Streaming services win short-term reprieve in anti-siphoning delay

A list gives Rowland the chance to continue consultations with stakeholders before finalising a new framework that will ultimately determine how sports can be accessed and viewed in the future, given the advent of streaming services. It temporarily thwarts attempts by Foxtel and the sporting bodies to have the laws eased, and also the efforts of commercial television networks to make the laws apply to global streaming platforms.

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Industry body Free TV, which represents Nine Entertainment (the owner of this masthead), Seven West Media and Network Ten, wants the current laws to apply to streaming providers like Amazon Prime Video. Foxtel is currently the only streaming provider prevented from putting events such as the AFL and NRL finals behind a paywall.

Free TV also wants sporting codes to sell the traditional TV and streaming rights together and is against any watering down of the list of sports and events covered.

Free TV chief executive Bridget Fair said the need for urgent action was important.

“Without action, there is a real risk that Australians could be forced to pay to watch the key sports that are currently available to all Australians live and free, no matter how much you earn, where you live or your internet access or data plan,” Fair said. “That’s not the kind of country we want to live in, where only those that can afford it can watch the moments that bring us together as a nation.”

Foxtel wants the list reduced and for the rules to be defined as pay and free (not limited to television licences). It argues the current scheme should be replaced by a “technology-neutral” approach, which would ensure listed events are made freely available regardless of which media company acquires the rights. Foxtel CEO Patrick Delany said he was pleased the government was committed to reviewing the rules.

“We agree that every Australian deserves to enjoy live and free coverage of truly iconic sporting events of national significance. But free should really mean free – not just delivered through old-school television,” Delany said.

Major sports codes such as the AFL, NRL and Netball Australia last year urged the federal government last year to ease the laws, warning any further restrictions would prevent them from gaining large sums of money needed to invest in the future of their games.

Rowland, who began consultations on anti-siphoning in October, said further consultation on the matter would begin mid-year.

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