Labor welcomes AFL deal with Seven and Foxtel but says it will scrutinise anti-siphoning sports laws

Fans upset after Foxtel and Kayo awarded exclusive rights to Saturday games for first eight rounds in Melbourne

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The Albanese government has welcomed the AFL's historic broadcast deal with Seven and Foxtel and noted it won't reduce the number of free-to-air games, while still reiterating concerns about popular sports being locked behind paywalls.

In a statement on Wednesday, the communications minister, Michelle Rowland, noted fans' concerns about changes to free-to-air coverage of AFL games under the deal.