No free kick for pay-TV on sports coverage

Malcolm Turnbull isn't about to blow the whistle on laws that prevent pay-TV operators from gaining exclusive broadcast rights to major sports, especially football.

"What they are seeking would not be popular," the communications minister told ABC radio on Tuesday, when asked about a push to water-down anti-siphoning laws that guarantee free-to-air coverage of listed sporting events.

And even if Mr Turnbull wanted to go down the deregulatory path, any move would likely be stymied in the Senate.

"Why does anyone imagine that this Senate would be likely to approve changes that would be clearly as unpopular as that," he said of any move that would force Australians to pay for football matches now broadcast for free.