Sports TV rights review to put streaming services under microscope
The future of sports broadcasting in Australia is under review, with laws that keep major events on free to air TV likely to be expanded to capture streaming giants such as Kayo, Stan and Amazon Prime.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland promised before the election to review the anti-siphoning laws, which give free to air TV stations such Seven, Ten and Nine (the owner of this masthead) first option to buy the broadcast rights for major sporting events including the AFL and NRL, the summer and winter Olympics, Ashes cricket and World Cup football.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has begun consultations on Australia’s anti-siphoning laws, which keep culturally significant sports on free to air TV. Credit:Getty Images
The current anti-siphoning list is due to expire in April 2023. The sports industry, clubs and Australians have until December 6 to make submissions to the inquiry into the future of sport on TV.
The review could lead to the list of sports offered to free to air stations before some paid services being tweaked or expanded, and is likely to put streaming services into the same category as pay TV network Foxtel.
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