One-Eyed Richmond Forum
Football => View from the Outer => Topic started by: one-eyed on February 14, 2010, 03:26:13 AM
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Footy live on Channel Nine
* Brigid O'Connell
* Sunday Herald Sun
* February 21, 2010
CHANNEL 9 is poised to offer live Friday night footy in a bid to win the looming $1 billion AFL television rights battle.
The network's top secret plan to snatch the lucrative deal from rival Seven is expected to be spearheaded by the switch to live Friday games - a move that will also be a winner with hundreds of thousands of fans.
Most AFL presidents contacted by the Sunday Herald Sun last week backed live Friday footy, while 90 per cent of fans also called for the switch in a Sunday Herald Sun survey.
Nine chiefs have started talks with the AFL over the 2012-2016 deal, expected to be the most expensive in Australian sporting history.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou would not be drawn on any negotiations with Nine, but indicated support for live footy was building.
"Our research has shown us that live or near-live sport does not impact on crowd numbers, but increases the interest and awareness of sport and contributes to greater growth in the long term," he said.
"It is the AFL's view that there is an increasing demand for live sport among fans and AFL fans have been telling us that they wish to see more live football as part of our next rights agreement."
The Sunday Herald Sun believes Nine will guarantee showing Friday night games live in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.
Nine also plans to show Aussie Rules live in the rugby league-dominated states of New South Wales and Queensland on its digital channel Go!
That practice is banned under anti-siphoning laws which state that sport must be shown on the main television channel at the same time.
But Nine hopes the Federal Government will open the door for sport to be broadcast on digital channels.
"Nine believes that sport is best shown live and that's what the network intends doing," a source said.
Last week, the Sunday Herald Sun reported that football greats were calling for Channel 7 to abandon tradition and broadcast football live instead of Better Homes and Gardens on Friday nights.
Seven has vowed to stick by its delayed telecast strategy, under which games finish well after 11pm.
Geelong president Frank Costa urged Channel 7 to listen to the fans.
"The best way to grow the game is to give people what they want and they want to be able to watch it live and at home," Mr Costa said.
Western Bulldogs president David Smorgon said it was important to show games live to preserve a tradition.
"I'd love to see Friday night games live," he said. "I've got grandkids so I know that when the games finish very late it's disruptive."
Richmond's Gary March said live games helped attract a new generation of fans.
"If there's a 40-minute delay it's pretty hard for the kids.
"We need to keep attracting a younger audience," he said.
But Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett said Seven was entitled to broadcast delayed footy because it owned the rights.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/footy-live-on-channel-nine/story-e6frf9jf-1225830047210
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Channel 9 is a rugby channel. If they get rights those in Qld and NSW will be screwed. Should help GC WS just fine that. Up here they have 1 live and one repeated game of league friday nights so we will get screwed.
:banghead
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Ten pledges live Friday football
ARI SHARP
February 16, 2010
CHANNEL Ten says it will show Friday night football live if it wins broadcast rights to the slot from 2012, putting further pressure on current Friday night broadcaster Channel Seven.
The declaration puts Ten in the same position as Channel Nine, which has also pledged to show Friday night games live, but opposed to Seven, which opts to delay the broadcast by an hour to accommodate lifestyle show Better Homes and Gardens, which it says rates better nationally than the football.
Ten Network chief executive Grant Blackley yesterday said the AFL should give preference to broadcasters who pledged to show games live.
''All rights should be dealt with in a live capacity, because I think that's where consumers expect the code to be,'' Blackley told The Age.
Asked whether Ten would show Friday night football live, he said: ''Yes, we would.''
Ten and Seven currently share the free-to-air TV rights under a $780 million five-year deal due to expire at the end of the 2011 season.
Blackley declined to say which of its free-to-air counterparts it would bid with for the next five-year agreement, nor speculate on the deal's possible value.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/ten-pledges-live-friday-football-20100215-o2xq.html
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Channel 9 is a rugby channel. If they get rights those in Qld and NSW will be screwed. Should help GC WS just fine that. Up here they have 1 live and one repeated game of league friday nights so we will get screwed.
:banghead
I'm guessing the commercial networks will use their digital channel(s) for live coverage into non-AFL heartland markets. TEN did it the other night with our game and used ONE to show the game live into NSW and QLD.
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Fair call MT, the only problem is many regional areas don't get the second channels. All we get is elevator music and scenery from country towns on 1 at the moment, but I see your point. The digital broadcasting will allow for more flexability
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Fair call MT, the only problem is many regional areas don't get the second channels. All we get is elevator music and scenery from country towns on 1 at the moment, but I see your point. The digital broadcasting will allow for more flexability
From memory the original date for Australia to go full digital and turn off the analogue signals was 2009. So typical this date is being pushed back and back. I think it's now 2013 so who knows when rural and regional areas will finally get all the digital channels us city folk already have. Hopefully by the time the new tv rights is in place (2012) you guys will have them.
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$1 billion TV rights figure floated ahead of negotiations
* Jackie Epstein
* From: Herald Sun
* March 13, 2010 4:27PM
NEGOTIATIONS are due to begin on the next AFL broadcast rights agreement and it could reap more than $1 billion.
David White, Ten's general manager of sport, confirmed the figure when discussing the network's plan to stretch its eight-year involvement with the sport.
The last five-year deal fetched $780 million for the AFL, with the current arrangement to expire at the end of next year.
"It's a nice round number," White said of the $1 billion price tag.
"I'm sure the AFL, if they get a collective agreement from one or more broadcasters for that amount of money, they'll be happy with it. Whether it's $1.2 billion or whether it's $800 million, I don't know. We'll have to wait and see what's on offer.
"We've got a very clear idea of what works for both the Channel 10 format and what works for the ONE (HD) format and we'll be talking to the AFL about that."
White said he was a fan of Monday night football.
"I think it's a good thing," he said on SEN today.
"I know it was trialled many years ago and I don't think it was overly successful then. But I think the competition's a bigger and more robust and more popular competition now. I personally think that a Monday night slot would work well."
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/billion-tv-rights-figure-floated-ahead-of-negotiations/story-e6frf9jf-1225840368937
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Rebecca Wilson in Sydney is hardly a reliable source but apparently TEN is making a big play for the NRL tv rights now that News Ltd is giving up their control of rugby league. If this is true interesting to see what affect this has on the value of the AFL tv rights which is expected to be around $1 billion and also on scheduling of AFL games in Northern states on FTA tv if multiple networks team up to show NRL. The digital channels will most likely need to carry games separate to the network's main channel.
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when i was looking to see if footy confidential was shown up here i found an article that had this
"Since the arrival of GO! it is also unable to air the show via 9HD, an issue which also denies The Footy Shows airing to different cities."
http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2010/03/footy-classified-out-of-the-north.html
So there must be issues with televising different content on different channels at this stage
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Caro must think we'll be crap until 2017 ::)
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/battle-for-tv-rights-stalls-20100526-weet.html
An inferior break-up where Foxtel is concerned would also harm the less popular and less successful AFL clubs, with North Melbourne, Richmond and Port Adelaide potentially set to struggle to be shown on free-to-air.
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Here in Sunraysia we will lose the old Analog TV signal on the 20th of June this year.
We are the first region to have the full Digital signal and no Analog signal in Australia.
The reason behind it was, we were the region to swap over to digial, by that, they said we went out and bought set top boxes.
So we could see channel 10 up here.
Now to the real thing I really hope that Channel 9 don't get the rights.
I hate to think we will have to listen to Gotta Get My Head On TV Eddie Maguire again.
And his narrow minded opinions again.
No Thanks.
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Ninth game worth $100m
Jon Ralph and Michael Warner
Herald Sun
June 24, 2010
TELEVISION network chiefs are refusing to give up on Monday night football - declaring the timeslot could make the AFL $100 million richer.
Rivals Channel 9 and Foxtel are pushing hard for a regular Monday night fixture as the TV rights war hots up.
Do you think Andrew Demetriou is doing a good job? Have your say in the Footy Fans Survey and you could win Grand Final tickets.
A senior station executive told the Herald Sun the timeslot could add another $100 million to the next five-year deal from 2012-16 - to edge the AFL tantalisingly closer to its desired $1 billion pay day.
And at a business lunch last week, Nine chief Jeff Browne admitted it was ultimately "the size of the cheque that counts".
He said that with the network's investment in rugby league, a foray back into AFL "needs to make sense" financially.
AFL chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan appeared to rule out regular Monday night football during an interview early this year.
But the right offer could change the league's mind.
Full-blown negotiations remain stalled because of a delay in the release of a crucial Rudd Government report detailing changes to Australia's strict anti-siphoning laws.
The laws determine which sports are protected for free-to-air stations.
The AFL and Foxtel have been lobbying for new legislation to allow pay-TV stations to bid directly for at least four home-and-away matches a round.
There are fears the Government will hold off the anti-siphoning announcement until after the federal election - due towards the end of the year - but AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou is keen to kick-start negotiations.
Demetriou this month visited the networks without his key lieutenants, an indication he wants the ball rolling.
In previous TV rights negotiations the AFL has given successful bidders at least a full season to prepare for the contract, but the delay in Canberra may alter the timeframe.
Tensions surrounding the high-stakes bid were on display at this month's AFL Hall of Fame dinner at Crown, where a top league administrator clashed publicly with a leading TV executive on the issue.
As the fight for footy rights heats up, the Herald Sun can reveal:
MONDAY night remains the preferred option for at least two networks for footy's ninth game.
THE league is keener on a 4pm Saturday twilight game.
