Free TV Australia has issued a warning that Australians could face annual payments of up to $2000 to watch free sports due to new Government laws. The industry body is urging the Government to reconsider its approach to anti-siphoning legislation. This warning comes in the wake of revelations that US consumers are facing payments of up to $2400 to watch the 2024 NFL season.

Free TV CEO Bridget Fair argues that the new laws do not protect Australians' right to free sport on TV, especially if they access their free TV services via the internet. Almost 40% of Australians do not have access to an aerial and watch their free TV via the internet using apps like 7Plus, 9Now or 10Play.

“News from the US today that consumers will need to pay more than $2400 (USD $1600) to watch the full 2024 season of NFL should alarm every Australian. US consumers will be forced to subscribe to up to seven separate streaming apps just to watch a single season of NFL.“This is a clear signal of what we will face in Australia if we don’t future-proof new laws to protect Australians’ right to free sport on TV, however they access it,” said Fair.

The Communications Legislation Amendment (Prominence and Anti-siphoning) Bill 2024 will be considered by the Senate in June. The Bill only guarantees free sport if you watch via broadcast TV, not if you watch your free TV services using free streaming apps.

“In Australia we’ve always had a right to share the highs and lows of our favourite sporting teams with our family and friends for free, no matter how much we earn. Watching free sport brings the nation together and is part of the Australian way of life. We don’t want a two-tier community where the haves can watch sport, and the have-nots miss out.“Australians should not have to sign up to seven streaming services just to get the sports they currently get for free. And this is the horribly certain future under the new anti-siphoning rules before the parliament which do not protect the right of Australians to watch their free sport if they access their free TV services via the internet,” Fair added.

Free TV Australia is a leading media industry organisation representing all of Australia’s commercial free-to-air television licensees. Fair concluded, “If we don’t fix this glaring omission, it is a certainty that Australians will have to pay to watch the sports they currently get for free. And that’s just not right.”