New research has found 69 per cent of Australians access TV via the Internet and millions will miss out on watching sports if anti-siphoning laws are not extended to streaming services.
Anti-siphoning laws and regulations prevent pay television broadcasters from buying monopoly rights to televise culturally significant events.
Free TV CEO Bridget Fair explains how sport can remain on free-to-air TV on The Briefing podcast:
If these laws aren’t extended to digital services, people who use free streaming services such as 9Now and 7Plus will miss out.
Free TV CEO Bridget Fair told The Briefing, “The laws are a bit out of date in the sense they don’t take into account the fact that we are now watching TV over the internet.”
Almost a third of voters would be more likely to vote for a major party acting to extend anti-siphoning laws. Only three per cent would be less likely
“We should be just saying free sport is the right of every Australian,” she said. “To access their television service how they want. The laws need to be updated to reflect that.”
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