Multi-channel score big in new Oz TV sports bundles
Rose Major ©RapidTVNews
| 25-11-2010
Digitial multi-channels are the big winners from Australia’s new televised sports regime, finally announced by the government today after literally months of speculation.
Broadcasters will now be able to show some key events on their second channels which previously have had to be televised on a delayed basis in some markets.
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said: “Allowing broadcasters to use digital multi-channels will see a dramatic increase in the total coverage of sport and give flexibility for broadcasters to show more events live.
“Broadcasters will have the capacity to televise AFL games in Sydney or NRL games in Melbourne, live on a digital multi-channel, rather than providing it on long delay on their main channel. This will save many hours of sleep for avid fans who happen to live in the wrong city.”
The new “anti-siphoning” list, as it was called when first instituted to stop pay-TV operators “siphoning” off popular sports from free-to-air, has introduced a two-tier system, replacing a list which events were either on or not.
Tier A comprises what the government calls “nationally iconic events” including matches in finals of major tournaments such as the NRL (rugby league), AFL (Australian Rules football) and the Australian Open tennis. Free-to-air broadcasters will be required to broadcast these events live and in-full on their main channels, with limited exceptions.
Tier B comprises events such as regular AFL and NRL games and non-finals games of the Australian Open tennis. Free-to-air broadcasters will have the flexibility to televise these events on digital multi-channels, which will increase their capacity to show more sport on free-to-air television.
The list has also been updated, with emerging sports such as Twenty20 cricket matches involving Australia added to the Tier 1 list, and World Cup qualifying matches involving the national team added to the Tier 2 list – the latter a notable loss for pay-TV.
Pay-TV has won one concession from the government, though. The new regime introduces a “use-it-or-lose-it” provision, whereby free-to-air broadcasters must televise listed events they acquire or sell those rights on to another broadcaster, although that must be a free-to-air broadcaster.
Steve Bracks, chairman of the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association (ASTRA) said: “These changes recognise that the terrestrial networks do not broadcast the majority of sporting events on the list. Previously we had a situation where 1,300 events were listed, 16 per cent were being shown live and only 25 per cent were being shown at all.”
Bracks said that the reforms are positive for viewers because it will mean more live sport will be on Australian television, giving them more choice. He added that it will be easier for subscription television to buy sporting events that are currently on the list but never shown, and to broadcast them live for viewers.
“What the government has done is simply to allow subscription television to bid directly (along with the terrestrial networks) for a number of events from the anti-siphoning list that the terrestrial networks have historically not shown anyway,” said Mr Bracks.
Australian events that are no longer broadcast on free-to-air television – for examples NRL and AFL games only shown on pay television – and less popular overseas events – for example non-Australian group games of the Rugby Union World Cup – have been removed from the list.
For the complete list, including a summary of responses to the government’s report into the list click here http://www.dbcde.gov.au/television/antisiphoning_and_antihoarding/sport_on_television_review_of_the_antisiphoning_scheme