Foxtel vs. Gambling-ad Ban

So, it has been a while since the gambling ad ban on Aussie screens has been implemented.  However, it looks that Foxtel is now pushing for pay-TV to be exempt from this ban. Reason being is that they state some of these channels have very small audiences.

What is Foxtel Fighting For?

To jog your memory a little bit, the government imposed a ban on gambling adverts and live sports betting during live sports and children’s viewing hours. They did this in a bid to keep family viewing time ‘clean’ and ‘practical’. This meant that no gambling adverts are to be aired between 5:00 am and 8:30 pm. This is all supposed to come into effect from next month.

Although this ban is put in place to please anti-gambling campaigners, they still remain sceptical. Why? Well, they feel that these laws are in danger of being watered down due to the subscription TV industry, like Foxtel, drafting its new code of practice.

Sarah Hanson-Young, the senator for Greens, states that parents would be appalled to know that these laws may only apply fully to free air TV. She goes on to tell AM that, if you have Foxtel, then these ads are going to be rammed down the throats of your children.

ASTRA – Pay-TV Industry Peak Body, Speaks Out

ASTRA claims that the channels to be exempt from this ban will be:

• BeIN
• Eurosport
• ESPN

Which all provide niche coverage of international events to a small audience. This contrasts from the mass appeal broadcasts of the major Australian football codes on free air TV, which attracts a far larger audience. Further, ASTRA is looking to set time restrictions to clocks in the Eastern states. Reason being is that they only send out one TV signal simultaneously for all states.

Kelvin Thomson, a member of the Alliance for Gambling reform, states that these clock restrictions will mean that those viewing from Western Australia will be bombarded with gambling advertising from 5:30 pm. More so, viewers in South Australia will be blasted with these ads until after 8:00 pm. And let us not forget that these viewers include children.

Subscription TV, like Foxtel and Commercial TV industries, are currently in the drafting stages of their own codes of conduct. However, they are expected to comply with the new laws and oversight from the Australian Government.

It will be interesting to see how this story develops, so stay tuned to Sun Vegas for more on the story.