GAMBLING advertising on TV and radio during live sport will be banned and $ 130 million in broadcast licences will be abolished in next week’s federal Budget.
And fewer major sporting fixtures will be shown on free-to-air TV in the $ 445 million shake-up of media laws.
Gambling ads will be banned during live sports broadcasts before 8.30pm and more women’s sport will be shown on TV, under the package of reforms to be funded in the federal Budget.
Iconic sporting fixtures including all AFL premiership matches, the Melbourne Cup, the Olympics, major cricket matches played in Australia and the Ashes will remain on the “anti-siphoning” list of events which must be shown on free-to-air-TV.
Subscription TV services will be able to bid for exclusive rights to air a range of events, including non-finals Davis Cup tennis played outside Australia and some FIFA World Cup matches which don’t involve Australia.
Communications Minister Mitch Fifield said annual broadcast licences for TV and radio stations, which raised about $ 130 million per year, would be abolished to help the broadcasters compete on a level playing-field against other platforms, including the internet.
But a new annual spectrum fee for broadcasters will be introduced in 2017-18 and is expected to raise about $ 40 million per year.
“Licence fees, which are revenue-based, were introduced when broadcasters could generate significant profits due to their exclusive access to mass audiences,’’ he said.
“In today’s media environment, licence fees are a relic of a bygone age of regulation.”
.Source:The Advertiser
The Government had been lobbied heavily by the free-to-air networks for licence fee relief and the issue became more urgent last week when the embattled Ten Network revealed it needed to secure a new $ 250 million loan facility.
Senator Fifield said gambling ads would be banned during live sports broadcasts before 8.30pm, with existing exemptions for the racing industry and lotteries to remain.
“This will provide a clear and practical zone for families and children to watch live sport,’’ he said.
Crossbench senator Nick Xenophon had been pushing for an end to gambling ads during live sport and for TV licence fees to be abolished.
The Budget will include $ 30 million over four years to help subscription TV maintain and increase coverage of women’s sports, niche sports and high-participation sports which have struggled to get air-time.
The Turnbull Government will also proceed with its plan to scrap the “two-out-of-three” rule which prevents a media company from owning a newspaper, TV station and radio station in the same market.
The reform package has the support of major media companies, including News Corp Australia, which publishes The Advertiser, and pay TV sports broadcaster Fox Sports.
Online gambling credit lines to be banned5:01
Online gambling sites will be banned from offering lines of credit under new reforms.
Originally published as Gambling ads punted from live sport
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