Television and radio industries attack new plans to restrict gambling advertising
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Free TV and Commercial Radio Australia have issued statements attacking proposed further bans on gambling advertising during live sport broadcasts.
Free TV Australia (FTV) and Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) have criticised an attempt by the Labor Party to amend the Interactive Gambling Bill to phase out and ban advertising of betting odds and gambling commercials during live sports broadcasts.
FTV describes the bans as “unwarranted” and CRA dismisses them as “counterproductive” in releases sent today.
“There has been no consultation with the industry,” says Joan Warner, CRA CEO.
“Commercial broadcasters already have the most comprehensive, targeted set of restrictions on the promotion of betting services of any media platform in Australia,” says FTV CEO Brett Savill.
Measures already in place include a ban on the promotion of live odds during play, as well as a ban on the promotion of odds by commentators and their guests for 30 minutes before and after play. These are in addition to family viewing time safeguards prohibiting:
- All advertisements relating to betting and gambling during programs classified G netweem 6am and 8:30am and 4pm and 7pm,
- all advertisements relating to betting and gambling during any program that is braodcast between 5am and 8:30pm and that is principally directed to children, regardless of classification.
“The industry worked closely with ACMA to develop the codes to ensure they met community expectations,” says Warner. “Given there have been no complaints on this topic, any further restrictions cannot be justified.”
The FTV release says “Complaints about betting are low, and broadcasters have demonstrated very high levels of compliance to the Code over a sustained period”.
“The recently published Australian Gambling Statistics indicate that total sports betting turnover represents less than 4% of total gambling turnover,” it says.
Neither industry body’s release discloses the revenue it makes from betting advertising, nor what it stands to lose if the proposed further bans eventuate.
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