Media companies will be given several years to scale back their reliance on advertising revenue from gambling firms in a federal move to soften the impact of a new cap on the promotion of sports betting, as the commercial broadcasters launch a last-minute push to stop a blanket ad ban.
With tempers flaring over the change, the government gave media industry chiefs until Wednesday to respond to the draft proposal and outline the likely loss of revenue, previously tipped to be about $240 million across television and radio if there were a total ban. Free TV chief Bridget Fair said on Tuesday that the broadcasters spent $1.6 billion a year on their content and this would be put at risk by an ad ban. At the same time, the companies have to pay federal imposts including a $46 million annual tax to use broadcasting spectrum.
On Tuesday Jenny Ware became the latest Liberal MP to back a full ban.“I cannot understand why the minister and the Labor government prevaricate on the report after 14 months,” she said. Most affected would be the two major football codes, the National Rugby League and the Australian Football League, which also each draw upwards of $50 million a year in product fees and sponsorship from betting agencies.