There is no secret deal to trim the list of sports that must be shown on free-to-air television after the federal election, says Foxtel half-owner News Corp Australia.
Executive chairman Michael Miller said there have been no promises from the federal government about reducing the anti-siphoning list, which limits first rights to free-to-air broadcasters.
"I would like to reject the inference that a secret deal has been struck with the government to water down the anti-siphoning rules after the election," Mr Miller told a Senate inquiry on Friday.
"News Corp has made no deals, has received no promises, no winks or a nod, none."
Mr Miller said News Corp had been open in describing the anti-siphoning rules as "world's worst practice".
"They're not serving consumers. They're not guaranteeing sports fans the best viewing experience."
Pay TV operator Foxtel wants to be able to compete for the broadcast rights to prestige overseas sporting events such as Wimbledon, the US Open and The Masters golf tournament.
In its submission to the Senate inquiry on media law reform, Foxtel called for a number of overseas sporting events to be removed from the anti-siphoning list and suggests it be shortened to those events of national significance.
Foxtel has accused commercial free-to-air stations of abusing the system, alleging they sometimes buy events and don't broadcast them.
Ten Network chief executive Paul Anderson denied that was the case.
"All of the events that are on the anti-siphoning list now are all broadcast by the free-to-air players," Mr Anderson said.
He said the anti-siphoning list should stay as it is now.
"We believe that all of the sports that are on that list are being shown by the free-to-airs in the spirit that the list is put together," Mr Anderson said.
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