Heavy advertising of addictive and potentially harmful products such as alcohol and gambling during sports broadcasts raises questions about the influence those industries exert on politicians, anti-addiction crusaders Tim Costello and Nick Xenophon say.
They said advertisers and networks were able to promote such products during televised sports events in family viewing hours because of the leverage they had over state and federal politicians.
The spruiking of odds from Betfair during cricket telecasts particularly unsettled the pair.
"I am disturbed that Richie Benaud spruiks Betfair [during match commentary]. It's a really sad comedown," Mr Costello told the Herald.
Most parents would not want their children exposed to alcohol and betting advertising while watching cricket but the game was now heavily dependent on advertising from both, Mr Costello said.
"I would call on fans to ring the Channel Nine switchboard in their state and voice their disapproval of the blatant blurring of the lines between a great Australian pastime and the gambling industry."
But the influence of hotel and gambling lobbies which generate significant revenue for state governments was such that the big political parties resisted calls for tighter regulation, said Senator Xenophon, an independent, and his Family First counterpart, Senator Steve Fielding.
"There does seem to be a double standard. We have all this concern about junk food advertising on TV but when it comes to alcohol advertising, they can do it with impunity," Senator Xenophon said.
"There is a lot of money at stake," he said of the alcohol and gambling industries. "They are very powerful."
"Saturation sponsorship" of betting during sportscasts normalised gambling in the minds of viewers, many of whom are children, he said. "Gambling is an adult pastime that should only be promoted to adults."
A spokeswoman for Channel Nine said the critics were entitled to their views and the network had no comment. (Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald)
Media Man Australia Profiles
Betfair
Cricket
Network Nine Australia
Sports Betting
Australian Sports Entertainment
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Controversy over Betfair promotions during cricket broadcasts - ABC - 13th January 2009
Reporter: Alison Caldwell
ASHLEY HALL: Cricket Australia will be closely monitoring Channel Nine's coverage of tonight's 20/20 match in Brisbane to hear if the commentators promote betting odds during their ball-by-ball commentary.
PM reported last week on the concerns raised by anti-gambling campaigners and the International Cricket Council about the in-commentary promotions for the betting agency Betfair.
But the network stuck with its promotion during Sunday's 20/20 match.
Alison Caldwell reports.
ALISON CALDWELL: Cricket Australia says it was only last Thursday that it became aware that Channel Nine commentators were quoting odds framed by the online gambling agency Betfair during their coverage of this year's cricket.
But despite an outcry from anti-gambling campaigners, Nine's commentary team continued promoting Betfair's odds during Sunday night's international 20/20 match.
COMMENTATOR: This is interesting, the latest Betfair odds are in, Australia $1.58 and South Africa $2.68.
ALISON CALDWELL: It's understood Cricket Australia was concerned about the ads after they were brought to its attention last week.
Spokesman Peter Young says Cricket Australia contacted Channel Nine ahead of Sunday's match.
PETER YOUNG: There had been some discussion about them moving to a different way of presenting the Betfair relationship they have. But apparently with the condensed format of 20/20, it didn't lend itself to a change at that point.
Our continuing understanding is that they'd be doing tonight what they did on Sunday and I believe that I'm waiting for confirmation that they're then talking about a possible new way of presenting it once the one day 50 over cricket starts later in the week.
ALISON CALDWELL: Now doesn't that concern cricket Australia that they're just continuing with this on air plugging of Betfair odds?
PETER YOUNG: Well we're interested in it, we're still determining what our view is in terms of concern. We do have a good relationship with Nine. We're continuing to discuss with them how they present this.
ALISON CALDWELL: It's an awkward situation for Cricket Australia, which receives money from Nine under its broadcast rights agreement which runs until 2013.
It also receives a percentage of Betfair's revenue during cricket matches.
The International Cricket Council doesn't like Channel Nine promoting Betfairs odds during their ball-by-ball commentary.
ICC President David Morgan spoke to PM last Thursday.
DAVID MORGAN: That is something that Haroon Lorgat our Chief Executive has been in conversation with Cricket Australia about.
ALISON CALDWELL: For its part, Betfair believes the concerns are misplaced; until recently Betfair CEO Andrew Twaits worked with Cricket Australia.
He says promoting Betfair's odds during the commentary is part of its commercial agreement with Channel Nine.
ADNREW TWAITS: You know, there are other parts of the arrangement as well; we sponsor the Hot Spot, you know we have our logo up on the screen from time to time, but it's no different to any other product that's advertised out there in the market place. It's just that we have, as a sports betting product, have a more unique connection with the game so we think that we provide addition context to a sport where otherwise it might not be there.
