FreeTV is renewing its call for anti-siphoning arrangements to be left untouched, highlighting increased appetite for sport on free-to-air TV.
It put out analysis alongside OzTAM and RegionalTAM ratings this morning, saying the audience for free and live sport increased by 11.5% year on year.
It said that 11.7 million Australians watched sport on FTA TV each week, with audiences increasing 11.6% in metro areas and 11.7 in regional markets, with 97% of all sports viewing via live broadcasts.
The top-rating contest on FTA TV for the year was the second State of Origin rugby league clash, which attracted a combined metro and regional audience of 4.18 million viewers.
FreeTV said the overall increase in live sport viewing showed demand was strong, demonstrating that the anti-siphoning list should be left alone.
"The figures reflect the important role sport plays in our culture and the value Australians place on being able to watch their favourite sport on TV for free," Free TV Australia chairman Harold Mitchell said.
"That’s why anti-siphoning is such an important public policy and why it needs to be maintained”
Last month the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association together with representatives from several codes wrote to communications manager Malcom Turnbull to urge him to free up regulations around the anti-siphoning list.
As things stand, certain sporting events are mandated to be shown on free-to-air televesion, much to the chagrin of pay TV operators and some codes which are keen to shop around for better broadcast deals.
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