The top two games of every round of the National Rugby League (NRL) and Australian Football League (AFL) are set to remain on domestic free-to-air TV under new measures announced by the Australian government.
The government has vowed to protect the best action from the two domestic leagues when it gives pay-TV networks the chance to bid for four AFL and five NRL matches per week. The government is introducing a new structure to its so-called “anti-siphoning” list, which reserves some sporting events for free-to-air television.
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has already announced an interim “anti-siphoning” list to protect key sporting events while the government decides how to introduce the new arrangements. The existing anti-siphoning list expires this month, with the interim list featuring new additions such as Twenty20 cricket, the Melbourne Cup and Australia's FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.
Conroy has confirmed he will resume talks with the AFL next month to ensure the code can select the two best matches in each round to remain on free-to-air television, and he will be looking to strike a similar deal for NRL games. Until the NRL deal is signed, free-to-air networks will retain first rights to acquire all NRL and AFL games.
“The Government expects to negotiate a similar quality-assurance mechanism for weekly NRL games with Australian Rugby League's newly formed Independent Commission,” read a statement from the Minister.
“Without a new list there would be no ongoing protection of sport on free-to-air television.” The new anti-siphoning list will ultimately feature two tiers, comprising ‘A’ events of national importance and ‘B’ events of regional importance.
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has already announced an interim “anti-siphoning” list to protect key sporting events while the government decides how to introduce the new arrangements. The existing anti-siphoning list expires this month, with the interim list featuring new additions such as Twenty20 cricket, the Melbourne Cup and Australia's FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.
Conroy has confirmed he will resume talks with the AFL next month to ensure the code can select the two best matches in each round to remain on free-to-air television, and he will be looking to strike a similar deal for NRL games. Until the NRL deal is signed, free-to-air networks will retain first rights to acquire all NRL and AFL games.
“The Government expects to negotiate a similar quality-assurance mechanism for weekly NRL games with Australian Rugby League's newly formed Independent Commission,” read a statement from the Minister.
“Without a new list there would be no ongoing protection of sport on free-to-air television.” The new anti-siphoning list will ultimately feature two tiers, comprising ‘A’ events of national importance and ‘B’ events of regional importance.
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