ALISON CALDWELL: One critic recently said of the nature of Betfair where people can bet on someone playing badly or loosing, that that opens the game up to corrupt events. What does Betfair say to that?
ANDREW TWAITS: We reject that statement completely. The best way to protect the integrity of sport is to ensure that there's complete transparency in betting transactions that the identity of every person who is betting on a particular game is known and is made available to the sporting regulators so that they can tell who's having a bet and take action if there's anything untoward going on.
ASHLEY HALL: Betfair's chief executive Andrew Twaits ending Alison Caldwell's report. (Credit: ABC)
Media Man Australia Profiles
Cricket
Betfair
Network Nine Australia
ASHLEY HALL: Cricket Australia will be closely monitoring Channel Nine's coverage of tonight's 20/20 match in Brisbane to hear if the commentators promote betting odds during their ball-by-ball commentary.
PM reported last week on the concerns raised by anti-gambling campaigners and the International Cricket Council about the in-commentary promotions for the betting agency Betfair.
But the network stuck with its promotion during Sunday's 20/20 match.
Alison Caldwell reports.
ALISON CALDWELL: Cricket Australia says it was only last Thursday that it became aware that Channel Nine commentators were quoting odds framed by the online gambling agency Betfair during their coverage of this year's cricket.
But despite an outcry from anti-gambling campaigners, Nine's commentary team continued promoting Betfair's odds during Sunday night's international 20/20 match.
COMMENTATOR: This is interesting, the latest Betfair odds are in, Australia $1.58 and South Africa $2.68.
ALISON CALDWELL: It's understood Cricket Australia was concerned about the ads after they were brought to its attention last week.
Spokesman Peter Young says Cricket Australia contacted Channel Nine ahead of Sunday's match.
PETER YOUNG: There had been some discussion about them moving to a different way of presenting the Betfair relationship they have. But apparently with the condensed format of 20/20, it didn't lend itself to a change at that point.
Our continuing understanding is that they'd be doing tonight what they did on Sunday and I believe that I'm waiting for confirmation that they're then talking about a possible new way of presenting it once the one day 50 over cricket starts later in the week.
ALISON CALDWELL: Now doesn't that concern cricket Australia that they're just continuing with this on air plugging of Betfair odds?
PETER YOUNG: Well we're interested in it, we're still determining what our view is in terms of concern. We do have a good relationship with Nine. We're continuing to discuss with them how they present this.
ALISON CALDWELL: It's an awkward situation for Cricket Australia, which receives money from Nine under its broadcast rights agreement which runs until 2013.
It also receives a percentage of Betfair's revenue during cricket matches.
The International Cricket Council doesn't like Channel Nine promoting Betfairs odds during their ball-by-ball commentary.
ICC President David Morgan spoke to PM last Thursday.
DAVID MORGAN: That is something that Haroon Lorgat our Chief Executive has been in conversation with Cricket Australia about.
ALISON CALDWELL: For its part, Betfair believes the concerns are misplaced; until recently Betfair CEO Andrew Twaits worked with Cricket Australia.
He says promoting Betfair's odds during the commentary is part of its commercial agreement with Channel Nine.
ADNREW TWAITS: You know, there are other parts of the arrangement as well; we sponsor the Hot Spot, you know we have our logo up on the screen from time to time, but it's no different to any other product that's advertised out there in the market place. It's just that we have, as a sports betting product, have a more unique connection with the game so we think that we provide addition context to a sport where otherwise it might not be there.
ALISON CALDWELL: One critic recently said of the nature of Betfair where people can bet on someone playing badly or loosing, that that opens the game up to corrupt events. What does Betfair say to that?
ANDREW TWAITS: We reject that statement completely. The best way to protect the integrity of sport is to ensure that there's complete transparency in betting transactions that the identity of every person who is betting on a particular game is known and is made available to the sporting regulators so that they can tell who's having a bet and take action if there's anything untoward going on.
ASHLEY HALL: Betfair's chief executive Andrew Twaits ending Alison Caldwell's report. (Credit: ABC)
Media Man Australia Profiles
Cricket
Betfair
Network Nine Australia
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Row over TV betting, by Ben Butler - Herald Sun - 12th January 2009
Channel Nine has continued to spruik online betting shop Betfair during the cricket despite concerns raised by the sport's international governing body.
And Cricket Australia only learned of the continued advertising late last night when contacted by the Herald Sun.
