noosa hawk mad
Norm Smith Medallist
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24290204-19742,00.html
Fleur Leyden | September 04, 2008 12:00am
The lobby group, which represents pay-TV companies such as Austar, Foxtel and Optus, said this, along with Seven's "roundly criticised" Olympic Games coverage, proved the Federal Government's anti-siphoning list - which blocks pay-TV access to more than 4700 sporting events in an Olympic year - should be slashed.
"Despite having the ability to broadcast the opening match of the AFL finals series live in these cities, the Seven Network has chosen not to do so, for reasons best known to them, instead offering sports fans Better Homes and Gardens and forcing them to wait," Ms Richards said.
Seven responded sharply yesterday, saying ASTRA had made "another carping, miserable observation".
"You'd reckon being a comfortable monopoly would be enough but they're still demanding that people pay for sports coverage they currently enjoy on free-to-air television," said Seven spokesman Simon Francis.
"That's a most un-Australian demand, especially for the seven out of 10 Australians who choose not to take up pay-television."
ASTRA last week took issue with Seven's Olympic Games coverage, saying the network, which held exclusive broadcast rights, failed to show live events such as pole vaulter Steve Hooker's gold medal win.
The group said legislative change was needed because the anti-siphoning list was "leaving sports fans waiting and wondering".
Ms Richards said all broadcasters should be able to compete for events not currently shown, which would foster competition for sports rights and aid in digital television take-up.
Not good enough i have Austar but for those who don't i would be peeved if i couldn't see it live!
Fleur Leyden | September 04, 2008 12:00am
- TOMORROW'S Hawthorn-Bulldogs clash is at the centre of the second spat between the Seven Network and the pay-TV industry in a week.
The lobby group, which represents pay-TV companies such as Austar, Foxtel and Optus, said this, along with Seven's "roundly criticised" Olympic Games coverage, proved the Federal Government's anti-siphoning list - which blocks pay-TV access to more than 4700 sporting events in an Olympic year - should be slashed.
"Despite having the ability to broadcast the opening match of the AFL finals series live in these cities, the Seven Network has chosen not to do so, for reasons best known to them, instead offering sports fans Better Homes and Gardens and forcing them to wait," Ms Richards said.
Seven responded sharply yesterday, saying ASTRA had made "another carping, miserable observation".
"You'd reckon being a comfortable monopoly would be enough but they're still demanding that people pay for sports coverage they currently enjoy on free-to-air television," said Seven spokesman Simon Francis.
"That's a most un-Australian demand, especially for the seven out of 10 Australians who choose not to take up pay-television."
ASTRA last week took issue with Seven's Olympic Games coverage, saying the network, which held exclusive broadcast rights, failed to show live events such as pole vaulter Steve Hooker's gold medal win.
The group said legislative change was needed because the anti-siphoning list was "leaving sports fans waiting and wondering".
Ms Richards said all broadcasters should be able to compete for events not currently shown, which would foster competition for sports rights and aid in digital television take-up.
Not good enough i have Austar but for those who don't i would be peeved if i couldn't see it live!