Fed: ABA to investigate revising anti siphoning list

AAP General News (Australia)
02-15-2001
Fed: ABA to investigate revising anti siphoning list

CANBERRA, Feb 15 AAP - The list of sporting events that should be available first on
free-to-air television may be revised after an investigation by the Australian Broadcasting
Authority (ABA).

The ABA is looking at which events should be included on the anti-siphoning list and
for how long.

Communications Minister Richard Alston has directed the ABA to report by June 30 on
which events should be removed from or added to the anti-siphoning list.

ABA deputy chairwoman Lyn Maddock said sport played an important part in Australian
lives and there was a public expectation that significant events should be available on
free-to-air television.

"The investigation into the pattern of broadcast for each event will guide the ABA
in identifying which events it will recommend that the minister should remove from or
add to the anti-siphoning list," she said in a statement.

In conducting its investigation the ABA must have regard to the policy that an event
should only be included in the list if it had been consistently broadcast free to air
during the past five years.

The Hong Kong Sevens rugby union tournament could be scrubbed as it has not been shown
for the past three years.

Under anti-siphoning rules, commercial networks, the ABC and SBS have priority over
pay television licensees to acquire rights to broadcast listed events.

Free-to-air broadcasters are not compelled to acquire rights to listed events nor to
broadcast those to which they do hold rights.

If no free-to-air network has acquired rights, pay TV licensees may request the minister
delist an event so they can show it live.

The anti-siphoning list includes the Melbourne Cup, Australian Football League matches,
National Rugby League matches, rugby union tests and matches in the World Cup, National
Soccer League and World Cup matches and the English Football Association Cup final, cricket
tests and one-day matches involving Australia, Grand Slam tennis matches and several other
tournaments, and a range of netball, basketball, golf and motor sports events.

Unlisted events have included cricket matches involving Australian teams overseas and
the Hong Kong Sevens.

AAP fh/daw/maur/bwl

KEYWORD: SIPHONING

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.