"I don't think we were aware of it until very late in the day today," spokesman Peter Young said last night.
He said Cricket Australia had believed the ads, read by commentators, including past players, were to be replaced by a mention during a segment called the Hot Spot.
"I believe we were advised today that because the Hot Spot isn't part of the Twenty20 broadcasts they have decided to use this device (mentions during play) until the one-day series starts."
During play last night, spin king Shane Warne told Nine viewers of the current odds offered by Betfair.
The deal between Nine and Betfair has sparked an outcry from anti-gambling campaigners including World Vision chief Tim Costello and prompted the International Cricket Council to step in.
Mr Young said the deal was separate to a long-term arrangement that sees Cricket Australia get a cut of Betfair's revenue from cricket gambling.
"I'm not familiar with the details of the arrangement (between Nine and Betfair)," he said. "It's an arrangement between them.
"That arrangement included in-commentary discussion of the odds Betfair was offering."
He said that Cricket Australia was interested in the deal, but its priority was ensuring the integrity of the game.
"People will stop following the sport if they think that it is rigged. We've had an integrity agreement with Betfair since 2003, but that became a broader agreement in 2006, which includes them paying us a percentage of turnover on cricket matches."
Cricket Australia reportedly receives 5 per cent of Betfair's revenue from cricket matches.
Betfair punters staked more than $5 million on the result of last night's match.
Cricket Australia also receives money from Nine under a $315 million broadcast rights agreement that expires in 2013.
On Thursday, ICC president David Morgan said ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat had told Cricket Australia of its concerns about the deal between Nine and Betfair.
"I know that the whole issue of the discussion of odds on a current game being broadcast is something that Mr Lorgat has had some discussion with Cricket Australia about," he said.
Speaking before last night's telecast, Nine spokesman David Hurley declined to comment on the Betfair deal.
"It's a non-story," he said.
Mr Hurley and Betfair couldn't be reached for comment last night. (Credit: Herald Sun)
Media Man Australia Profiles
Betfair
Sports Betting
Cricket
Network Nine Australia
And Cricket Australia only learned of the continued advertising late last night when contacted by the Herald Sun.
"I don't think we were aware of it until very late in the day today," spokesman Peter Young said last night.
He said Cricket Australia had believed the ads, read by commentators, including past players, were to be replaced by a mention during a segment called the Hot Spot.
"I believe we were advised today that because the Hot Spot isn't part of the Twenty20 broadcasts they have decided to use this device (mentions during play) until the one-day series starts."
During play last night, spin king Shane Warne told Nine viewers of the current odds offered by Betfair.
The deal between Nine and Betfair has sparked an outcry from anti-gambling campaigners including World Vision chief Tim Costello and prompted the International Cricket Council to step in.
Mr Young said the deal was separate to a long-term arrangement that sees Cricket Australia get a cut of Betfair's revenue from cricket gambling.
"I'm not familiar with the details of the arrangement (between Nine and Betfair)," he said. "It's an arrangement between them.
"That arrangement included in-commentary discussion of the odds Betfair was offering."
He said that Cricket Australia was interested in the deal, but its priority was ensuring the integrity of the game.
"People will stop following the sport if they think that it is rigged. We've had an integrity agreement with Betfair since 2003, but that became a broader agreement in 2006, which includes them paying us a percentage of turnover on cricket matches."
Cricket Australia reportedly receives 5 per cent of Betfair's revenue from cricket matches.
Betfair punters staked more than $5 million on the result of last night's match.
Cricket Australia also receives money from Nine under a $315 million broadcast rights agreement that expires in 2013.
On Thursday, ICC president David Morgan said ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat had told Cricket Australia of its concerns about the deal between Nine and Betfair.
"I know that the whole issue of the discussion of odds on a current game being broadcast is something that Mr Lorgat has had some discussion with Cricket Australia about," he said.
Speaking before last night's telecast, Nine spokesman David Hurley declined to comment on the Betfair deal.
"It's a non-story," he said.
Mr Hurley and Betfair couldn't be reached for comment last night. (Credit: Herald Sun)
Media Man Australia Profiles
Betfair
Sports Betting
Cricket
Network Nine Australia
Gambling could ruin cricket says Tim Costello - AAP - 13th January 2009
Cricket is at risk of being tainted by gambling, a prominent social advocate says.
Tim Costello says the use of betting agencies, such as Betfair, to promote the sport was unwise.
"When you watch your cricket you don't want it to be like the horseracing,'' he told ABC Radio.
Cricket Australia said it had worked with Betfair since 2003.
