Australian TV and radio networks to lose more than $200m in annual gambling advertising
Free-to-air television networks and metro radio stations are fighting to protect the $238.6 million in gambling advertising revenue the ACMA recently calculated they rake in each calendar year.
A parliamentary inquiry of the country’s gambling advertising laws more than a year ago proposed a total ban on gambling advertising and sponsorship.
At the time, Anthony Albanese told ABC Radio the Labor Government would “give consideration to the recommendations,” but 14 months have since passed without action.
“I’ve said before that the idea you’re watching a footy game and, on comes an ad for gambling, I find pretty reprehensible,” Albanese said at the time.
Last week, according to the AFR, representations from the three free-to-air networks, peak bodies Responsible Wagering Australia and Free TV, the AFL and NRL, and wagering companies Sportsbet, Tabcorp, and Entain, met with Communications Minister Michelle Rowland’s office, and have until the end of this week to voice their concerns over gambling advertising reforms.
Rowland is reportedly proposing a softened version of the recommendations that would ban gambling advertising an hour before and after live sport, cap free-to-TV advertising to two hours an hour until 10pm, and ban all social media and digital advertising.
In turn, it is believed that the free-to-air networks will push back on the $46 million the sector pays in spectrum fees each year, as a way of making up the advertising drop.
Such restrictions also threaten the high prices currently paid for sporting broadcasting rights, which are bought with the understanding that the costs can be offset with lucrative gambling advertising dollars.
“The government continues to engage with stakeholders regarding the recommendations from the online wagering inquiry as we formulate our response,” a spokesperson from Rowland’s office said.
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It would be better for the nation and Federal Social welfare budget, if the $46m pa spectrum fees were abolished straight away , to get some way to a total ban away in line with sports rights expiries. So say 2030 100% phase out, when all but (you all will need to check) the 2032 Brisbane Olympics would have expired . So match of revenue reduction from gambling with spectrum fee abolishment, and after 2030 a known solid basis for bidding for sports renewals without gambling revenues.
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I understand Roger’s logic and agree that money would help social welfare investment. But I think there are some speed-bumps.
The ‘spectrum’ is managed by ACMA, but they don’t own it. In essence the spectrum is an asset that belongs to the Australian people – not the government, ACMA and the TV stations. And wasn’t there a roughly 3/4 reduction in spectrum rental costs when COVID hit? And now they want the spectrum they need for nothing.
But I seem to recall that we the citizens and consumers have to pay handsomely for the spectrum that devices like TVs, mobile and fixed ‘phones, PCs etc. and I don’t see that the consumers costs are being treated in a similar way. And, oh, yes a large slice of them are facing bigger bills and are also feeling economic pain – and that is not assisting social welfare but worsening it.
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I totally support a total ban in gambling advertising. Gambling addiction is very real and destroys not just the life of the addict, but their families, with a ripple effect throughout the community. The amount of gambling advertising from all media is deplorable.
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