LIVE football will almost certainly be enshrined as a condition for the broadcasting of many games, allowing gambling firms such as Tabcorp and Betfair to promote in-play odds.
CURRENT rights holders Seven and Ten will again bid together, so a TV deal that excludes both networks is extremely unlikely.
NINE is unlikely to make a play for full control of the deal, but is confident of winning some games for the creation of its own "clean space".
MATCHES could be auctioned individually, with the key Friday night football slot to attract the highest bid.
VIRTUAL crowds have been all but eliminated as a possibility, with an AFL rule banning them and virtual advertising.
TELSTRA is considered the favourite to take control of the league's internet rights.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/ninth-game-worth-100m/story-e6frf9ix-1225883442956
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TELSTRA is considered the favourite to take control of the league's internet rights.
Oh great :help
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I worry that the AFL may be out-smarting itself here by dividing up the games and auctioning off each component of the rights seperately. The last TV rights went through the roof because of the passionate competition between the networks to buy the complete package. With Channel 9 stating they will only bid for the Monday night game leaving Channel 7 and 10 the rest of the rights, I fear the AFL will have very little competitive bartering and therefore a low value to the whole rights. If their is no bidding then effectively each Network can take a small piece of the deal for a steal because their is no one else who wants it. Foxtel is the only smokey to this if they are allowed to bid for 4 games a week regardless.
My other concern lies with Foxtel buying off other games that we currently enjoy watching. For example if Foxtel buys the Saturday games, playing the games on various channels similiatenously, then we could effectly have no Footy to watch on Saturdays unless you have PayTV.
Finally I believe a HUGE part of the deal should be that games are televised live into ALL markets. If this means on secondary network channels such as Go or One then that's fine but it needs to be a priority for the growth of the game into these markets.
Stripes
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Yep the HD digital channels (One and 72) will be used in the non-Aussie Rules markets for non-Swans games in Sydney and non-Lions games in Brisbane. The AFL will be hoping GC17 and GWS eventually attracts similar ratings to their state rivals so the AFL has at least a game every week on the main channels 7 and 10 in Sydney and Brisbane. Making all night games shown live will also be a prerequisite for the new tv deal. The NRL has got the jump with their live Friday night games and it's boosted their ratings.
Foxtel will want more access to the better games in exchange for offering the AFL more $$$.
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Federal poll to stall broadcast rights talks
JON PIERIK
July 17, 2010
DISCUSSIONS over a new broadcast rights deal are set to be delayed further, with AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou not expecting the federal government's revised anti-siphoning list to be released until after the federal election.
The list governs which key sporting events must appear on free-to-air TV first, with the government reportedly expecting a backlash from Rupert Murdoch's News Ltd if there is not a relaxation in laws that would allow its pay TV company, Foxtel, to bid for sports.
Under the anti-siphoning list, Foxtel cannot bid for its own product. It bought its four weekly AFL games from networks Seven and Ten.
With the election expected to be called as early as today, Demetriou said the AFL would be ready to work with a returned Labor government or a new Liberal leadership.
''It just defers [the discussions],'' he said yesterday. ''We can understand that. There is probably going to be an election announced shortly.
''We have worked pretty closely with the federal government and we'll work with whatever government is in office.''
The government's delay in releasing the list, which expires on December 31, has frustrated broadcasters.
It's been almost a year since the initial discussion paper on anti-siphoning laws was made public.
A spokeswoman for federal Communications Minister Stephen Conroy last night refused to elaborate, saying only: ''The government is considering its response to the review of the anti-siphoning scheme and will respond in due course''.
In recent broadcast rights deals with the AFL, networks had known a year before the contracts had expired just who had won the rights.
This time, for the 2012-16 period, that might not be possible, particularly if a Liberal government was to return to power and begin, as some insiders believe, an extensive review of Conroy's work.
''In normal circumstances, we would be well into the discussions,'' Demetriou said.
''We have had discussions with the broadcasters. We will continue to have dialogue. [But] we won't be losing any sleep.
''We are still confident in our product, confident in our preparation and we are confident we will have competition, so, let the election go ahead, and regardless of who is in power, we'll deal with our rights in the appropriate manner.''
The broadcast rights deal is also central to discussions on a new collective bargaining agreement between the AFL and its players.
Channels Seven, Ten and Foxtel paid a total $780 million to secure the broadcast rights until the end of the 2011 season.
The AFL started negotiations with Ten and Seven late last year but talks were soon put on hold because of the uncertainty over the anti-siphoning list.
The AFL's chief operating officer, Gillon McLachlan, has publicly said he would ''like to think they [the rights] would be worth a billion dollars'', a claim backed by prominent media buyer Harold Mitchell.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/federal-poll-to-stall-broadcast-rights-talks-20100716-10ec6.html
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Nine to bet its bank on footy
Michael Warner
Herald Sun
July 17, 2010
CHANNEL 9 has dumped Wimbledon after almost 40 years as it clears the decks for an all-out assault on footy's $1 billion TV rights.
Nine chiefs yesterday confirmed the network was terminating its long-running association with the historic All-England Club.
"Unfortunately, it (Wimbledon) hasn't rated well in recent years and we think that money is now better invested on other sporting properties," Melbourne station boss Jeff Browne told the Herald Sun.
The shock move is tipped to save Nine about $15 million in licence fees and production costs, money it can now throw at the AFL and rugby league.
Rival broadcasters Seven, Ten and Foxtel have already indicated their readiness to bid for the next round of AFL rights, running from 2012-2016 - a five-year package the league hopes to sell for more than $1 billion.
But a cashed-up Nine now looms as the wild card in the upcoming negotiations.
Nine is believed to be particularly keen on pioneering Monday night football as the AFL explores options for a new timeslot catering for the arrival of the Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney franchises.
Industry chiefs believe a Monday night fixture could be worth as much as $100 million over five years.
Nine is also committed to showing all games live, something Seven has largely refused to do under the current contract.
Live matches will allow TV networks to establish stronger links with corporate gambling agencies such as Tabcorp and Betfair to promote in-play odds.
But full-blown negotiations between the stations and AFL bosses remain stalled because of a delay in the release of a crucial Gillard government report detailing changes to Australia's strict anti-siphoning laws.
The anti-siphoning list, now expected to be handed down after the federal election, will determine which sports are protected for free-to-air stations.
The AFL and Foxtel have been lobbying for new legislation to allow pay-TV stations to bid directly for at least four home-and-away matches a round.
Under current laws, only free-to-air stations can purchase matches.
The Wimbledon tournament was a favourite of Nine's late owner, Kerry Packer, who set up a luxurious marquee on the club's surrounds each year to wine and dine his friends and business partners.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/nine-to-bet-its-bank-on-footy/story-e6frf9jf-1225892928468
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Interesting to see how much NINE puts towards the AFL tv rights as opposed to just putting most of these savings from giving up Wimbledon into the NRL tv rights which they already hold. Will NINE just put $100m for Monday night games or will they aim for more games to become a main broadcaster of AFL again. The more competitive the bidding war with SEVEN, TEN and FOXTEL the better off the AFL will be.
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Interesting to see how much NINE puts towards the AFL tv rights as opposed to just putting most of these savings from giving up Wimbledon into the NRL tv rights which they already hold. Will NINE just put $100m for Monday night games or will they aim for more games to become a main broadcaster of AFL again. The more competitive the bidding war with SEVEN, TEN and FOXTEL the better off the AFL will be.
I read on the sportal NRL forum, when I was trolling ;D, that Channel 7 and 10 have indicated that they will be challenging for the NRL rights as well. Now I'm not sure whether this is juts pure speculation or whether they are just attempting to bump up the price 9 will have to pay for the NRL but the AFL rights go first so it will all depend on how much is left I'm guessing.
Stripes
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I read on the sportal NRL forum, when I was trolling ;D, that Channel 7 and 10 have indicated that they will be challenging for the NRL rights as well. Now I'm not sure whether this is juts pure speculation or whether they are just attempting to bump up the price 9 will have to pay for the NRL but the AFL rights go first so it will all depend on how much is left I'm guessing.
Well Kerry Packer pushed up the price of the AFL tv rights by making an offer knowing Ch 7 had last call so it is a tactic. Mind you Ch 7 have had probably their most successful ratings period against Ch 9 in the past 5 years so they probably don't care now.
Ch 10 has also made noise about showing A-league soccer on ONE. So interesting to see what all happens with the tv rights of all codes. I'd still reckon the AFL tv rights will be daylight ahead of the others and there'll be more "smell the fear" articles from the anti-AFL Sydney media. If the new Monday night slot on its own is worth $100m then the other 8 games will push the total amount past $1bn.
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Monday night football to be regular fixture in AFL broadcast rights deal
Scott Gullan
Herald Sun
July 24, 2010
MONDAY night football on free-to-air TV will become a weekly fixture in the AFL's next broadcast rights deal.
Families would be the big losers under the proposed $1 billion TV deal, with Monday night the preferred timeslot to cater for the introduction of the league's 18th team, Greater Western Sydney, from 2012.
Footy fans have previously failed to embrace the AFL's trials on a Monday night because of the problems associated with being on a school night and at the start of the working week.
And in another blow, one of football's great traditions is bound for the scrapheap.
The Saturday afternoon 2.10pm start will go under the new deal, with the time to be pushed out by an hour to allow the TV broadcast to run straight into the evening news bulletin.
Several possible time changes to games were floated by the AFL at this week's club chief executives' conference including a 5pm pay-TV Saturday fixture with possible 1pm and 3pm starts across the weekend.
Monday night football, which follows the NFL in America where it's regarded as the premier game of the week, is the league's preferred option over Thursday night football.
