On Seven’s Summer of Cricket

Stephen Browning, Head of Seven West Media Corporate Affairs, writes: Re. “The long-term pain in cricket’s anti-siphoning spin”

Christopher Warren has misrepresented the anti-siphoning scheme. Seven has done nothing to “undermine” the anti-siphoning law, which remains essential to ensuring that free-to-air broadcasters have a fair opportunity to acquire the rights to marque sporting events. Seven’s deal with Cricket Australia ensures that all home international tests and 43 Big Bash League matches, together with key Women’s Big Bash League and international matches, will remain free to the public. Without the anti-siphoning list it is unlikely that would be the case.

As the Minister affirmed on Friday, the anti-siphoning scheme does not mandate that free-to-air broadcasters must show all events, nor does the anti-siphoning list prevented a free-to-air broadcaster from transferring acquired rights to a subscription broadcaster. This has always been the case, as is reflected in many existing rights deals, including the AFL and the NRL.

Jock Webb writes: Re. “The long-term pain in cricket’s anti-siphoning spin”

Given the garbage coverage of the Winter Olympics and Commonwealth Games by Seven I am rather worried. Seven has produced mindless blather and failed to give a background of interesting material. This is true of the Rio Olympics as well. When I first started watching Olympics on TV, there was much wider coverage of both countries and the location. Now it is Ozzie Ozzie, what are there other countries?

David Salter’s assertion that there are six hours of quality cricket on four-five days a week in summer is twaddle. I am wondering, in fact, after the appalling 50-over displays and the inane claptrap of the Big Balderdash (sorry Warwick Hadfield, I had to) I wonder if Cricket Australia has much of a product…

On the missile strikes 

Meredith Williams writes: Re. “Did the missile attack in Syria really happen?”

What really happens doesn’t matter any more. It’s how you frame it and report it, how you spin it and tweet it, that matters most. In this world of alternative reality, what you do matters less than the rhetoric with which what you might do’s expressed*.

*Apologies to Tim Minchin.