Summer RIO 2016 - Ch7 Olympic Coverage Discussion Thread (All Complaints Here)

[RussellEbertHandball]

The Seven Network will charge Australians to watch the Olympics
MARC C-SCOTT, VICTORIA UNIVERSITY JUN 14, 2016, 10:28 AM
The Seven Network has announced it will offer a paid subscription service via an app as part of its Rio Olympics coverage this year.This will make Seven the first free-to-air broadcaster in Australia to charge for broadcasting sport.

This is a new approach to the station’s coverage of the Rio Olympics. Last year, it said the coverage would include all three digital channels (7, 7two and 7mate), in association with a 24-hour digital news channel, online catch-up, and a free app with 36 live streams.

At the same time, Seven said their approach to the games would be “the most technologically advanced coverage of any event to all Australians with its all-encompassing coverage”. This week’s announcement that it will add a subscription service will have massive implications, not just for the future of sports broadcasting in Australia, but also free-to-air television more broadly.
http://www.businessinsider.com.au/t...arge-australians-to-watch-the-olympics-2016-6

Free-to-air v subscription
Seven is expected to broadcast about a 1,000 hours of free content over the course of the Olympics. Coverage available through the subscription service should triple that figure. The subscription service will allow those interested in sports not commonly seen on Australian television, such as handball, to watch every game during the Olympics from start to finish.

Seven’s subscription service is expected to supplement the expected A$100 million in advertising revenue from the event. Part of the broadcaster’s strategy could be to prevent any losses as occurred to Nine, which reportedly lost up to A$25 million on the 2012 London Olympic Games. This was a deal that had Nine split the A$120 million cost with Foxtel.

Seven is reported to have paid between A$150 million and A$170 million for the Olympic rights, far less than the recent AFL rights (A$2.508 billion over six years). And only a small sum when compared with NBC’s US$7.75 billion Olympic media rights contract for the games through to 2032. Seven says it has the rights for a number of Olympic events including the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Going it alone

The other interesting element of Seven’s Olympic coverage is to go it alone. This differs from the approach of past major sporting event broadcasts which generally incorporated various stakeholders (free-to-air, pay TV and digital). It could be that Seven had planned to undertake this coverage unaccompanied from when it first was awarded the rights. Seven CEO Tim Worner’s comments to Fairfax Media in 2014 could have given a hint of this thinking: […] “screen real estate” during the lifetime of the Olympic deal meant they may not need a co-broadcasting partner, but that “around 150 hours of content on any given day [means] there will be many more opportunities than ever before”.

Seven has also been engaged in the streaming major Australian sport events, since being awarded the Olympic media rights. These streams may have been part of a long trial, building up to the Olympics with numerous channel streams and thousands of hours of content.

Was tennis a testing ground?

Seven has been successful in new approaches to sport media coverage in recent years. For the 2015 Australian Open, the broadcaster said more than 1.2 million Australians chose to stream content during the Australian Open Series. Seven then increased its streaming of sporting events in the same year, including for the Melbourne Cup.

In 2016, Seven expanded its streaming capabilities of the Australian Open, launching a dedicated 7tennis app. The app allowed for more than 2,000 hours of live, exclusive and free tennis, catch-up and on-demand highlights and available via multiple devices, including Apple TV and Telstra TV.

Seven’s chief revenue officer, Kurt Burnette has said: We had some great learnings from that in terms of how people were willing to watch on mobile […] It pointed to the fact that convenience was a huge factor in how people consume media. How does the change in approach by Seven – following the change in the way Australians “consume media” – impact the future of Australian television?

Impact upon other broadcasters

The fact that Seven, a free-to-air broadcaster, has created a subscription service as part of its portfolio raises many questions. Andrew Maiden, chief executive of the subscription television industry body ASTRA, said: This development proves the absurdity of a rule that bans subscription TV from buying the Olympics but allows so-called free-to-air networks to charge Australians to watch.

Adding that:

Seven has proven for the world to see that the anti-siphoning schemecannot continue to exist in an online world. The exploitation of this loophole is only possible because the mechanism was drafted 20 years ago, before the internet was a twinkle in the regulator’s eye.

Channel Nine could potentially have undertaken a similar approach to sport broadcasting, when it first received the NRL rights as the sole stakeholder. Although this later changed to include the same multifaceted approach that had occurred previously both for the NRL and AFL.

Optus’ recent acquisition of the European Premier League media rights further adds to the change in sports media rights and its broadcasting in Australia.

The future of Australian FTA

For live sport broadcast to have major success it needs to be at a time when people can watch it live. Therefore the Rio Olympics may not be the case study to determine whether this approach has been successful, due to the timezone differences.

