TELEVISION BROADCASTING OF SPORTS – LAW AND LEGISLATION – AUSTRALIA

Reform back on the agenda

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Original article by Sharri Markson
The Australian – Page: 23 : 5-Oct-15

The Australian Government is believed to be open to reviewing the list of sporting events for which free-to-air networks must be given first right of refusal. The Government may agree to relax the anti-siphoning list in return for industry support for changes to cross-media ownership rules. Seven West Media opposes changes to both cross-media laws and the anti-siphoning list, while News Corp favours reviewing the latter as part of a broader overhaul of media laws.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED

Foxtel wants anti-siphoning rules loosened

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 36 : 14-Sep-15

Foxtel Richard Freudenstein says "sensible" changes to anti-siphoning rules for sports rights should be part of any reforms to cross-media ownership laws. He argues that while major sporting events should continue to be protected, the anti-siphoning rules should be relaxed. However, Seven West Media CEO Tim Worner and Free TV Australia chairman Harold Mitchell are among those who say the existing regime for sports broadcasts should be retained.

CORPORATES
FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, FREE TV AUSTRALIA LIMITED, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, AUSTRALIAN SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION AND RADIO ASSOCIATION (ASTRA) INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Turnbull swings back at Murdoch

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Original article by Dominic White, Jared Lynch
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 17-Mar-15

Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull insists that Australians have the right to watch major sporting events on free-to-air TV. His declaration, made on 16 March 2015, was not well received by media magnate Rupert Murdoch, who wrote on Twitter that Turnbull was motivated by the desire to protect the interests of his "buddies" at Nine Entertainment Company. Turnbull’s most important recommendation is the abolition of the "reach rule", which prevents metropolitan TV broadcasters from merging with regional TV stations

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, TWITTER INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, FREE TV AUSTRALIA LIMITED, MINTER ELLISON, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM