Two prominent Australian broadcasting companies, Channel Seven and Channel Nine, are in trouble over wagering promotions. These advertisements were broadcast during athletic competitions, a significant violation of Australian guidelines.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) conducted an inquiry and determined that Channel Seven had aired a staggering 49 gambling promotions during their Olympic coverage in July and August 2021. Channel Nine was also implicated, caught displaying a gambling advertisement during the National Rugby League grand final halftime in October 2021.
The regulations are unambiguous: no gambling promotions are permitted during live sports transmissions between 5 am and 8:30 pm. Extended events like the Olympics have even stricter regulations regarding the timing and frequency of these advertisements.
The ACMA is taking a firm stance, emphasizing that these rules are in place to address public apprehension about excessive gambling promotion, particularly its effect on young viewers. Both networks are fully cognizant of the regulations and are now facing repercussions.
To prevent further sanctions, Channel Seven and Channel Nine have consented to implement new protocols to guarantee compliance with the regulations moving forward. This “court-enforceable undertaking” signifies severe consequences for any future violations.
Networks Seven and Nine received directives to educate personnel involved in the “positioning and airing of wagering promotions during athletic broadcasts.”
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) Chair, Nerida O’Loughlin, conveyed her dissatisfaction but recognized that both stations must now provide documentation outlining their retraining initiatives and the efficacy of their revised protocols and systems.
“It’s disheartening that neither broadcaster managed to rectify their practices before these prominent sporting competitions,” she stated.
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