Australia’s government has no plans to expand the remit of the so-called anti-siphoning list to include digital-media players and telecommunications companies, according to the Australian Financial Review newspaper.
Australia’s anti-siphoning rules prevent pay-television broadcasters from bidding for media rights to events before free-to-air networks can make offers. The list includes events such as the Ashes cricket series between England and Australia.
Telcos and digital media platforms are currently not blocked from bidding in direct competition with free-to-air broadcasters.
“The government has no plans to extend the coverage of the anti-siphoning scheme,” a spokesperson for Communications Minister Mitch Fifield said.
A spokesperson for pay-television operator Foxtel said that the government should consider reforming the rules.
“Changes to the media landscape have further demonstrated that the anti-siphoning list is out of date and cannot guarantee that sport will be available free to the public,” the company said.
“The regime does not prevent entities that do not hold a subscription television licence from acquiring sports on the list and requiring consumers to pay for them. As the Olympics proved, neither does it stop free to air broadcasters from using their privileged position to acquire rights and them putting listed sports behind a pay wall.”