Network Ten, an Australian television broadcaster, has recently come under scrutiny after it was discovered that gambling advertisements were improperly aired during the broadcast of the 2024 Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix. This incident, marked by four specific violations during the first practice round on March 22, 2024, has prompted an official response from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
Regulatory oversight and broadcast lapses:
The ACMA’s investigation into the matter revealed that these advertisements were shown during times when gambling promotions are strictly prohibited under the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice. This code explicitly restricts such promotions during live sports broadcasts between 5:00 AM and 8:30 PM, extending to five minutes before and after the event to safeguard viewers from potential gambling-related harms.
Carolyn Lidgerwood, a member of the ACMA, emphasized the necessity of stringent controls to prevent such breaches. “Broadcasters should have strict controls in place to ensure compliance with the restrictions on gambling ads during sporting events,” she stated in ACMA’s press release. The oversight by Network Ten was attributed to human error, marking its first transgression against the established advertising rules.
In response to the breach findings, Network Ten has taken proactive steps to amend its scheduling procedures and bolster its advertisement controls. The network has committed to a comprehensive review of its processes to integrate additional quality measures and to conduct training for its staff aimed at avoiding future violations. Furthermore, Network Ten has agreed to provide a written progress report to the ACMA, detailing the improvements and ongoing compliance efforts.
Broader implications and additional regulatory actions:
The incident with Network Ten coincides with broader regulatory activities aimed at curbing illegal and unethical gambling practices. The ACMA has been actively involved in other related measures, including ordering Australian ISPs to block access to several illegal online gambling and affiliate marketing websites such as JokaRoom and AUDPokies888. Since November 2019, a total of 1,154 illegal sites have been blocked, and approximately 220 services have withdrawn from the Australian market following tighter regulations introduced in 2017.
This breach serves as a significant reminder of the need for vigilant enforcement of advertising standards to protect the community from gambling-related risks. The incident also underscores the ongoing legislative and policy efforts across Australia to fortify gambling laws and ensure that broadcasters and digital platforms adhere to ethical advertising practices.
As Network Ten addresses its compliance strategies, the ACMA remains steadfast in monitoring and ensuring adherence to both broadcasting and online gambling advertising rules, signaling a continued tight watch on media practices to uphold public welfare standards.