The first two rounds of the season included Thursday night football. But the Round 14 experiment where Carlton played Brisbane at Etihad Stadium wasn't popular at the gate or in TV ratings.
New multi-channels on free-to-air TV will allow the Monday night game to go live around Australia, with the broadcaster able to show it on its secondary channel, for example on Channel 7Two or Ten HD.
The AFL is hoping to reach a new broadcast deal by the end of the year in readiness for the five years from 2012 when the 18-team competition will make its debut.
Industry sources believe the TV rights will be sold for more than $1 billion.
Geelong is the club that will be affected the most by the proposed changes, given that a later starting time for Saturday means the Cats will need to install lights at Skilled Stadium.
Lights had been proposed as part of Australia's World Cup bid proposal, but if that failed Geelong was preparing to proceed with stage three of their stadium's redevelopment without the lights.
Geelong CEO Brian Cook confirmed that would have to change should the AFL proceed with the proposed time changes.
"It certainly means the case for lights is stronger," Cook said. "We've been pushing stage three without lights but if the AFL follows through with what they are saying at the moment then we'll have to go in that direction.
"Our supporters tell us that Saturday afternoon is their preferred option for our Skilled Stadium games and obviously with lights we could then also cater for twilight games at 4.40pm as well."
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/monday-night-football-to-be-regular-fixture-in-afl-broadcast-rights-deal/story-e6frf9jf-1225896288966
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MNF is and always has ben a terrible idea.
Thursday games would be better, at least people could negotiate a late start on Friday.
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no more 2.10 game on saturday. disappointed such a classic footytime slot.
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Unless it's a big game which has heaps of hype the crowds will be poor on Monday nights in midwinter. I can't see families taking their kids to the footy on a cold wet school night in July.
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TV stations dont give a rats urse about crowds MT, its all about TV ratings. The success of Monday night football will be judged by TV ratings, not crowd size.
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have to admit this round wasnt a great one to really watch. no wonder ratings have fallen this year.
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Way too many thrashings in footy these days. Hawks/Saints was a corker but otherwise either thrashings or ordinary teams going at it.
AFL might have to shorten the length of games.... ours was over after qtr time.
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same with the melb and swans game. gotta admit melb played some great footy in the first qtr even though green was given a goal when it clearly hit the post.
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TV stations dont give a rats urse about crowds MT, its all about TV ratings. The success of Monday night football will be judged by TV ratings, not crowd size.
That's very true al although for me a less than half-filled stadium looks crap on TV. Maybe for Monday night games at Etihad they'll close off the top tier so the first and second tiers are full for a better look on TV.
I agree Jake about there being too many thrashings this year and obvious predictable thrashings as well. The problem is the cycle of rebuilding has more rubbish sides than ever. This year I think is the first year since the top 8 was introduced where the top 4 will be the same two years in a row. The Hawks are now the only side outside the top 4 capable of matching the top sides. Not great to have most of the competition just making up the numbers and that's been the case for most of the season. It's been a very predictable year. The last 3 weeks of the finals should be a ripper though.
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from today's Sunday Age....
Demetriou said all television networks were interested in having a slice of the new broadcast rights deal, expected to fetch $1 billion for the league.
Negotiations have reopened after a recent secret meeting between communications minister Stephen Conroy and free-to-air networks to help clarify what the revised anti-siphoning legislation will be when released after the federal election.
Demetriou said the new five-year contract, beginning in 2012, would ensure the AFL was available to more homes than ever before.
''Overall, I've got no doubt that football will be going into more homes in more metropolitan and regional areas in Australia than ever before,'' he said.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/winner-to-hit-jackpot-too-20100731-110o4.html
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Footy is so much better to watch on tv when you know it's live. You're not running to the net or radio to find out the latest score either. Live broadcasts have to be part of the new tv rights deal to boost ratings and interest.
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Foxtel waits for TV report
Michael Warner
Herald Sun
September 07, 2010 10:29PM
THE future of footy broadcasting could be known within days.
With Labor to govern the country, it has paved the way for the release of the crucial Conroy report into anti-siphoning.
The report will determine which sporting events are protected for free-to-air stations and whether the AFL can sell matches directly to pay TV giant Foxtel in its next round of rights.
Labor chose not to release the report prior to last month's federal election for fear of offending voters.
Foxtel is half-owned by Telstra with News Limited (publisher of the Herald Sun) and Consolidated Media Holdings each owning 25 per cent.
Under current laws, only free-to-air stations can directly purchase AFL matches.
AFL and Foxtel chiefs have been busy lobbying for new legislation to allow pay-TV stations to bid for at least four home-and-away matches a week - a move seen as the league's best chance of securing a $1billion pay day for the next rights deal from 2012-16.
Changes to the anti-siphoning legislation could also allow free-to-air networks to show AFL games on their secondary digital channels.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/foxtel-waits-for-tv-report/story-e6frf9jf-1225915586152
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All games on free-to-air :thumbsup
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Changes to the anti-siphoning legislation could also allow free-to-air networks to show AFL games on their secondary digital channels.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/foxtel-waits-for-tv-report/story-e6frf9jf-1225915586152
IMHO this is the key. It would actually cost Pay TV if they did this :whistle because the need for AFL to be on Pay TV wouldn't be needed ;D
They have to allow this not just for the purposes of AFL but all sports. Allowing FTA channels to show things on their 2nd digi channel would mean Ch9 for example could show the NRL in Melb at better times
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Changes to the anti-siphoning legislation could also allow free-to-air networks to show AFL games on their secondary digital channels.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/foxtel-waits-for-tv-report/story-e6frf9jf-1225915586152
IMHO this is the key. It would actually cost Pay TV if they did this :whistle because the need for AFL to be on Pay TV wouldn't be needed ;D
They have to allow this not just for the purposes of AFL but all sports. Allowing FTA channels to show things on their 2nd digi channel would mean Ch9 for example could show the NRL in Melb at better times
And SEVEN and TEN showing all AFL games live on their 2nd digital channels in NSW and QLD.
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Today's Australian claims the NRL could receive $1 billion for their next tv rights as will the AFL.
Regime governing TV sports rights to go before cabinet
Michael Bodey and Geoff Elliott
The Australian
October 04, 2010
THE new regime governing sports rights on TV could be settled this month.
The new Gillard cabinet is set to receive a submission on the new rules within three weeks.
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, basking in the glow of his team Collingwood's Premiership victory, will hold meetings with key stakeholders, expected to include all TV networks and major sporting bodies, in coming weeks to clarify final positions, although one executive noted "it's all done and dusted."
The AFL and NRL in particular are keen to accelerate the process to further negotiations for new broadcast deals beyond 2012 that could net $1 billion each.
The so-called anti-siphoning regime governs which sports are seen on free-to-air and pay-TV. The list expires at the end of the year, making it a matter of urgency for the Gillard government.
The process is also critical commercially. Prime-time TV viewing has arrested declines and is showing better trends this year, helped by new multi-channels which have become a new variable in TV sports rights.
For consumers, key changes are likely to include more live AFL broadcasts, particularly on Friday night, Twenty20 cricket being added to the anti-siphoning list along with Socceroos World Cup qualifying matches, therefore ensuring free-to-air broadcast on Seven, Nine or Ten.
While Fox Sports has a lucrative agreement with the Football Federation of Australia, it is believed Fox Sports is prepared to deal with a free-to-air, or FTA, network to delay broadcasts or hold replay rights within the current deal.
As compensation for more flexible FTA arrangements, and in response to major sporting bodies requesting greater flexibility in selling broadcast rights, it is expected suites of AFL or NRL matches will be available to be bought by subscription TV providers, such as Foxtel (25 per cent owned by News Limited, publisher of The Australian) or Premier Media Group (co-owned by News Corp, Consolidated Press and the Seven Network).
Under the major changed provision, the "use it or lose it" policy is expected to be instituted, with broadcasters having to show key A-list events live or forfeit them.
Nevertheless, it is expected the free-to-air networks will be allowed to broadcast sport on multi-channels, which may go some way to explaining the establishment of Seven's male-skewed multi-channel 7Mate.
It is not known whether there will be an "all-sport" policy for multi-channels; rather it is expected a catalogue of A-list events that must be broadcast in full on main FTA channels with a B list of events able to be screened, perhaps only in part, on multi-channels in concert with some main FTA-channel coverage.
Networks Seven, Nine and Ten were silent on the imminent changes yesterday, with a Ten spokeswoman noting only that last week's Commonwealth Games amendment to the anti-siphoning regime was "a positive sign of what might happen".
The Ten Network was a beneficiary of existing regulatory provisions last week when the Gillard government granted the network permission to show some Commonwealth Games coverage first on its digital channel, One HD. The deal was allowed after consultation with co-broadcaster of the Commonwealth Games, Foxtel. The Ten Network had been proceeding and programming on that basis weeks before the announcement.
The government granted a similar exemption to SBS for its World Cup soccer coverage last year.
The anti-siphoning list of more than 1300 sporting events to which FTA networks have first rights is also likely to be significantly shortened based largely on what has or has not been broadcast on the FTA channels
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/regime-governing-tv-sports-rights-to-go-before-cabinet/story-e6frg996-1225933533445
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AFL sweats on $1 billion TV blockbuster
Michael Warner
Herald Sun
October 07, 2010
MORE quality AFL matches will handed to pay-TV giant Foxtel under federal reforms expected by Christmas.
The looming overhaul means Foxtel will choose what it regards the third and fourth-best games of the week when the league's new round of rights begins in 2012.
Previously, Foxtel had been left with the matches the free-to-air networks do not want.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has until December 31 to release the Government's crucial Conroy report into what is known as "anti-siphoning".
The report will determine which sporting events are protected for free-to-air stations and whether the AFL can sell matches directly to Foxtel for the first time - a move seen as the league's best chance of securing a $1 billion pay day for its 2012-16 package.
Free-to-air stations believe it is already a done deal for at least four AFL games to be taken off the list.
Other anticipated changes will involve the AFL season being divided into A and B-list matches, and networks given the power to select games for broadcast on a rolling basis.
A-list games, including the Collingwood-Essendon Anzac Day clash, Friday night football and all finals, will be protected for telecast by only free-to-air stations.
But up to five B-list- games would be shown on pay-TV each week.
A selection system would give free-to-air networks first crack at the week's first, second, fifth and sixth best games.
Foxtel would then have picks 3, 4, 7, 8 and 9.
Networks will make their choices six to eight weeksbefore each home-and-away round. Under the existing arrangement, games are locked in on the eve of the season.
"If a team drops off, you don't want to be stuck with having picked them at the start of the year in a big timeslot," one TV source told the Herald Sun.
"You can review or refresh your selections as the season rolls along."
It is expected all B-list matches will be eligible to be shown on Foxtel or secondary free-to-air digital channels.
Speculation grows that the AFL will make it mandatory for all games to be aired live, a move backed by Channel 9.
A new deal is likely to be struck before the start of next season, giving the winning networks a full season to prepare.
Channels 7 and 10 will again bid together with Nine to go alone. Seven and Ten paid $780 million for the current rights - the biggest broadcast rights deal in Australian sporting history.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-sweats-on-1-billion-tv-blockbuster/story-e6frf9jf-1225935128372
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Interesting to see how this affects the new AFL tv rights deal
James Packer has launched a sharemarket raid on the Ten Network, seeking to snap up a 15 per cent stake in the broadcaster after the market closed.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/james-packer-launches-surprise-sharemarket-raide-on-ten-network/story-e6frg996-1225940842167
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Interesting to see how this affects the new AFL tv rights deal
James Packer has launched a sharemarket raid on the Ten Network, seeking to snap up a 15 per cent stake in the broadcaster after the market closed.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/james-packer-launches-surprise-sharemarket-raide-on-ten-network/story-e6frg996-1225940842167
Being a League fan himself it may influence hime to bid more aggressively for the NRL rights rather than the AFL rights too....Expect the NRL rights to rise significantly pushed up by the non rights holding stations to ensure that any successful bidder would have had to use every last dollar. All Networks want to ensure their rivals are not cashed up to but better programs regardless of their true interest in the Football Rights.
Selfishly, I just hope I don't have to get Foxtel just to see my club play regardless of the money the AFL gain.
Stripes
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The key to the next TV rights deal is what the Govt does regarding the "anti-siphoning" laws
Allow the FTA networks to show things on their other digital channels and it's a win for sports fansIMO
Give Foxtel the right to bid for anythng and everything and not allow FTA networks to show things on their other digi channels and the fans lose out (again)
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TEN has its 24hr sports digital channel ONE. He obviously wants a piece of that by the time the analogue channels are switched off and everyone will need new tellies/set-top boxes to watch tv and will all have access to all the digital channels.
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AFL rights in James Packer's sights
Herald Sun
October 21, 2010
THE Packer raid has put Ten on a collision course with its football broadcast partner Channel 7.
Ten had been expected to bid with Seven for control of the next round of AFL rights.
The league's $780 million deal with Seven, Ten and pay-TV giant Foxtel expires at the end of next year.
But under the terms of the agreement, Ten and Seven are contractually bound to bid together again - a pact Seven yesterday made clear it fully expected to be honoured.
"We've got a great partnership with Ten going into the next agreement and we don't see that changing," Seven's Melbourne boss Lewis Martin said.
One senior station chief said he believed Mr Packer was eyeing a scenario where Ten could broadcast up to four AFL games a week, including the lucrative Friday and Saturday night slots, leaving rivals Seven and Nine without any football broadcasts.
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy rejected suggestions Packer had launched his raid because he knew the detail of the soon-to-be-released report stating which sporting events must be shown on free-to-air TV.
Senator Conroy and Prime Minister Julia Gillard both said they did not know in advance about Mr Packer's purchase and had not discussed it with him.
"It was news to me. I read it online. So he didn't call, didn't advise me," Senator Conroy said.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/business/afl-rights-in-james-packers-sights/story-e6frfh4f-1225941437179
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No more ONE HD?
JAMES Packer's $250 million-plus raid on the Ten Network is part of an elaborate plan that could lead to the axing of Ten's sports channel, One HD, and its replacement with a free-to-air version of Rupert Murdoch's Sky News service.
http://www.theage.com.au/business/packers-plan-to-put-sky-on-ten-20101020-16u7s.html?autostart=1
The Australian understands that Mr Packer will pressure Ten to re-examine its multi-channel offering. One, its high-definition sports channel, barely breaks even, compared to the highly profitable GO! and 7Two multi-channels offered by the Nine and Seven networks respectively.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/perpetual-adds-to-pressure-on-management-packer-seeks-ten-changes/story-e6frg8zx-
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One way to boost Foxtel is to control/reduce the amount of sport shown on FTA TV. Packer having controlling interests in both and killing off ONE HD would go a long way to doing that :-\.
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This sounds like a job for Owl and his boiling oil.
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AFL rights could be block to Packer
Ben Butler and Adele Ferguson
October 23, 2010
JAMES Packer's $245 million raid on the Ten Network may be blocked because it would reduce competition for AFL broadcast rights.
And because two key shareholders have thrown their weight behind the casino king's plans to shake up the TV network, his 17.88 per cent stake will be treated as a controlling interest in a review by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel told The Age the commission had already begun looking into Mr Packer's raid and would write to him and the other two biggest shareholders, WIN TV owner Bruce Gordon and investment group Perpetual.
A major issue is the 25 per cent stake in Ten's rival Foxtel, controlled by Mr Packer's Consolidated Media.
''There is speculation this [the Packer raid] might reduce the competition for bidding for NRL, or not so much NRL as AFL, because Ten One HD is a participant in that exercise, as is Fox Sport. There's all sorts of things,'' said Mr Samuel, a former AFL commissioner.
TV rights are the AFL's main source of revenue. Current arrangements expire next year and the next deal is tipped to bring in more than $1 billion a year.
Mr Samuel said the ACCC would also consider the impending announcement by Communications Minister Stephen Conroy of a new anti-siphoning list of events that should be kept on free-to-air TV.
''They're all factors that we have to take into account, but we'll deal with that,'' Mr Samuel said.
If the ACCC decided Mr Packer's stake reduced competition it could ask a court to order the sale of the shares under section 50 of the Trade Practices Act.
Yesterday's intervention by one of Australia's most powerful regulators came as Mr Gordon spent more than $900,000 topping up his Ten stake from 11.96 per cent to 13 per cent.
Mr Gordon and Perpetual's head of Australian equities, John Sevior, have publicly supported Mr Packer's plunge into Ten and his cost-cutting plans for the broadcaster.
Those plans reportedly include canning sports channel One in favour of a Sky News feed from Foxtel and offloading outdoor advertising business Eye.
Mr Packer also would not go ahead with a recently announced nightly news and current affairs show fronted by veteran broadcaster George Negus, it has been reported.
In the past, Mr Samuel said, some people had regarded a stake of less than 20 per cent as ''only a minority interest''. ''We don't look at it that way because … 19.9 plus someone else's 12 plus someone else's 9 can take you up to close to 40-odd per cent and that gives you control of the board.
''It's controlling influence over a company's affairs that's far more important.''
The ACCC would conduct its review on the ''hypothetical assumption'' a combination of shareholders might vote together to control Ten, he said.
''Already there's speculation in this morning's paper - I think there's even comments from WIN Group, Bruce Gordon, and Perpetual … which says yes we support Packer.
''So already you've got, I think, if my calculations are correct, just under 20 plus about 9 per cent of Perpetual plus about 12 per cent of WIN. ''What's that give you? You've got control and you could change the whole board if you wanted.''
Mr Gordon's son, Andrew, who is executive chairman of WIN, could not be reached.
Mr Sevior said Perpetual was a passive investor in Ten and sold part of its shareholding to Mr Packer because it lacked operational expertise.
''We are interested in how Ten's profit and loss can be improved. The costs are too high, so if someone has a better idea than existing management and had some past success in the industry that represents an alternative game plan,'' he said.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/afl-rights-could-be-block-to-packer-20101022-16xw0.html
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This spells doom and gloom for our next TV rights. :'( Without the competition that Ten offers we can expect a lot less money coming into the game. It sounds to me that Packer is more about taking one player out of the bidding leaving Foxtel to gain a much larger slice for a bargain price. Lower operational costs of the network is just code for making it a budget network. Just seems dodgy for mine, like having two athletes running in a race of 5 but one of them just dropping out or getting in the way of the others to allow them to push through.
Is it legal - possibly, is it uncompeitive and bad news for us - probably.
I wonder if this is Packers way of elevating his fathers old station; 9 and the sport he passionate about; league over the AFL ???
Concerning news none the less
Stripes
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Live TV games a step closer
* Michael Warner
* From: Herald Sun
* November 17, 2010 5:16PM
PRESSURE is increasing on free-to-air networks to show all AFL matches live as the league moves to sell its next round of TV rights.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said today a move to complusory live broadcasting was inevitable, but stopped short of saying it would be enshrined in the new arangement beginning in 2012.
Key Friday night and Saturday night matches have been shown on delays of up to one hour by networks Seven and Ten in the current rights deal to the growing anger of footy fans.
"Everyone knows my views that live football is inevitable -- people want live sport and you should never take your supporters for granted," Demetriou said.
"We'll just have to wait and see what happens in the next broadcast rights."
Demetriou said he did not believe live against-the-gate broadcasts had any bearing on AFL attendances.
"I don't buy that -- we are in a world now where people want to watch things that are happening now," he said.
"When you are watching something that you know the outcome because it's on an hour-and-a-half delay, well that might have been fashionable before, but I think it's going out of fashion."
Channel 9 has already committed to live games should it return to AFL broadcasting, but Seven and Ten have preferred to cash in on high-rating lead-in shows since seizing control of the TV rights in 2007.
The league is awaiting the release of the Federal Government's crucial report into anti-siphoning, which will determine whether Foxtel can bid directly for AFL matches for the first time.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/live-tv-games-a-step-closer/story-e6frf9jf-1225955124304
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$1b AFL TV rights deal could be just weeks away
Michael Warner
Herald Sun
January 26, 2011
THE AFL is closing in on its richest pay day, with hopes a new five-year TV rights deal will be struck within weeks.
Negotiations between league and station chiefs have intensified since Christmas and could be finalised before the start of the premiership season.
The next round of footy broadcast rights, running from 2012 to 2016, is tipped to fetch as much as $1 billion - up from the current mark of $780 million - but final bids are yet to be lodged.
Networks are conducting evaluations and coming to grips with how the fixture and scheduling would work in an expanded 18-team competition.
One scenario would see rival broadcasters Channels 7, 9, 10 and Foxtel all sharing a slice of the action, with Nine continuing its push to pioneer a new Monday night timeslot.
The AFL is also keen on live broadcasts from 2012, despite Seven's preference to air the top-rating Better Homes and Gardens on Friday nights.
Free-to-air television stations would be permitted to show AFL games on their secondary digital channels for the first time.
But the bulk of the extra windfall would come from pay TV giant Foxtel, which can bid directly for AFL matches under changes to federal anti-siphoning laws.
Foxtel pays about $50 million a season for four games a week, but will get an extra match with the introduction of the Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney.
A sticking point in the negotiations has been a failure by Communications Minister Stephen Conroy to finalise an agreement with the AFL ensuring the best two home-and-away games of the week are protected for free-to-air networks.
The league's internet rights are also being sold, edging the full package towards the magical $1 billion mark.
"They're certainly going to get a healthy increase," one station boss said yesterday.
The current deal with Seven, Ten and Foxtel expires at the end of this year.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/b-afl-tv-rights-deal-could-be-just-weeks-away/story-e6frf9jf-1225994502803
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One scenario would see rival broadcasters Channels 7, 9, 10 and Foxtel all sharing a slice of the action, with Nine continuing its push to pioneer a new Monday night timeslot.
The AFL's average crowd figure will fall already due to GWS and GC coming into the comp. It'll take a further knock with Monday night games as they won't attract crowds on a weeknight unless it's a one-off must see game.
The AFL is also keen on live broadcasts from 2012, despite Seven's preference to air the top-rating Better Homes and Gardens on Friday nights.
Free-to-air television stations would be permitted to show AFL games on their secondary digital channels for the first time.
The AFL has to demand live broadcasts as a given in any new tv deal. Ratings will go backwards if they accept anymore games on delay. More and more fans won't tolerate and wait to watch delayed games anymore. We saw that last year.
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The AFL is also keen on live broadcasts from 2012, despite Seven's preference to air the top-rating Better Homes and Gardens on Friday nights.
I always find this Ch7/Better Homes and Gardens thing laughable
Channel 9 when they had the rights did the same thing on Friday nights - they never showed it live, what was it back then "Burke's Backyard"
Also, Channel 10 are allowed to show Saturday night games from Melb live but chose not to but it never gets mentioned
Bottom line is the AFL didn't demand live games this time because the $780mil on offer was more important to them than when the games were shown in AFL heartland
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We get all games live in Tassie :cheers
Missing the footy because of Better Homes & Gardens :lol that is unlucky fellas
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The AFL is also keen on live broadcasts from 2012, despite Seven's preference to air the top-rating Better Homes and Gardens on Friday nights.
I always find this Ch7/Better Homes and Gardens thing laughable
Channel 9 when they had the rights did the same thing on Friday nights - they never showed it live, what was it back then "Burke's Backyard"
Also, Channel 10 are allowed to show Saturday night games from Melb live but chose not to but it never gets mentioned
Bottom line is the AFL didn't demand live games this time because the $780mil on offer was more important to them than when the games were shown in AFL heartland
True WP. Plus both the AFL and the networks took for granted that the public would wait to 8.30pm and watch the delayed coverage. However now more and more of the public are voting with their remotes and demanding live coverage of matches or they won't bother watching. It'll also help if they show less St Kilda and Essendon games on a Friday night boring people to death.
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After finally getting a nice big full HD telly, and seeing the beauty of NBA and NFL in 1080i, part of the next deal should be that all games are shown in full HD.
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After finally getting a nice big full HD telly, and seeing the beauty of NBA and NFL in 1080i, part of the next deal should be that all games are shown in full HD.
Usually Ch 10 shows their games both on TEN and ONE HD simultaneously.
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TV rights deal appears close to being finalised
Jon Pierik
February 9, 2011
THE finish line in negotiations for the new AFL broadcasting rights appears in sight, with television executives hopeful a deal will be finalised by the start of the home-and-away season.
TV industry executives last night said negotiations were expected to intensify within a fortnight, with the view to signing off on a new five-year deal, beginning next year, by the time Carlton and Richmond clash on Thursday, March 24.
Contractually bound partners Seven and Ten are believed to be keen on retaining the status quo, with Seven to keep Friday-night and Sunday-afternoon matches, and Ten having back-to-back games on a Saturday.
However, it's unclear if all Friday-night matches will be shown live in Melbourne by Seven.
Nine is also in negotiations to reclaim the rights for the first time since 2006, although there has been speculation the network is only interested in ensuring Seven and Ten pay the maximum price.
Nine has previously said it was interested in broadcasting Monday-night matches, but rival executives have questioned the economics of this, particularly as Nine will soon be heavily involved in the renegotiation of rights for the National Rugby League.
Foxtel will have five matches per weekend under the new AFL deal from 2012 when a ninth game is held once Greater Western Sydney joins the competition.
Under the revamped anti-siphoning list, Foxtel can bid directly for matches and will set its sights on better quality fixtures. Under the previous rights, it had to buy the rights from the free-to-air networks.
''I would be surprised if something hasn't occurred by the start of the season,'' one TV executive said last night.
However, AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou told The Australian Financial Review this week: ''I've been hearing [a deal is] going to be done this week or next for some time now, but I don't think we've got to that stage,'' he said. ''I'd even say we haven't even got to the heavy-lifting stage yet.''
Demetriou's comments prompted Fusion Media strategist Steve Allen to suggest the AFL wanted discussions to continue because it ''seems like the networks might have the upper hand'' and the league may be struggling to secure the price it wants.
''When somebody wants negotiations to go on and on, they would want them to gerry up the price while the networks say this could be finished in a minute,'' Allen said.
''They [networks] are standing pretty firm, the way I read it. Demetriou wants to engineer extra competitive tension.''
The AFL is keen to pocket $1 billion for the new deal, up from $780 million. Discussions have been more complex this time for several reasons.
Where Seven had the first and last rights in 2006, this time that does not exist, meaning its first bid would appear to have to be spot on.
The new anti-siphoning list has also caused problems, with the Communications Minister Stephen Conroy yet to disclose the ''mechanism'' guaranteeing the best matches will be seen on free-to-air on Friday and Saturday nights.
This mechanism will also allow matches involving West Australian and South Australian teams to be shown live on free-to-air in their home states, perhaps on the new digital channels.
The revamped Ten board, now featuring media moguls James Packer and Lachlan Murdoch, and mining magnate Gina Rinehart, along with the private equity involvement in Seven and Nine has also meant that, as one executive put it, decisions were more ''highly processed''.
Allen said securing the rights could be difficult for Nine. ''The problem for Nine is they can't go back to the way it was 10 or 12 years ago when they used to play AFL in the south and NRL in the north. Neither code will accept that any more because both are trying to get into each other's territory. By our calculations Nine is making a killing on the NRL but we doubt whether AFL is that profitable to Seven, Ten or pay-TV.''
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/tv-rights-deal-appears-close-to-being-finalised-20110208-1alm8.html
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Friday footy set to remain on delay with Channel 7 screening Better Homes and Gardens
Michael Warner
Herald Sun
February 24, 2011
FOOTY fans face another five years of delayed Friday night TV broadcasts.
As the AFL closes in on a new TV rights deal expected to top $1 billion, Channel 7 is refusing to give in to pressure to sacrifice top-rating Better Homes & Gardens and show footy live.
Final bid documents are yet to be lodged, but the AFL has stopped short of making live broadcasts compulsory in the next contract, which runs from 2012-16.
Seven and the AFL were tight-lipped last night, but a source close to the deal said: "They (Seven) want to be able to decide whether to go live or on delay. They want that right."
AFL boss Andrew Demetriou has made no secret of his anger at Seven's decision not to go live in recent seasons.
He said in November: "I don't think people want replays or delays ... hopefully Channel 7 will get into the 21st century."
But any non-negotiable demand from the AFL to Seven could cost the league a hefty slice of its windfall.
The AFL is eyeing a payday of more than $1 billion - up from $780 million under the existing deal.