But this is a development far greater than just sports broadcasting in Australia and online streaming. This creates tensions between free-to-air and pay TV, and it brings the debate about media policy and regulation to the foreground.

Further, it raises questions about the definition of broadcast and streaming: are they the same? The battle over live streaming between Nine and WIN, showed that this is still clearly a grey area. It also raises questions about the current sport anti-siphoning laws, which prevent pay TV from being the major rights holder of particular sports allowing it to “be available free to the general public”.

Seven’s approach to the Olympics questions the future of sports broadcasting and whether sport will continue to be free on Australian television. The channel’s approach could become a precedent for commercial broadcasters in Australia to offer their current free service in parallel with a subscription service.

It could include the current “free” service, along with a premium fee-based service. The premium service could have additional content, original content, no ads or allow subscribers earlier access to programs. This is an approach that YouTube is currently exploring in Australia with its service YouTube Red.

In a time when free-to-air broadcasters are losing audiences and reporting financial losses, their current business model needs a serious review. But is adding subscription the right approach for free-to-air television, which has been free to Australians since 1956?

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Seven’s Olympics app proves ‘absurdity’ of anti-siphoning rule
THE AUSTRALIAN 12:00AM JUNE 7, 2016

Plans by Seven Network to charge for content from its 2016 Rio Olympic Games coverage will exploit a loophole in outdated media regulation. That’s the view of Andrew Maiden, chief executive of the subscription television industry body ASTRA, as he lamented that the anti-siphoning rule enacted to ring-fence premium sport for free-to-air television did not apply to internet-based streaming platforms.

Seven will launch a subscription service through an Olympics app and charge viewers between $20 and $25 to watch any sporting event from start to finish, as revealed by The Australian yesterday. The network will broadcast and stream about 1000 hours of free live sport from Rio, with an additional 2000 hours available through the paid service.

“This development proves the absurdity of a rule that bans subscription TV from buying the Olympics but allows so-called free-to-air networks to charge Australians to watch,” Mr Maiden told The Australian. “It is only a matter of time before Seven and then Nine extend this paid service to other sports. Seven has proven for the world to see that the anti-siphoning scheme cannot continue to exist in an online world. The exploitation of this loophole is only possible because the mechanism was drafted 20 years ago, before the internet was a twinkle in the regulator’s eye.”
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/bus...e/news-story/a23c4a79a69383b2e08da14d16e38ad3

Other sources said Seven would offer more free Olympics coverage than in the past and had called for tenders and partnership bids from companies to provide paid coverage of the event, including subscription TV group Foxtel, owned by The Australian’s publisher News Corp and Telstra.

The news comes after telecommunications group Optus slashed the price customers will have to pay to stream the coming English Premier League football season.

“The Optus deal with the EPL and now Seven’s deal with the Olympics are just the first of a growing series of rights deals that will see Australians charged to watch sport online,” Mr Maiden said.

“How can you justify a rule that bans one form of paid subscription but permits all others?”

 

[Cleavy]

well that sucks!

 

[damochandler]

Pretty sure I didn't have to pay extra for the Olympics on Foxtel

 

[Cleavy]

apparently Telstra customers get free access to the Olympics via the 7 app, since they're the broadcasting partner
http://ausdroid.net/2016/07/04/telstra-will-offer-premium-access-olympics-7-app/

updated:
The ‘Olympics on 7’ app is free to download for all Australians from the App Store or Google Play from August 1st to August 21st 2016.
Premium access is available to all Australians for a one-off fee of $19.95.
Telstra Mobile customers get premium access for free and will not be charged the one-off fee.
Data charges apply.

 

[damochandler]

apparently Telstra customers get free access to the Olympics via the 7 app, since they're the broadcasting partner
http://ausdroid.net/2016/07/04/telstra-will-offer-premium-access-olympics-7-app/

Blackdoor deal behind the aocs back

 

[Cleavy]

I've probably missed it in here somewhere (or in the App Store), but, any indication on when 7's app will be released?

1st August
http://ausdroid.net/2016/07/04/telstra-will-offer-premium-access-olympics-7-app/

 

[RWnBluey]

All commercial Free TV main channels are some what shit because they have to have a zillion commercials to try to cover broadcast rights $$$ paid to the IOC + broadcast production costs. Then they pander to the plebs and have a ridiculous amount of replays of Aussie winning medals or swimming as its in the first week and we do well in that. They miss out on great moments and make out they are showing them live when they might be an hour delayed.

Its why the ABC radio coverage has always been great because they can go around the grounds and dont have to spend 5 minutes telling the plebs what is going on. Its why when 7 had their C7 cable stations - 3 x 24 hours in Sydney they were great because on some of them they just showed one sport un interrupted. Its why SBS in 2008 were great because they were given just the team sports by 7 and some of the minor sports but they showed them uninterupted from start to finish. The same with Fox Sports 8 channels in London.

