Media Giant Wants Compo If Gambling Ads Are Punted

Australian taxpayers ought to compensate the expenses of a betting marketing restriction to media companies' bottom lines, 9's chair states.


Nine ran gambling advertisements in a greatly regulated environment and had actually been in talks with federal government over the problem, Catherine West told investors at the group's yearly meeting.


"If we are banned from having betting marketing, there's two things we would request," she stated.


"Yes, some kind of payment, some kind of some other decrease elsewhere, but most significantly, that the betting restriction is fair throughout all sectors."


A ban that left out tech companies would only divert advertising revenue offshore, she said.


"Our biggest plea is is make it fair across the board, and do not downside responsible Australian media business and allow a gambling free-for-all in regards to the ad tech platforms," Ms West said.


Gambling marketing income remained in the low single digits as a portion of the group's revenues and had been slipping for the previous three years, the chair stated.


Polling shows about 3 in 4 Australians support a total ban on gambling ads, however more two years after a landmark inquiry into betting harm, the Albanese federal government is still mulling its response to its 31 suggestions.


A shelved proposal from Labor included a restriction on gambling ads during live sports broadcasts and an hour on either side, and a limit of 2 an hour beyond this.


Frustrated with ongoing uncertainty, the gaming lobby is supposedly pushing for age-based constraints for gambling advertisements on social networks accounts and lowered blackout durations in an effort to prevent a blanket ban.


Nine would adhere to whatever marketing rules were bied far, Ms West said.


"We think that betting across the society is a collective obligation for all stakeholders," she said.


"It's federal government, it's the wager inspector, it's sports organisations, media and also the more comprehensive neighborhood."


SBS has actually has taken matters into its own hands, providing streaming service audiences the capability to opt-out of particular marketing classifications, including gaming.


Nine had actually not thought about doing the same.


"That wouldn't work for our main broadcast service, however we will continue to deal with the federal government and work towards carrying out anywhere they concern a landing on the betting guidelines," Ms West stated.


Nine avoided a 2nd shareholder strike versus its reimbursement report on Friday, after its owners sent out a message in 2024 over bullying and harassment accusations.


Its executive pay plan won the blessing of more than four in 5 shareholders, who also voted overwhelmingly to re-elect Peter Tonagh as a director.


Mr Tonagh is set replace Ms West as chair, who will step down after 18 months in the function.


Multiple shareholders admired 9's financial efficiency relative to its traditional media peers, bolstered by growth in its streaming platform Stan and the $3 billion sale of real estate platform Domain to US business CoStar Group.