Television commentators providing updated betting information during a match was something the ruling body was considering, spokesman Peter Young said.
"We have been talking to Channel Nine and to a lesser extent, to Betfair, about how this works.''
On the table was a more "quarantined'' way of presenting gambling segments during the cricket as commercials, rather than having it as part of commentary.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Cricket
Betfair
Tim Costello says the use of betting agencies, such as Betfair, to promote the sport was unwise.
"When you watch your cricket you don't want it to be like the horseracing,'' he told ABC Radio.
Cricket Australia said it had worked with Betfair since 2003.
Television commentators providing updated betting information during a match was something the ruling body was considering, spokesman Peter Young said.
"We have been talking to Channel Nine and to a lesser extent, to Betfair, about how this works.''
On the table was a more "quarantined'' way of presenting gambling segments during the cricket as commercials, rather than having it as part of commentary.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Cricket
Betfair
Monday, January 12, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Safe bet odds won't bother viewers, by Martin Boulton - The Sydney Morning Herald - 10th January 2009
Australian Open viewers can have a flutter on the outcome of matches, but they shouldn't expect to hear the latest market updates from commentators.
Unlike the furore during Melbourne's Boxing Day Test, when Channel Nine quoted Betfair's latest odds, Channel Seven does not have a commercial relationship with the online betting agency.
World Vision chief executive Tim Costello and South Australian senator Nick Xenophon were angered by advertisements for betting at the MCG and odds being broadcast live by the Nine Network, but Cricket Australia yesterday played a straight bat when the International Cricket Council weighed into the debate.
"They (the ICC) have talked to us about their concerns, but while we have a relationship with Betfair and with Channel Nine in a formal sense, it's an issue between Betfair and Channel Nine," Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young said.
"The concern relates to an arrangement between two parties outside Cricket Australia, albeit two parties that have a relationship with Cricket Australia (and) I'm not privy to the detail."
Betfair's Hugh Taggart defended the comments of cricket commentators, including former Australian captain Richie Benaud, as "a reflection of public opinion" about the match.
"It's not going to suit everyone, but that's up to the viewer and we believe it offers another dimension to the cricket coverage," Mr Taggart said.
"There were odds mentioned last year during the one-day internationals and the Test series, they just weren't given a name or brand-checked as they've done this year."
Mr Taggart said Betfair had a "voluntary product fee arrangement" with Tennis Australia, which pays the organisation a percentage of Betfair's gross profits on matches or markets governed by Tennis Australia.
"We also give them access to our betting records, should there be any kind of integrity concern or suspicion around betting activity (and) that's under a memorandum of understanding we have with all major sports in Australia.
"Insofar as commentary and in-broadcast advertising, we don't have anything in place with Tennis Australia." (Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald)
Media Man Australia Profiles
Betfair
Sports Betting
Channel Nine
Sports News
Unlike the furore during Melbourne's Boxing Day Test, when Channel Nine quoted Betfair's latest odds, Channel Seven does not have a commercial relationship with the online betting agency.
World Vision chief executive Tim Costello and South Australian senator Nick Xenophon were angered by advertisements for betting at the MCG and odds being broadcast live by the Nine Network, but Cricket Australia yesterday played a straight bat when the International Cricket Council weighed into the debate.
"They (the ICC) have talked to us about their concerns, but while we have a relationship with Betfair and with Channel Nine in a formal sense, it's an issue between Betfair and Channel Nine," Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young said.
"The concern relates to an arrangement between two parties outside Cricket Australia, albeit two parties that have a relationship with Cricket Australia (and) I'm not privy to the detail."
Betfair's Hugh Taggart defended the comments of cricket commentators, including former Australian captain Richie Benaud, as "a reflection of public opinion" about the match.
"It's not going to suit everyone, but that's up to the viewer and we believe it offers another dimension to the cricket coverage," Mr Taggart said.
"There were odds mentioned last year during the one-day internationals and the Test series, they just weren't given a name or brand-checked as they've done this year."
Mr Taggart said Betfair had a "voluntary product fee arrangement" with Tennis Australia, which pays the organisation a percentage of Betfair's gross profits on matches or markets governed by Tennis Australia.
"We also give them access to our betting records, should there be any kind of integrity concern or suspicion around betting activity (and) that's under a memorandum of understanding we have with all major sports in Australia.
"Insofar as commentary and in-broadcast advertising, we don't have anything in place with Tennis Australia." (Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald)
Media Man Australia Profiles
Betfair
Sports Betting
Channel Nine
Sports News
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)