Government set to change protection for TV sport

6 Feb 2012, 7:03 pm   -   Source: AAP
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A bill to change the list of protected sporting events that free-to-air broadcasters must show on their main channels will be introduced soon.

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It's a year late but the federal government is set to introduce a bill to alter a list of protected sporting events free-to-air television broadcasters must show live if they hold the rights.

Under the proposed amendments, free-to-air broadcasters would have more ability to use their secondary channels to show events, because the anti-siphoning list will be split into two tiers.

The first tier would list nationally iconic events, such as the Melbourne Cup and the finals of major international and domestic competitions, that would have to be shown on a free-to-air broadcaster's main channel.

The second tier events, including regionally iconic and nationally significant events, could be shown first on a secondary free-to-air channel.

These could include the preliminary matches of international and domestic competitions.

The legislation, which is due to come before parliament in the autumn session, should give broadcasters greater flexibility in their schedules.

In a recent example, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy gave the Seven Network special permission to switch Australian Tennis Open matches to one of its digital channels when the games clashed with the broadcaster's evening news bulletin.

But the bill would also require all marquee list sporting events to be shown live and in full.

Stations cannot hoard marquee events and must show them or offer the rights to other broadcasters.

The amendment to the anti-siphoning legislation was originally due to be introduced in early 2011 but negotiations between the government, broadcasters and sporting organisation delayed parliamentary debate.

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