Blue-chip Friday and Saturday night matches have been shown on delays of up to an hour by Seven and Ten to the anger of fans.
Seven's coverage of last Friday night's NAB Cup triple-header between Essendon, St Kilda and Brisbane at Etihad Stadium was shown on a 70-minute delay.
Better Homes & Gardens, which aired as the footy began, is one of Australia's most successful TV shows.
It has won eight Logies and has an average national audience of 1.2 million.
New federal anti-siphoning laws announced late last year will allow broadcasters to air AFL games on secondary digital channels.
However, it is doubtful that Seven would be willing to screen the football and Better Homes & Gardens at the same time.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/friday-footy-set-to-remain-on-delay/story-e6frf9jf-1226011034385
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AFL needs to sweeten next TV deal if it wants to go live on Friday night
Mike Sheahan
Herald Sun
February 24, 2011
OF course the Seven network wants to preserve and extend the status quo.
Why would a network, any network, want to tamper in any way with an arrangement that guarantees fours hours of high-rating, prime-time television on Friday nights for the best part of 30 weeks?
That's what the traditional Better Homes & Gardens-Friday night football package gives Seven for at least one more season, with an ever-so-gentle leaning towards the notion of live coverage of two or three blockbuster fixtures.
No, if we are finally to get live football on Friday night every week, the AFL is going to have to concede a slice of the rights generated by the Friday night component.
The AFL is aiming at $200m a year for the five years 2012-16. Friday night live might mean it has to settle for $950m over the journey.
While the Andrew Demetriou administration hardly has a history of passing up money-making opportunities, the main man has offered some hope of a meaningful compromise.
"The world is demanding to see sport live, that's just what's happening," Demetriou told the Herald Sun.
"My view hasn't changed ... you can't stop the tide coming in."
In November last year, Demetriou had made his view clear.
"I don't think people want replays or delays. Everything in the world is instantaneous. You can get it online, you can get it on your phone, so hopefully Channel 7 will get into the 21st century," Demetriou said.
In that mock self-effacing way of his, he said last night: "Given I'm not that persuasive, I'll just do my best."
Actually, he has the power to drag Seven into the 21st century on live football.
In simple terms, the AFL is offering the television networks the rights to show its product: eight games most weekends this year and nine next year when the league expands to 18 teams.
It sets the terms and conditions. If it deems certain conditions non-negotiable, such as live coverage, and there's a price to pay, so be it.
It was farcical last Friday night to see the triple-header between Essendon, St Kilda and the Brisbane Lions in the NAB Cup shown on Seven on a 70-minute delay.
The AFL knows the majority of its constituents want live coverage of games, particularly Friday nights.
There is no issue that inflames emotions on a regular basis as live coverage does.
Despite the Nine network's cheeky expression of interest in the next round of media rights, the present arrangement is expected to continue in the agreement currently being negotiated - two games for the Seven and 10 networks, five games for Fox Sports.
The rights are expected to be decided within 4-6 weeks.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-needs-to-sweeten-next-tv-deal-if-it-wants-to-go-live-on-friday-night/story-e6frf9jf-1226010959915
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Whats wrong with their second station?
surely the ratings for reruns of Bewitched are not good ::)
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Foxtel could end up with 6 games a week according to Caro...
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/pay-tv-push-for-more-matches-20110224-1b755.html
$1b TV goal hinges on Nine making a play for the tv rights as the new head of Ch 9 in Sydney, Jeff Browne, is a former AFL lawyer and unlike so many other suits at Nine's Sydney headquarters, Browne will not turn up his nose at the "southern game".
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/b-tv-goal-hinges-on-nine/story-e6frf9jf-1226011650222
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If the AFL stupidly don't demand live telecasts now then it'll come back to bite them in 5 years time when the next tv rights come around for negotiation. TV Networks won't pay big $$$ if ratings are falling because the public refuses to watch games on over an hour delay.
Having said that if the AFL resort to pay TV to show most of the games then good luck seeing most clubs on FTA including us unless we start seeing some onfield success.
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If the AFL stupidly don't demand live telecasts now then it'll come back to bite them in 5 years time when the next tv rights come around for negotiation. TV Networks won't pay big $$$ if ratings are falling because the public refuses to watch games on over an hour delay.
Having said that if the AFL resort to pay TV to show most of the games then good luck seeing most clubs on FTA including us unless we start seeing some onfield success.
I am a back from holidays and one of my favourite topics has been in the news I see ;D
I have said this many times the AFL wont demand live games on FTA because they want the $$$ - that's the most important thing to them, always has been always will be. Mike Sheahan is actually right saying they should drop their price as sweetner to get all games live
That's why the AFL are loving being able to sell directly to PayTV because it means more $$$. It's isn't their concern that it actually means less people will have access to the games on TV.
I must say I am surprised that the FTA networks are trying to get more games on their digi channels but that's a topice for another day ;D
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AN UNPRECEDENTED number of AFL games will be shown live over the next five-year television agreement - but the majority of them will be shown on pay TV.
It has emerged that Foxtel is pushing for all nine AFL games to be shown live on its channels from 2012 with the AFL's pay TV carrier keen to pitch itself against the free-to-air channels - still likely to be channels Seven and Ten - which would not be compelled to televise home-and-away games live.
However, Seven has resisted sharing Friday night football and Ten has shown equal reluctance to allow a Saturday night double billing with Foxtel, which, at this stage, paves the way for Foxtel to purchase - either independently or via the free-to-air consortium - seven AFL games all of which would be shown live.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/foxtel-seeking-nine-live-games-20110228-1bbqc.html
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AN UNPRECEDENTED number of AFL games will be shown live over the next five-year television agreement - but the majority of them will be shown on pay TV.
It has emerged that Foxtel is pushing for all nine AFL games to be shown live on its channels from 2012 with the AFL's pay TV carrier keen to pitch itself against the free-to-air channels - still likely to be channels Seven and Ten - which would not be compelled to televise home-and-away games live.
However, Seven has resisted sharing Friday night football and Ten has shown equal reluctance to allow a Saturday night double billing with Foxtel, which, at this stage, paves the way for Foxtel to purchase - either independently or via the free-to-air consortium - seven AFL games all of which would be shown live.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/foxtel-seeking-nine-live-games-20110228-1bbqc.html
And who said with the AFL it's all about the $$$$ not the fans ;D
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If the AFL stupidly don't demand live telecasts now then it'll come back to bite them in 5 years time when the next tv rights come around for negotiation. TV Networks won't pay big $$$ if ratings are falling because the public refuses to watch games on over an hour delay.
Having said that if the AFL resort to pay TV to show most of the games then good luck seeing most clubs on FTA including us unless we start seeing some onfield success.
I am a back from holidays and one of my favourite topics has been in the news I see ;D
I have said this many times the AFL wont demand live games on FTA because they want the $$$ - that's the most important thing to them, always has been always will be. Mike Sheahan is actually right saying they should drop their price as sweetner to get all games live
That's why the AFL are loving being able to sell directly to PayTV because it means more $$$. It's isn't their concern that it actually means less people will have access to the games on TV.
I must say I am surprised that the FTA networks are trying to get more games on their digi channels but that's a topice for another day ;D
That's true the AFL only cares about the $$$ as they need to dosh to prop up the two new clubs especially GWS for the next 30 years at the very least. It still's a concern because if Fox gets most of the games each week we'll be stuck with Collingwood on FTA while the rest including us fight over the scraps unless we finally get our act together onfield.
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Live games still a sticking point in new TV deal
Greg Denham
The Australian
March 10, 2011
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou cannot guarantee live football on free-to-air television from next year.
And yesterday he neither confirmed nor denied Channel Nine was a live player in the market. The AFL coverage is currently shared by networks Seven, Ten and Foxtel.
Channel Seven is in its fifth consecutive year of broadcasting its two games per week on delay. Fans have been outspoken in their criticism of Seven for generally showing Friday night matches on at least a one-hour delay in Victoria and up to a four-hour delay in other states.
Demetriou hinted at least one network was preparing to pay more to show live matches.
He said it should not be assumed that the AFL would be prepared to accept less money in the next broadcast deal, to ensure Friday night matches would be shown live or as close to live as possible.
"People assume that if you go live, you get less money," Demetriou said. "There is actually a premium on showing football live where people would pay extra."
Over time, Demetriou and the AFL have become far more accepting of live television, after an earlier reluctance to provide live coverage for fear attendances would be affected.
"Not wishing to get into a running commentary of broadcast rights, but you've heard me say ad nauseam, live sport is what the world is demanding," Demetriou said. "It's a different world today, everything is so instantaneous.
"What I will guarantee, that there will never be better coverage and reach throughout this country to every corner of the land."
Demetriou said several aspects of the code -- namely the fixture list and grand final -- would not be compromised for additional television revenue (in the next broadcasting rights deal).
He said the league could get more money by settling the fixture six games in advance or by playing a night grand final.
"Our record is very, very consistent. We sacrifice money because our supporters want certainty in the fixture . . . the clubs and the players like it . . . and we actually believe in traditional things like the grand final played during the day," Demetriou said.
"Live sport, including AFL football, is in popular demand . . . the shift has been amazing, and the AFL doesn't ignore those demands."
Demetriou said it would "be preferable" to get an outcome soon. "It should have been done by the end of last December, but because of anti-siphoning not being finalised, that was one of the reasons for the delay," he said.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/live-games-still-a-sticking-point-in-new-tv-deal/story-e6frg7mf-1226018714418
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Networks hover over $1bn footy
Caroline Wilson
March 16, 2011
THE first bounce of the AFL season will take on an added off-field dimension this year, with television executives from every major broadcaster headed to Melbourne to make their pitches for the next five years of media rights, which looks certain to reach the $1 billion mark.
