Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications) Share this | Hansard source

In terms of which sporting events will be shown after 8.30 pm and which ones won't, scheduling is ultimately a matter for the sporting codes and the broadcasters. I don't have with me the NRL and AFL fixtures; I don't have with me the programming and the broadcast guides that will be in the newspapers closer to the events. We would be here for quite some time if I had the AFL and the NRL fixtures and the broadcast schedules with me. So I will leave it to the broadcasters and the sporting codes to release their broadcast schedules.

In terms of how the code rules will apply across time zones, on commercial free-to-air television and radio services, the relevant time zone will generally be that of the viewer or listener. On subscription services, the general rule is that where the broadcast is a national signal, the Australian eastern standard or daylight time zone will apply, regardless of where the actual sporting event is taking place. Whereas the commercial free-to-airs can split their signals, in effect, that's not the case with subscription services. However, the new ASTRA code does provide that the restrictions will apply in different time zones in the event that a subscription broadcaster can have multiple signals going to different viewers. For example, if a subscription channel broadcasts different content in different geographical areas, the applicable time zone for each of those would apply. The ACMA, in registering the relevant code for subscription TV, has recognised that there are technical issues which need to be addressed and are reflected in the code.