A statement from Seven Wrest Media:...

Tuesday, 9 April 2024

A statement from Seven West Media

Seven West Media is disappointed with the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee's recommendations on the Communications Legislation Amendment (Prominence and Anti-siphoning) Bill 2023 (Provisions).

Seven West Media Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, James Warburton, said: "The committee's recommendations totally misunderstand the needs of the Australian viewing public in 2024 and beyond. The recommendations are doing the Australian viewing public a disservice.

"The Senate committee has released a report that does not see merit in ensuring free sport for all Australians, particularly those who don't have an aerial.

"As the Minister considers the report, Seven strongly urges the Government to ensure that the anti-siphoning scheme includes the free digital simulcast of the broadcast stream and that Australians see the benefits of the Prominence Framework sooner.

"We appreciate the report reducing the introduction of the Prominence Framework from 18 to 12 months, however, for it to be effective over the coming years it needs to apply to TV screens already in the home.

"Seven welcomes the input of the Greens through Senator Hanson Young who see the merit in a shorter introduction for prominence, reducing it from 18 months to six months and including the digital simulcast in the anti-siphoning framework," he said.

For further information, please contact:

Neil Shoebridge

M: 0417 511 012

1. [e-mail]

Andrew Knowles

M: 0449 510 357

1. [e-mail]

About Seven West Media

Seven West Media (ASX: SWM) is one of Australia's most prominent media companies, reaching more than 19 million people a month with a market-leading presence in content production across broadcast television, publishing and digital.

Seven West Media Limited / 50 Hasler Road, Osborne Park WA 6017 Australia / GPO Box D162, Perth WA 6840 Australia T [phone] / ABN 91 053 480 845

The company owns some of Australia's most renowned media businesses, including the Seven Network and its affiliate channels 7two, 7mate, 7flix and 7Bravo; the digital platform 7plus;7NEWS.com.au;The West Australian; The Sunday Times; and The Nightly. The Seven Network is home to Australia's most loved news, sport and entertainment programming, including 7NEWS, 7NEWS Spotlight, Sunrise, The Morning Show, The Voice, Home and Away, Australian Idol, My Kitchen Rules, SAS Australia, Farmer Wants A Wife, The Chase Australia, Better Homes and Gardens, RFDS, The 1% Club and the TV WEEK Logie Awards. Seven Network is also the broadcast partner of the AFL, Cricket Australia and Supercars.

Seven West Media Limited / 8 Central Avenue, Eveleigh NSW 2015 Australia / PO Box 7077, Alexandria NSW 2015 Australia T [phone] / ABN 91 053 480 845