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The move comes after Optus Sport secured exclusive Australian rights to the recently held Women’s World Cup in Sydney. Legally the Telco could have held onto its exclusive access to the tournament in a move that would have significantly reduced viewership for the tournament. However, it opted to sign a syndication deal with the Seven Network in a move designed to offset costs and avoid negative publicity.
Michelle Rowland, Minister for Communications, underlined the importance of this change.
“The Matildas’ incredible performance in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup brought us together as a nation and will be talked about for years to come – we all shared in the excitement as the team progressed from stage to stage,”
This policy alteration comes ahead of the bidding deadline for the Australian media rights to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, set to close on 19 September 2023. By acting pre-emptively, the government aims to ensure the regulatory framework is solidified before rights negotiations begin in full swing.
Matches involving the men’s national soccer team had already enjoyed this level of protection. The new inclusions to the anti-siphoning list encompass not only every Matildas game in the tournament but also the final match and any qualifying games featuring Australia’s senior women’s team that take place on Australian soil.
The significance of this move transcends the realm of sports broadcasting and taps into the cultural shifts underway in Australia.
“They’ve inspired a whole new generation of Australian kids to take up soccer, boosting grassroots sports participation, while setting a number of viewership records as Australians tuned in and cheered our team on,” Rowland added.
“Every Australian deserves the chance to enjoy live and free coverage of these events, no matter where they live or what they earn,” she concluded.
Alongside this, the government is also engaged in a broader review of the anti-siphoning scheme. This investigation, whose proposals paper accepts submissions until 17 September 2023, is scrutinising the list’s composition with an eye towards the inclusion of women’s and Para-sports.
The official registration of this amendment took place on the Federal Register of Legislation on 14 September 2023, and the changes were legally enacted as of 15 September 2023.
