Yep its a new campaign and it was launched tonight...
Basically, under a new claim by the Pay TV networks, they want to force the ACMA to make Free to Air Networks give up anything they cannot broadcast.
I think that is crazy, sure some things don't get broadcasted as well as they should, but TBH, not having pay TV, I don't want to be made to not be able to see the motor racing on Channel 9 on Saturday, aka. the Porsche Cup and the Utes, just because FOX reckons they are not being shown live and in prime time.
I already have to go to mates houses to catch the NBL, A-League and soon some ODI matches as I don't have FOX... and whilst I understand that, I don't want to lose more sports due to this.
I will fight for this.. and for the sake of sport for all, I say everyone else should too, whether you have foxtel or not... but in the end its your choice.
Press Releases from: www.freetvaust.com.au
MEDIA RELEASE
4 October, 2006
The principle of ?use it or lose it? rules not in dispute.
Free TV Australia has dismissed the latest effort by the pay TV industry to undermine the access of all Australians to sport on free-to-air television.
Julie Flynn, CEO of Free TV Australia, said ?today?s media release by the pay TV industry body, ASTRA, saying that a majority of people they polled support the introduction of ?use it or lose it? rules tells us nothing? .
?The principle is not in dispute. The issue is whether or not the rules are applied fairly and accurately so that viewers are not left worse off?.
ASTRA continues to use a set of misleading figures to claim that events are ?hoarded?, even though they know these figures are nonsense.
?As we continue to demonstrate free TV broadcasters show the events that they acquire and everything else is available to pay TV ? and the facts are that they don?t show all the rights to which they have access? Ms. Flynn said.?75% of Australian viewers cannot afford or choose not to pay to watch sport on television. They should not be conned by a campaign which aims to force them to pay for sport they currently see for free?.
?Free TV Australia supports the introduction of ?use it or lose it? rules that look at the impact on viewers of removing events from the list and that take into account acquisition of listed sports by both free-to-air broadcasters and pay TV operators?.
?This is necessary so that the government can identify when rights usage is already being maximised across both platforms, as is the case with virtually all of the sports on the list?.
?Most importantly events that are already being covered should not be removed from the list and the ?use it or lose it? mechanism should not result in free coverage being replaced by paid coverage?.
?The pay TV industry is trying to manipulate the ?use it or lose it? rules as a stalking horse to secure live and exclusive rights to events that viewers currently see for free.
Perhaps ASTRA should have asked people if they would prefer to pay a minium of $50 a month for sport or see it for free? Ms. Flynn said.
For more information on how to ensure that all Australians continue to be able watch sport on television for free please visit www.savemysport.com.au.
For media enquiries, please call Julie Flynn on 02 8968 7100 or 0408 455 456.
MEDIA RELEASE
27th September, 2006
Free TV kicks off savemysport campaign.
Tonight Free TV Australia kicks off a campaign called savemysport to keep sport on television the way Australians want it ? free.
In a series of television commercials that will air from tonight, Australians are being urged to voice their concerns over the attempted hijacking of sport by pay TV. These commercials will be supported by a website, www.savemysport.com.au, that details what viewers will lose if pay TV is successful.
Last year Australian sports fans watched over 1648 hours of sport on free TV.
Events such as the Melbourne Cup, AFL and NRL competitions, Bledisloe Cup, Australian Open Tennis, Wimbledon and V8 Supercars were just some of the sports that Australians watched without charge.
Pay television already broadcasts complementary coverage of many of these events ? but they are desperate to get more exclusive, live rights so they can force the 75% of Australians who aren't subscribers to pay to watch the sports they love.
Free TV CEO, Julie Flynn, says ?Australian sports fans take for granted that they will always be able to see their favourite sporting events on free-to-air television. But that right is under threat as never before.
"Pay TV interests and some big sporting bodies are waging war on the antisiphoning list - a list of major sporting events that both sides of Parliament established to ensure they could not be bought
exclusively by pay TV.
?There is no doubt that what they want to do is force people to pay for sport they currently see for free? Ms. Flynn says.
Grant Blackley, Chair of FTV Australia and CEO of Channel Ten, says "We all know that sport brings Australians together. We shouldn't exclude three out of four Australians from taking part in these great sporting traditions."
David Leckie, CEO of Channel 7, says ?This is a wake up call that the sports Australians love are at risk of being lost to pay TV and experience overseas shows that once they are gone, they don?t come back?.
Eddie McGuire, CEO of Channel 9, says ?We have a proud tradition of showing the best sports for free and we are not about to sit back and see these sports disappear from free-to-air television?.
Channel 7 will commence running the spots this evening, Channels 10 and 9 have confirmed that they will commence airing them on the weekend.
If you wish to join the fight to ensure we as Australian can continue to watch sport for free.. visit here:
http://www.savemysport.com.au/Conten...cal-MP-sms.seo