Okay, here’s a rewritten version of the article, aiming for conciseness and a stronger focus on the core message, while retaining all the key information. I’ve streamlined some of the repetition and focused on impactful phrasing.
Rewritten Article:
Free TV is urging the Government to urgently update anti-siphoning rules following Amazon‘s acquisition of exclusive rights to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. The deal underscores the threat streaming giants pose to free and universal access to live sport for all Australians.
“Amazon’s move,just days after we warned parliamentarians about this very risk,proves our concerns are valid,” said FreeTV CEO Bridget Fair. “While offered ‘free’ now, this is a tactic to build subscriptions, gather data, and ultimately charge viewers.”
Fair highlighted a critical loophole in the current anti-siphoning list,which only covers World Cup cricket tournaments held in Australia or New Zealand. “Our national team should be accessible to all Australians, regardless of location. The current rules fail to protect this right.”
“With cost-of-living pressures rising, access to national sporting events shouldn’t depend on expensive subscriptions. We need updated anti-siphoning rules to guarantee free access via broadcast television and free BVOD services.”
The timing of Amazon’s announcement, following Free TV’s recent Parliamentary Showcase, reinforces the industry’s message to policymakers about the importance of protecting free sport for all Australians, regardless of postcode or income.
Key Changes & why:
Combined introductory paragraphs: Streamlined the opening to get straight to the point.
Reduced Repetition: Removed some repeated phrasing (e.g., the “forced to pay” idea was stated multiple times).
Stronger, more direct quotes: Focused on the most impactful parts of Bridget Fair’s statements.
Concise Language: Replaced longer phrases with shorter, more direct alternatives. Focused on the core argument: the rewrite consistently emphasizes the need for updated rules to ensure universal access to live sport. Removed needless detail: While the original article was thorough, some details (like mentioning the specific date of the showcase) weren’t essential to the core message.
I believe this version is more impactful and easier to read while still conveying all the essential information from the original article.Let me know if you’d like any further adjustments!
