Socceroos added to anti-siphoning list

The Socceroos World Cup qualifying matches will be shown on free-to-air television after the Federal Government agreed to add them to its 'free to air' television 'anti-siphoning' list.
The move follows Federal Communications Minister Stephen Conroy's recent review of sports to be made available to subscription broadcasters.
However, the Socceroos change will not come into effect until 2014, after Minister Conroy accepted Football Federation Australia (FFA)'s pleas that to do so now would cost them millions of dollars in penalties from their existing deal with Fox Sports.
As Conroy explained "the listing will only come into effect at the end of the existing contract. Socceroos World Cup qualifiers are of national importance to Australians. Like the Wallabies, Kangaroos, Ashes cricket Tests and Australian Open tennis, these matches should be available to all Australians".
The FFA's seven-year, $120 million deal with Fox Sports for the exclusive rights for all Socceroos home qualifying matches and A-League matches helped secure the game's short-term future when it was signed on the eve of the 2006 World Cup. The rights for the 2010 and 2014 World Cups have already been sold to SBS directly by FIFA.
Australia's anti-siphoning list currently protects some sporting events for free-to-air-channels. However, the Minister also added that he is considering removing some events, stating "the Government recognises that free-to-air broadcasters should not be able to hoard sport and deny viewers access."