Footy fans will be able to view games live on free-to-air multi-channels permanently, under legislation to go before parliament.
AFL and rugby league followers are often dismayed at having to watch delayed broadcasts of their favourite team.
But Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, a Collingwood supporter, said cabinet wanted multi-channels to show Friday night games live.
Advertisement: Story continues below "They're often shown at 11 o'clock at night, which is one of the complaints of footy fans in the Sydney and Brisbane markets," Senator Conroy told a Senate estimates hearing on Tuesday night.
"We're putting in place the mechanism now to allow those matches to be shown on the multi-channels even prior to the legislation."
Making this arrangement permanent requires changing the Broadcast Services Act.
Legislation is expected to be introduced to parliament during the February and March sittings.
The government's updated anti-siphoning list began in January 2011.
Under the new rules, commercial networks are required to screen the AFL and NRL grand finals on their main channel.
But they do not have to screen as many games in a premiership round.
ABC current affairs viewers are also set to see changes in 2011 as the public broadcaster revamps its flagship 7.30 Report.
The renamed 7.30 is yet to go to air, as a new set is built.
Asked about the delay, ABC managing director Mark Scott said viewers were not left in a current affairs vacuum.
Independent senator Nick Xenophon sought an assurance that viewers in Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Hobart would have proper state-based coverage.
Mr Scott said that while Stateline would continue on Friday nights, the national 730 program would be mindful of local content.
"Certainly at other times during the week, to allow there to be a focus on appropriate state-based issues, we will have a mechanism where we ... measure local content," he said.
