Green threat to stop anti-siphoning changes
The Greens say they will block any moves that see major sporting events shift to Pay TV.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News
The latest speculation on the Anti-Siphoning List is that Senator Conroy is looking to give Pay TV the right to bid on four AFL games -a notion that has infuriated Free to Air networks.
Some Australian Open tennis events, international cricket matches and even some Olympic events may also be more accessible to Pay TV networks.
But Greens Leader Bob Brown claims his party will seek to veto such moves, saying:
“The prospect of heading into the post-Christmas period without an Australian Tennis Open available on free TV is just not acceptable.
“And if the Opposition and the Greens get together to defend the public interest through legislation, that will be the new rules,” he said.
“I will introduce legislation to the parliament to defend the public interest in terms of seeing great sporting events, if the government tries to pull the rug from under those events and hand them across to pay TV.”
With the numbers in Parliament so precarious, them’s fightin’ words.
However, Brown has indicated support for some proposed changes, including a requirement for free-to-air TV to actually broadcast rather than hoard events.
Free to Air networks have reportedly issued a private threat to use the medium and advertise against the changes as part of a public campaign. But Conroy hit back, warning that the government rebate of $250m may not continue.
Meanwhile, everyone conveniently ignores the non-legislation issue of networks having the maligned habit of playing events delayed instead of Live, especially hampering viewers outside of Sydney and Melbourne.
A rule on that one would surely be a vote winner.
A spokeswoman for Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said the government would respond to the review into the scheme “shortly.”
Source: The Age
Share
- Tagged with AFL, Australian Open, Olympic
14 Responses
Why can’t there be a dual use list i.e. they can be exclusive for one network in both free-to-air and pay-TV? Ironically with Packer having stakes in both that could be a natural fit. So people that don’t have Pay TV can see it on a free-to-air channel. Plus those with Fox or Austar can see it there as well.
I’d rather they’d get rid of monopolies. So there’s a real choice and competition. Plus they aren’t allowed to be Pay TV only. I also think the secondary channels should play things live at least if the main channel can’t.
I’ll admit most of the time I’d be watching something else with some exceptions. So I hope they give non-sport choices too. That’s why I like the other channels.
Oh good now Bob Brown can watch his beloved Fitzroy in the AFL and Newtown Jets in the NRL on the TV. Definitely down with the sporting public the Greens.
The main FTA channels should have first rights to major sport, and must have it live and in full – or it goes to Pay TV and FTA multi-channels.
Funny how they don’t consider the lack of live coverage the greens for people who live outside of Sydney And Melbourne. Cricket in Adelaide always misses out on the first 6 or so overs of one day night cricket to no coverage at all and sometimes misses out on the end of the days play of test cricket to cut out for news this must change they hord events and do not show them live and in full. and think of the poor Perth people then their is the Australian open tennis night sessions always on a half hour delay in Adelaide and 2/3 hours delay in Perth we demand live sport.
I don’t agree with this at all.
Watching sport on FTA tv is not a constitutional right like some people seem to think it is.
‘not all of us can afford cable’ and not all of us want to be forced to watch sporting events.
I don’t agree with the Greens on most things, but I back them on this…our main sport events should be free…not all of us can afford cable…nor should we be forced to sign up cause some crappy politician wants to play big brother and go against public opinion. Remember, this Conroy is the same guy who wants to control our internet and put a filter on it. I don’t trust him one bit! Once again, the Greens are blocking this filter too.
ive enjoyed watching bob brown blossom over his parliamentary career, from an idiot to an imbecile..
the sooner he’s out of parliament, the better….
@Craig. Couldn’t agree more! The Greens and Bob Brown are useless! Nail on the head mate!
@Hayley The reason people want sports on pay tv is because the fta networks screw viewers around by not showing all of them, or delayed and with only one channel to show it, they can’t possibly show multiple events at once. Whereas pay tv is able to, even if it is at a cost
I so want to like the Greens and Bob Brown, but he keeps saying nonsense like this – I thought they were progressive and wanted to shake up the status quo, not maintain it.
Voting against the $250 million FTA bribe, sorry rebate would have been more constructive.
this would not be an issue, If free to air show Live sport
I disagree with the other posts.
Not all of us have, want, or can afford PayTV.
Why should we miss out?
I certainly don’t expect every sporting event to be free… and I can appreciate that paying your subsciption should get you access to more matches/games/footage of a particular sport you love… but large national events like the Australian Open or the AFL Grand Final… should be “freely” avaliable to everyone.
Bob Brown just showing what a clueless fool he is. There is not going to be a change to stop people watching the Australian Open. All it will do is open up the 200+ games that are currently not shown on any tv at all.
Anyone who would oppose that sort of legislation is a disgrace.
Another reason to hate the Greens and Bob Brown!
In my opinion FTA should have first dibs on certain sport but then it should be open to PayTV, with all the new channels if they can’t show it live then they should loose the rights!