Australian TV network violates gambling ad rules during Formula 1 broadcast
ACMA investigation found Sydney-based Network 10 aired four gambling ads during an Australian Grand Prix practice round in a breach of TV regulations
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has found Network 10 breached the country’s gambling advertising regulations during a Formula 1 broadcast last year.
The breach occurred during a broadcast of the first practice round for the Australian Grand Prix on the TV network on 22 March 2024.
The race was aired on Channel 10, which forms part of Network 10’s roster of channels.
Coverage of the day’s practice was due to start at 12pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT), with the first practice round at 12.30pm AEDT.
During the broadcast of the race, four adverts for gambling companies were shown on seven occasions. The ads were played between 12.17pm and 1.04pm AEDT.
Per Australia’s Commercial Television Code of Practice, gambling ads cannot be shown during broadcasts of live sporting events between 5am and 8.30pm, including the five minutes before and after the event.
Network 10 admitted the ads were “erroneously broadcast after five minutes before the scheduled start of play”.
The code defines these ads as “a distinct promotional reference to a gambling or betting service or a gambling or betting organisation that provides generic information about the organisation’s brand, business or services”.
The code also classes the practice rounds as part of a live sporting event for motorsport, meaning they are subject to the same rules as the main race. On this basis, the gambling ads broadcast were in violation of the rules.
Network 10 admitted to the ACMA that the ads were played “regrettably, due to human error”, matching what the media regulator determined during its investigation.
Following the ACMA’s investigation, Network 10 voluntarily improved its planning process for ad scheduling.
The network also agreed to review its processes to introduce additional quality controls, as per a request from the ACMA.
Furthermore, Network 10 committed to training its staff to avoid such issues in the future, as well as providing the ACMA with a written progress report.
ACMA member Carolyn Lidgerwood said: “Broadcasters should have strict controls in place to ensure compliance with the restrictions on gambling ads during sporting events.
“The ACMA will closely monitor these actions and Network 10’s compliance with the broadcasting and online gambling advertising rules.”
Back in August 2024, the ACMA issued a formal warning to Network 10-owned streaming service 10 Play for airing gambling ads during football matches in 2023.