Turnbull tests waters about changes to anti-siphoning list
The Australian
April 06, 2015 12:00AM
Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull is canvassing support for a reduction in the controversial anti-siphoning list in a move that could remove some sports fixtures but leave the major events untouched.
It is understood Mr Turnbull has contacted MPs to test the *waters about a partial rollback of antiquated media laws that quarantine the nation’s most significant sports for free-to-air TV. “It’s been put to us to see if it’s something they could move on,” one MP told The Australian.
A spokesman for Mr Turnbull declined to comment.
The Australian understands Mr Turnbull has expressed a view to industry players and colleagues that some changes could be made to a list of more than 1000 sporting events and individual matches.
The sounding-out of MPs is said to have taken place in the last week amid lobbying from the major codes, which are keen for the number of sporting events that have to be shown on free-to-air TV to be reduced sharply.
Mr Turnbull has recommended cabinet introduce laws to abolish the “out of date” population-reach rule and the “two out of three” rule, in what would be the biggest shake-up of media laws for three decades.
Initially, the proposed reforms left the anti-siphoning regime untouched, opening up Mr Turnbull to the accusation he had failed to secure the “high-level consensus” he vowed to attain before introducing reforms. The recommendations have been sent to Tony Abbott’s office, which is said to be mulling its *options.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister declined to comment about the possibility of anti-*siphoning joining the other *mooted changes to media laws.
Any policy changes would need backing from Labor communications spokesman Jason Clare, who has only ever spoken in favour of the population reach rule being removed.
The potential reform would result in showpiece events such as the AFL and NRL finals, and the Melbourne Cup, remaining on free-to-air TV. But some of the long list of local and overseas events reserved for free-to-air TV, including those hoarded by the networks, would be removed, *enabling the subscription-TV *industry to bid for rights.
While the subscription TV industry has advocated for the list to be shortened to allow for a free market for sports rights, it has been irritated by incorrect claims it is calling for the anti-siphoning list to be completely dismantled.
“I’m unhappy with the way this has been portrayed; it’s not what we’re after,” News Corp Australia chief executive Julian Clarke told The Australian.
“But it is the world’s longest list; it’s ridiculous and like the other media laws, it needs to be brought into the 21st century.”
Major sports, including AFL, NRL, soccer, netball, rugby union, tennis and cricket, are seeking the ability to sell their broadcast rights to a wider range of buyers.
As not-for-profit bodies, the rights are their main source of funding. They argue that any lost value is a loss to ultimate stakeholders — the players, clubs, the grassroots level of the game, and local communities.
“We have been engaged in ongoing discussions with the federal government for a number of years in relation to anti-siphoning,” a spokesman for the AFL said.
The codes recognise the internet has introduced avenues of competition that render rules introduced pre-internet irrelevant. They say it no longer makes sense to be forced to broadcast their sports on free-to-air television at a time when other sports around the world are maximising the price they get for digital rights.
