Government guarantees best two AFL games each week on free to air TV Phillip Hudson
Herald Sun
December 23, 2010 THE best two AFL games every week will be guaranteed for free to air TV under the new rules for sports broadcasting.
Pay TV will be able to bid for exclusive coverage of the third best game.
The fine details of sports broadcasting rules to be announced today confirm it will be the AFL and not the Federal Government or the TV networks that will select the "two best games'' each week and they will be played on Friday and Saturday nights.
Previously the Government had promised only that blockbuster AFL games would be on free TV. Today it will toughen that to guarantee it will be the "two best games of each round as selected by the AFL''.
But the Government will be unable to meet its pledge to announce the "mechanism'' for locking in the deal before Christmas because talks on the fine detail involving the AFL, free to air TV and pay TV have not been completed and will now resume in January.
It is still unclear whether it will be guaranteed by a regulation in Parliament or a deed with the AFL.
The so-called anti-siphoning list is due to expire on December 31 and Communications Minister Stephen Conroy is expected to today announce an interim decision that keeps the old rules for AFL games.
That will mean pay TV can not directly bid for any AFL games ahead of free TV.
According to sources it will last until the "quality guarantees are agreed''.
The changes are critical to the AFL's hopes of securing $1 billion for the next round of TV rights from 2012.
Senator Conroy announced changes to the anti-siphoning list last month that guarantees iconic sporting events such as the Melbourne CUP and AFL Grand Final must be shown live on free to air TV.
It also allows the networks to show other top events on their digital channels under a new system of A and B rated events.
But the networks will also face tougher use it or lose it rules.
The AFL deal will also guarantee games such as the Anzac Day and Queen's Birthday blockbusters will be on free TV.
Overall four games each week will be guaranteed on free TV, including the two best.
Four (or five when the competition expands) can be exclusively on pay TV.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/government-to-guarantee-best-two-afl-games-each-week-on-free-to-air-tv/story-e6frf9jf-1225974987631