The Age understands that the networks were due to make their opening bids tomorrow to coincide with the AFL's official season launch but that those talks have been put off until Thursday, March 24, coinciding with the season-opener between Carlton and Richmond at the MCG.
Channel Ten's interim chief executive, Lachlan Murdoch, with Seven chief executive David Leckie will head a team that plans to put forward a joint bid as part of those two network's contractual agreement stemming from the previous five years of rights. Foxtel, which is certain to make a significantly increased bid from its AFL deal, worth an estimated $50 million a year, will also put forward a new bid along with a predicted proposal from the Nine Network.
Advertisement: Story continues below Murdoch, who has just returned to Australia following a trip to the US for his father Rupert's 80th birthday celebrations, is understood to have come to an agreement with the AFL over the delay. The league is tomorrow scheduled to hold talks with all 17 AFL captains, coaches and presidents and conduct a commission meeting before the season launch at Crown.
Ten remains determined to buy the rights to the unofficial second-best game of the round, to be televised on Saturday night on prime time, but has shown an interest in sharing the Saturday afternoon fixture with Fox Sports - a match Ten could still show on delay. Seven will bid for Friday night football - a fixture it is expected to televise live, despite the AFL being unlikely to force that upon the network - along with a Sunday afternoon game it could share with pay TV.
Channel Nine chief Jeff Browne was unavailable for comment last night but the prevailing view was that Nine remains a significant player in the next five-year bid to start in 2012. The AFL had hoped to have resolved its broadcast rights but the deal has been delayed by the federal government changes to the anti-siphoning legislation which has granted Foxtel the power to bid independently for five exclusive weekly home-and-away games.
While the make-up of the season under the restructured 18-team competition remains unclear, the prevailing view is that the home-and-away season will remain 22 weeks long with venue restrictions caused by cricket in March unlikely to allow a lift to 24 rounds.
The AFL reaped an Australian record $780 million for the last TV rights deal, which will end this year. That agreement involved three per cent escalators each season - an annual increase that would see the next five-year deal worth an estimated $900,000 million, even before taking into account the extra weekly home-and-away fixture with the introduction of two new teams, along with internet rights, which were not included in the previous broadcast rights deal.
Mobile telephone rights are also expected to make a significant jump although the television broadcasters look certain to insist upon a small-screen definition.
The agreement is therefore not likely to be signed until after the start of the season. The appointment of former Channel Seven executive James Warburton into the position of CEO at Ten - the timing of which will be fought out in the NSW Supreme Court in April - is unlikely to postpone negotiations.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/networks-hover-over-1bn-footy-20110315-1bvz8.html
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Nine happy to team with pay-TV in AFL bid
James Chessell
From: The Australian
March 31, 2011
THE Nine Network has backed a proposal to simulcast most AFL matches live on pay television, as the bidding process for the next set of broadcast rights continues to progress without any firm bids from the free-to-air television networks.
It is believed Nine managing director Jeff Browne has based his network's bid around pay-TV group Foxtel gaining the right to broadcast all nine AFL games per round live from 2012. Foxtel has lobbied the AFL to give it live rights for all regular season games, including the ability to simulcast the four matches per round shown on free-to-air TV.
The AFL is keen to better the $780 million deal struck with Seven and Ten for the 2007-11 broadcast rights, when a last-minute bid from the late Kerry Packer in December 2005 bumped up the price.
Foxtel paid $315m to Seven and Ten for four live games per week plus replays of all games, but has made it clear it would be prepared to pay more this time if it has more extensive live rights.
Seven and Ten remain firm favourites to win the 2012-16 rights and are far less inclined to give Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams the right to simulcast their matches, given such an arrangement eats into their audiences.
While Nine will not match Seven or Ten, the network argues the structure of its deal would result in a larger contribution from Foxtel. It is in Nine's interests to push up the price for Seven and Ten, as it would reduce the networks' ability to bid for the upcoming 2013-17 NRL rights.
Mr Browne, a former AFL lawyer with a background in negotiating broadcast rights, would not comment on the specifics of Nine's proposal. But he told The Australian: "Nobody else has learnt to partner with subscription like Nine."
Asked if he was worried about losing viewers if Nine's games were simulcast on pay-TV, he said: "The Australian Masters golf was also shown live on Foxtel and we got 85 per cent of the audience and they got 15 per cent -- you have to back yourself to do a good job broadcasting in these situations, which is something our (free-to-air rivals) aren't prepared to do."
Nine has struck a deal with Foxtel for the upcoming Rugby World Cup in New Zealand that will allow the pay-TV group to broadcast matches live.
Seven and Ten executives met with AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou, chief operations officer Gillon McLachlan and AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick last Thursday.
Nine met with the AFL this week in less formal circumstances. It is believed neither side put a firm bid to the AFL. This has led to speculation the process could be delayed. But most parties remain confident a new deal can be struck in the coming weeks.
Posturing by all sides is a regular feature as broadcast rights reach their final stages, even in a relatively orderly process such as this one. Some television networks believe Mr Demetriou is trying to bankroll what one executive described as an "ill-fated venture into Queensland and western Sydney". Others argue that Mr Demetriou, a hard-nosed negotiator, will not get close to his target of $1 billion for the next five-year deal.
The AFL argues that it is offering broadcasters an increasingly rare commodity in a fragmented media marketplace: lots of programming with mass appeal.
But in a recent research note, Citigroup analyst Justin Diddams argued: "It's becoming increasingly difficult for FTA broadcasters to justify the cost of bidding for premium sports rights, although that hasn't (and most likely won't) stop them bidding for these packages."
The AFL process has been complicated by three main factors. First, Foxtel has argued for a holistic process that includes digital and mobile rights. These rights are of less interest to free-to-air networks who are interested in keeping as big an audience as possible focused on the TV.
Second, Nine's Adelaide and Perth stations are owned by Bruce Gordon's WIN television. This reduces the amount of money the Nine Network could make from these cities from the AFL.
Third, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy is yet to introduce to parliament new anti-siphoning legislation governing sports broadcasting. The shape of the legislation is well-known to the various parties -- four games each round will remain "protected" for free-to-air television -- but it does make matters less certain.
The government's decision to delist the recent season opener between Richmond and Carlton was described as "surprising and disappointing" by Austar chief John Porter this week.
Senator Conroy is also yet to announce the mechanism that will decide which games will be shown on pay-TV and which will be shown on free-to-air TV, although he has made it clear Friday and Saturday night games will remain on free-to-air.
Despite this, even pay-TV executives believe a deal can be struck when the legislation is passed.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/nine-happy-to-team-with-pay-tv-in-afl-bid/story-e6frg8zx-1226030989408
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AFL's $1bn rights deal
Caroline Wilson
April 5, 2011
FRIDAY night football would be televised live every week for the first time and pay TV operator Foxtel would get to show finals live under a landmark $1 billion deal being negotiated between the big networks and the AFL.
Seven, Ten and Foxtel are believed to be close to completing a new five-year agreement with the league to lock in exclusive AFL television rights from the start of next year.
As the deal moves towards its ambitious $1 billion price tag, it has emerged that Seven is close to a compromise with the league to make all Friday night telecasts live - in return for match starting times being pushed back 10 minutes.
In what could prove to be a controversial change among fans who attend matches - particularly families with young children - Friday games would be shifted from their current 7.40pm start to 7.50pm.
The Age understands that Seven and Ten, the free-to-air broadcast partners, have put forward a joint bid of more than $400 million for rights for four AFL games a week from 2012 until 2016, and to share the finals and Brownlow Medal count.
With the inclusion of contra deals, such as free TV advertising for the AFL and clubs, the Seven-Ten bid was last night placed at closer to $450 million, or about $30 million less than the existing five-year deal.
Foxtel is believed to have bid about $500 million under a proposal that would see it televise seven of the nine weekly games that will be played in the expanded 18-team competition from 2012. Five of the games would be exclusive.
Foxtel would also simulcast with free-to-air networks the first two weeks of AFL finals in a deal that would stipulate simultaneous commercials on each. Foxtel could yet win the right to simulcast preliminary finals, but the grand final would be alternated exclusively between Seven and Ten, as would the Brownlow.
The $1 billion total rights figure would be reached once the AFL completed a new online agreement with Telstra. The broadcast deal could be completed over the coming weeks.
The Nine network is not yet totally out of contention for free-to-air rights, and is believed to be willing to share more games with Foxtel than Seven and Ten.
Seven currently shows Friday night games on about a one-hour delay, and is understood to have put the question of live telecasts back in the AFL's court.
Previously the AFL has not insisted on live telecasts on its terms and conditions. However, the advancement of online media and diminishing effect on crowds, along with other incidentals such as gambling, has made live sport almost mandatory around the world.
The AFL's broadcast executive, Gillon McLachlan, last night refused to comment on the potential time changes on Friday nights. However, he said there was nothing to prevent Foxtel showing finals as long as the telecasts were non-exclusive.
The Australian Financial Review yesterday sourced Foxtel boss Kim Williams as placing his company's bid at about $500 million - double the estimated previous five-year pay TV figure.
It also reported that Seven and Ten had made a joint bid of about $70 million a year, but The Age understands that figure is closer to a cash component of $80 million annually, and about $10 million a year in contra.
Under the most likely arrangements, Seven would continue to get two games a week - Friday night live and Sunday afternoon live, with a later start of 3.10pm. Ten would continue to cover two Saturday matches, with the night game exclusive.
