Network Ten Gets Sanctioned For Violating Gambling Advertisements During Live Sports

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) recently sanctioned Network Ten’s streaming service, 10Play, for failing to comply with gambling advertising regulations during two high-profile live sporting events. The violations were displayed during a live stream of the A-League women’s match between the Central Coast Mariners and Newcastle Jets on October 14, 2023 and the Socceroos friendly against England.

Initial complaint and investigation trigger:

The ACMA’s 10Play survey was prompted by viewer complaints highlighting gambling ads being streamed outside the designated hours on that date. Regulations strictly prohibit the display of gambling ads during live sporting events from 5 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., which includes a five-minute buffer period before and after the event to ensure full compliance.

According to an ACMA investigation, the Socceroos-themed international football match was broadcast early in the morning and the women’s A-League match was held that afternoon. Both time zones occurred within the time limits, violating established advertising standards.

Authorities commissioner Carolyn Lidgerwood emphasized the importance of complying with these regulations, which are designed to mitigate potential harm from gambling advertising. “These regulations are intended to minimize potential harm from exposure to gambling advertising during popular sporting events that attract a wide range of viewers, especially younger audiences,” Lidgerwood explained in a press release. She also emphasized, “It is critical that streaming services implement a robust system that ensures ads are strictly broadcast within legal limits.”

Network Ten’s response and future caveats:

This is the first time Network Ten has been found to violate gambling advertising regulations in the context of live sports. Nevertheless, Network Ten fully cooperated with ACMA’s investigation. In response to these violations, Network Ten acknowledged that the problem stemmed from mistakes in the manual coding process. 무료슬롯사이트 The ad scheduling system was then upgraded to include a more automated process and to increase the accuracy and compliance of the ad placement.

The ACMA issued a formal warning to Network Ten and made clear that further violations could lead to stricter enforcement actions, including potential fines or stricter regulatory measures. The action highlights the ACMA’s commitment to enforce compliance to protect consumers during sensitive airtime and maintain the integrity of advertising practices.

The incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges media companies face in aligning regulatory requirements with operational practices, especially in the digital age when live streaming can obscure traditional broadcast boundaries. While the effectiveness of these measures will be closely monitored by ACMA to prevent future violations, Network Ten’s swift action to correct deficiencies in their systems demonstrates a proactive approach to compliance.