Is this the end of free-to-air fandom?
AFL, cricket, NRL – no code is immune. As sports games disappear behind paywalls, Adrian Cosstick, head of strategy at Half Dome, argues the cost of watching your team is rising, and the long-term health of fandom is at risk.
Capitalism is good at many things. Leaving a patch of grass for everyone to enjoy? Not one of them.
The ‘tragedy of the commons,’ coined by ecologist Garrett Hardin, describes how self-interest can destroy shared resources. Everyone thinks, ‘we’re just letting one more cow onto the field,’ until the grass is barren.
Sport is fast becoming that overgrazed pasture. What was once a shared, accessible part of national culture is being carved into smaller, pricier fragments.
Within the anti-siphoning list, it calls out that each match in the AFL and each match in the NRL should be available free to the general public. I am not sure about you but I don’t believe Foxtel is free to the general public, is it?
You’ve missed the part about legislation being in place protecting what you’re talking about from actually happening. Until that angry farmer stops blocking the gate, the grass will remain relatively free.
Broadcasting Services (Anti-Siphoning List) Instrument 2024
https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2024L01655/asmade/text
My understanding is it only covers first dibs to FTA networks (asking price too high) and a new tournament (mid season comp) or fixture like a Monday night game might fall outside the anti-siphoning list.
Case Study #1 – Super Rugby
My understanding of the anti-syphoning law is it allows FTA first right of refusal and a reasonable opportunity to negotiate a deal and little else.
I didn’t include this in my article (how long is a piece of string) but gambling ads are likely to be restricted further in the near future so there will be more commercial pressure on broadcast deals moving forward. I can’t see a future where streaming platforms aren’t more involved.
The other grey area is it only covers what is listed. Is a new AFL mid-season competition an unlisted event?
The legislation protects first right of refusal not a FTA guarantee