Channel 9, a bunch of hypocrits!

First, sorry for the posting delay. Fee has been spamming me so I'll try and start posting again. Hopefuly some of them will even be interesting! This first one however, is another gripe...

Channel 9 were seriously lobbying to keep lots of sport of free-to-air tv. Sounds quite good. Keeps it accesible. The trouble though is quite simple. They have ONE channel (until we drag our sorry behinds out of the dark ages and use the ability of digital TV to deliver multiple screening over the one channel like in the UK it will remain that way). One channel. And ratings and advertising dollars to worry about (this is understandable given it's what keeps them going, but...)

This afternoon, when the cricket hadn't finished, they pulled the plug to go the news. This is a history-shaping test series, one which they fought to keep, and then they won't show it when it's exciting because of other programs. It lacks commitment to the rhetoric they spout about getting every sport under the sun protected so we can all see it. When what they really mean is get every spot under the sun on the list, so they can show whatever bits suit them, when it suits them, simply to make more revenue...

There are two simple solutions to this:

1. Given more and more people are getting digital set top boxes (and they are cheap now - under $100) have a 'press red now' option to keep watching direct telecast of the sport while the news begins on time. The same could be used for Australian Idol and all those other live shows they let run over. Then people actually get choice. And while it will cost a little, it's a lot cheaper than Foxtel.

2. The government should enforce the shows the free channels nomintate to be shown in their entireity, or lose them to Foxtel. Less people can view it, but at least it means if the free-to-air channels pick it up we can have confidence that they will show it!

It's a crazy system where the moment a channel nominates a sporting event they can do things like half hour highlight packages, or not even show it at all, and yet because they picked it up it can't be shown by Foxtel.

First shot for free-to-air tv is one thing, but first shot that also blocks others without the channel having any real intention of showing things properly is just another form of monopoly, only this one is hidden under a banner of 'fair use' to supposedly protect those who can't affod pay TV, but instead is abused simply to maximise profit, and minimise opportunities of other stations to broadcast.

The technology available to us gives us choice, but the major corporations in this country are not interested in leveraging these technologies until they have no choice. It's unbelievable. There are MANY ways we are kept in a technological back-water in this country, and the issue is about corporate control, not necessarily cost. Just like my last post talks about (interesting that since then the Telstra MD has come out and said that Australian broadband is essentially a disgrace...).

Stand up Australia - demand more from those corporations that are more than happy to take your money. Make them realise that we want innovation and a better return on our investments.

In March next year, there will be government reforms on this issue. You can help decide HOW those reforms go. Go to www.fairgosport.com to find out how, read about the issue, and contact your local MP.