It will be interesting to see how well 7 use 72 and 7mate plus their live streaming app/online service. i think they said every sport will be available and over 2,500 hours live.

I can't like this post enough.

 

[RWnBluey]

apparently Telstra customers get free access to the Olympics via the 7 app, since they're the broadcasting partner
http://ausdroid.net/2016/07/04/telstra-will-offer-premium-access-olympics-7-app/

updated:
The ‘Olympics on 7’ app is free to download for all Australians from the App Store or Google Play from August 1st to August 21st 2016.
Premium access is available to all Australians for a one-off fee of $19.95.
Telstra Mobile customers get premium access for free and will not be charged the one-off fee.
Data charges apply.

So this will be metered even for Telstra customers?

 

[Cleavy]

So this will be metered even for Telstra customers?

looks that way (the updated part was taken directly from Telstra's website).

 

[RWnBluey]

looks that way (the updated part was taken directly from Telstra's website).

Great so because of their shitty data packs I'll be able to stream at least 45 mins of sport over entire 2.5 weeks. Seriously, if it's metered what's the farking point

 

[danstar]

i assume some law by the head of the olympic broadcasting commission says that all broadcasters have to charge a fee for any streaming service

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Pretty sure I didn't have to pay extra for the Olympics on Foxtel

It was $50 for 8 channels. It might have been $25 or $35 for early bird subscribers.

 

[Cleavy]

i assume some law by the head of the olympic broadcasting commission says that all broadcasters have to charge a fee for any streaming service

ch10 didn't charge a fee for their Winter Olympics streams

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

So 7 via the app is supplying us with
http://ausdroid.net/2016/07/04/telstra-will-offer-premium-access-olympics-7-app/
The app is purpose built for the games and will be launching on Google Play (and the Apple app store) on the 1st of August, staying live until the end of the games on August 21st. The Premium Olympics on 7 app will host a number of great features, including:

• Up to 36 dedicated channels
• Live video streaming of every competition session from Rio 2016
• Over 3000 hours of competition available in full and on-demand
• Supplementary feeds for Golf and Sailing
• 24/7 streaming of the Olympic Games News Channel
• Highlights from every session
• Interactive medal tally

http://ausdroid.net/2016/07/04/telstra-will-offer-premium-access-olympics-7-app/

 

[damochandler]

It was $50 for 8 channels. It might have been $25 or $35 for early bird subscribers.

That was for the Winter Olympics

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

That was for the Winter Olympics

Maybe you are right and that was the deal for Sochi.

The more I think about it the more I reckon London was free for existing subscribers but anyone who signed on after a certain date had to pay $50 extra. There was definitely some fee for somebody for London.

 

[damochandler]

Maybe you are right and that was the deal for Sochi.

The more I think about it the more I reckon London was free for existing subscribers but anyone who signed on after a certain date had to pay $50 extra. There was definitely some fee for somebody for London.

They only had the rights for Vancouver. 10 took the rights and didn't show anything

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

They only had the rights for Vancouver. 10 took the rights and didn't show anything

Ok when you said Winter I thought Sochi not Vancouver.

 

[BigVic]

Maybe you are right and that was the deal for Sochi.

The more I think about it the more I reckon London was free for existing subscribers but anyone who signed on after a certain date had to pay $50 extra. There was definitely some fee for somebody for London.

It was free for all sports subscriber even after a later date

 

[Bomberboyokay]

This is the first Olympics since I started paying for a VPN. Interested to see the BBC and CBC coverage

Definitely not paying Seven to watch it on my phone.

 

[matt_897]

This is the first Olympics since I started paying for a VPN. Interested to see the BBC and CBC coverage

Definitely not paying Seven to watch it on my phone.

If the BBC coverage is like London's then you are in for a treat.

 

[danstar]

just had a look at the tv guide for 2 weeks ahead and it looks as though during the hours of competition 7 7two and 7mate will all be running with olympic coverage and various highlights running outside of competition hours. This looks good for those who dont want to pay for streaming services

 

[Cleavy]

just had a look at the tv guide for 2 weeks ahead and it looks as though during the hours of competition 7 7two and 7mate will all be running with olympic coverage and various highlights running outside of competition hours. This looks good for those who dont want to pay for streaming services

but I don't want to watch "ch7 personalities infotainment segments on Rio".

 

[Babylove]

ch10 didn't charge a fee for their Winter Olympics streams

Seriously who'd pay to watch the Winter Olympics? 7 are charging for the Summer Olympics because they know people will pay for it. Ten didn't charge for the Winter Olympics because they knew no one would pay for it.