Government hints at ‘Use it or Lose it’ outcome
"I think there is a very valid case to be made for a use-it-or-lose-it style provision," Senator Conroy says of the Anti-Siphoning list review.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News
The government is hinting at its options in regards to the Anti-Siphoning list review.
And Pay TV will probably be liking what they are hearing.
Senator Conroy has said free-to-air television operators had damaged their argument for retention of current arrangements by purchasing sporting rights and then not broadcasting them.
“That has led to an enormous backlash against commercial TV,” he told ABC Radio on Friday.
“I think there is a very valid case to be made for a use-it-or-lose-it style provision.”
So far this is in keeping with what the Pay TV sector has lobbied for.
It isn’t expecting big events like the Australian Open to be taken off the list. It is content for FTA networks to keep what it has, but it wants to get hold of content that they own but don’t use -the ‘Use It or Lose It’ campaign.
Of course if the government also allows networks to be able to show sports on their digital channels then Pay TV will find that pool diminishes. This is one of the reasons Seven set up 7TWO as a broad channel, to have the flexibility to accommodate a range of content. ONE would definitely get a boost.
The Pay TV sector has also been applying pressure to Conroy after the $250m rebate and the ‘loss’ of a fourth FTA network, with the minister reportedly golfing with James Packer, major Foxtel shareholder. It says its ready for some good news.
And so are viewers, Senator.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald
Share
- Tagged with Australian Open
29 Responses
I’m all for sport being moved to pay TV. I’m sick of hearing “due to 7’s coverage of the australian open; XYZ will resume in 2 weeks time” (as an example). Not much fun especially if the episode just watched was a TBC. And weekends, the FTA channels may as well stop transmitting as there is nothing on but sport (so they may as well be off the air).
Stick it on Pay TV. If people want to watch it, they’ll A) go to the pub and watch it there or B) get foxtel put on.
I’m all up for a free for all. However, this must mean that FTA channels may show the sport on their new channels. Fair’s fair.
How about Football/Soccer getting a fair deal with the Anti-siphoning list. Football has only two events listed – the FA cup and the World Cup whilst others sports with far less viewers like golf and tennis get multiple events listed. The fact the Socceroos aren’t on that list is total joke whilst the Australian Rugby and Netball teams are on there. Football deserves better than this garbage.
Since i don’t care about sport and would in fact prefer it if all sports were pay TV only and leave FTA for stuff i actually want i think pay tv and fta should be allowed to compete equally, with no exclusivity its the only fair move. So get rid of the ASL and no need for use it or lose it. As Colbert says, let the market decide.