Foxtel would have exclusive rights to three Saturday games - afternoon, twilight and night - along with the Sunday 1.10pm and twilight matches. The carve-up would change on public holiday weekends, and the AFL would continue to experiment with occasional Thursday night and Monday night games.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afls-1bn-rights-deal-20110404-1cyqz.html
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..so over half the games will only be available to a small percentage of the population?
The clowns are in charge of the circus!
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..so over half the games will only be available to a small percentage of the population?
The clowns are in charge of the circus!
Are you genuinely surprsied al?
Said it before and will say it again (and yes I know it's boring) Andy D and his croonies are not interested in giving the fans the best deal, they are more interested in getting their Billion bucks....
At what cost to the fans? Well what does it matter they'll have a Billion $$$$
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AFL firmly denies report in The Age about $1 billion TV rights deal
Michael Warner, Shannon Deery
From: Herald Sun
April 05, 2011
UPDATE 10.52am: THE AFL has firmly denied a report that a $1 billion deal that would see Friday night football televised live every week for the first time.
AFL corporate affairs manager Brain Walsh this morning told heraldsun.com.au no deal had been struck between TV networks and the AFL.
It comes after The Age reported in a front page story that a deal would see TV networks Seven, Ten and Foxtel locked in an exclusive five-year AFL rights deal.
But as reported in the Herald Sun today, Seven station chief Lewis Martin late last night strongly denied reports a $1 billion deal had already been struck.
The denials come after the AFL confirmed that Friday night's Pies v Blues match will be shown live on TV, with a new start time.
The Round 3 blockbuster between Carlton and Collingwood at the MCG will now start at 7.50pm.
Footy fans kicked a major goal when Channel 7 agreed to broadcast the game live, after initially refusing, in the latest sign that footy could soon be shown live every Friday.
Seven yesterday relented to pressure from fans and Herald Sun readers, agreeing to dump Better Homes and Gardens in favour of the top-of-the-ladder showdown.
Negotiations for the lucrative five-year TV rights deal are in the final stages, with AFL chief Andrew Demetriou under increasing pressure to enforce compulsory live broadcasts of all home and away games.
He has previously challenged the networks to "get out of the dark ages" and end delayed coverage.
Seven is bidding in conjunction with Channel 10 against rival Channel 9, while Foxtel will buy five weekly pay TV matches for up to $500 million.
Despite claims that Channels 7 and 10 have secured a deal, Nine was last night convinced it was still in with a chance of reclaiming the broadcast rights it lost five years ago for $780 million.
The major delay in the rights negotiations has been Seven's refusal to relinquish the top-rating Better Homes and Gardens in the blue chip 7.30pm timeslot.
Seven has examined a range of options to appease the AFL, including later start times on Friday nights.
The network has indicated it would not be prepared to pay top dollar if forced to abandon Better Homes and Gardens.
Another element of negotiations is a move for Foxtel to be able to show the same matches as free-to-air stations.
Finals football, the Grand Final and the Brownlow medal are also key elements of the deal.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/tipped-to-see-carlton-take-on-collingwood/story-e6frf9jf-1226033539163
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..so over half the games will only be available to a small percentage of the population?
The clowns are in charge of the circus!
Hopefully by the time the new tv deal comes in we'll be finally pushing up the ladder and with our supporter base we'll get more Friday and Saturday night games on free-to-air and they'll be live (what's 10 minutes).
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Channel 9 pitches TV deal to AFL
Michael Warner
Herald Sun
April 06, 2011
CHANNEL 9 remains in the race for control of the AFL's next round of broadcast rights.
Nine chiefs met league officials to pitch a deal in which all nine home-and-away matches every week would be shown live on free-to-air or Foxtel.
The AFL's negotiating team comprises commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick, chief executive Andrew Demetriou, chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan and commission member Chris Lynch.
Fitzpatrick is to fly to London at the end of the week to attend a Rio Tinto board meeting and could be absent for eight days, possibly dragging the negotiations deeper into the AFL season.
The AFL is eyeing a payday of $1 billion, up from $780 million under the existing deal.
Foxtel will pay about $500 million, leaving Nine or rival co-bidders Seven and Ten to fork out the rest.
Collingwood president and Nine employee Eddie McGuire yesterday slammed reports Channel 7 was lobbying for 7.50pm game starts to accommodate Better Homes & Gardens on Friday nights.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/channel-9-pitches-tv-deal-to-afl/story-e6frf9jf-1226034326407
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Caro is sticking to her story about Foxtel getting at least 7 of the 9 games and they are going for all 9 ("the deal breaker") with the Friday and Saturday nighters being simulcast alongside Seven and Ten's coverage. Foxtel is also going for all finals excluding the Grand Final. According to Caro if not this rights but definitely the next rights you'll need Foxtel - "It'll become part of our footy culture".
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^^^^^^^^Just seems too extreme of a deal to take seriously. Would do a lot of damage to the brand, especially new markets.
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I love FoxSports :cheers
The game is not owned by FTA channels and they have no respect for it anyway. Give them 1 game a week and the granny like the old days. And if you live in Victoria you can always go to the game ;)
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Here's Caro's article about Foxtel.....
Foxtel flexes muscle in AFL TV rights bid
Caroline Wilson
April 7, 2011
AS THE furtive dance that is the AFL broadcast rights negotiations two-steps its way towards a billion-dollar conclusion, there is at least one certain scenario for passionate football fans: and that is Foxtel, Foxtel and more Foxtel.
If the pay-TV broadcaster has its way - and it certainly appears prepared to fund significantly more than half of television money to make up the bulk of the AFL's proposed billion-dollar, five-year deal - Foxtel will televise every AFL game live from March through September, excluding perhaps the grand final.
In what would prove a fillip for fans in NSW and Queensland - for so long denied regular quality prime-time games, not to mention subscribers in Western and South Australia - the proposed Foxtel model would end once and for all the situation where top-shelf games are denied to audiences not prepared to stay up past midnight.
Advertisement: Story continues below The price, of course - and for many it will prove a daunting one - is an annual subscription, something which would become mandatory under the pay broadcaster's dream UK soccer-style model, which is currently prevented under the federal government's anti-siphoning legislation.
That legislation protects big sporting events for audiences without pay TV. But even under the proposed new model, a Foxtel box would appear irresistible.
Foxtel - for the first time permitted to bid directly for five of nine weekly games - has told the AFL it is prepared to pay $500 million for AFL football between 2012 and 2016, but only if its product includes all nine home-and-away games live - a push first revealed by The Age in February.
It is understood both the Seven-Ten consortium and the Nine Network have unofficially agreed to simulcast all AFL finals, including both preliminary finals with pay TV, although the grand final would potentially remain exclusive.
Seven and Ten remain the frontrunners for the free-to-air rights, but the stumbling blocks appear three-fold.
One is the refusal of the networks to share their respective best games with pay TV - in Seven's case Friday night football, and in Ten's case the best of the two Saturday night games.
Industry experts agreed yesterday with Seven's contention that should Foxtel share Friday nights, its audience would be diluted to the degree that it could lose the week's ratings war with Nine because of it. Whether or not that stalemate becomes a deal-breaker for Seven remains unclear. More clear is that Seven chairman Kerry Stokes remains determined to retain the AFL rights.
The second hurdle is that Ten's bid - Seven and Ten are contracted in the first instance to bid together - according to the AFL needs to increase, and new Ten boss Lachlan Murdoch, to date, appears unwilling to do that.
And the third hurdle is that Nine appears willing to make concessions to pay TV that Seven, to date, has not.
What also remains clear is that AFL remains the glittering prize in the crown of Australian sports media rights and everyone wants a piece of it.
And that games must be televised live. Channel Nine's Eddie McGuire slammed the proposed compromise between Seven and the AFL for Friday night games to start 10 minutes later to accommodate prime time, something Nine would not do.
Nine's opponents claim the network would struggle to fund four free-to-air games, but Nine rejects that. Analysts remain unclear over whether Nine is simply pushing up the rights price to ensure that Seven has no money left over for the forthcoming NRL rights.
But, while the defensive tactics being played out right now would probably defeat even Ross Lyon, there are already two clear winners. One, of course, is the AFL which will continue to set impressive Australian records for sporting broadcast rights. And the other one is Foxtel, whose control of the game increases dramatically every five years.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/foxtel-flexes-muscle-in-afl-tv-rights-bid-20110406-1d4hj.html
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I love FoxSports :cheers
The game is not owned by FTA channels and they have no respect for it anyway. Give them 1 game a week and the granny like the old days. And if you live in Victoria you can always go to the game ;)
Eff you silvertail. Who really is GG anyway? Shooter McGavin?
The masses are not happy.
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I love FoxSports :cheers
The game is not owned by FTA channels and they have no respect for it anyway. Give them 1 game a week and the granny like the old days. And if you live in Victoria you can always go to the game ;)
you're probably taking the pee, but I'll be your huckleberry anyway.
you're right the game is not owned by FTA, (or the AFL) it's owned by the people and only a small percentage of people have pay TV.
if comes down to needing pay TV to watch the footy I won't bother with a membership, i'll probably follow the NT thunder instead.
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Pay TV isn't that expensive.... :thumbsup
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pay TV is cheaper than a case of beer a month :cheers
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$70 per month to get the sports channels last time i looked.
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i pay $60 for IQ2 with sports = nice case of Asahi :cheers
stuff 7,9,10, they're sh¡t
i want my sport live and without commercials and i'm prepared to pay for it
last time i checked it wasn't free to get into the 'G
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$70 per month to get the sports channels last time i looked.
$52 all channels.. :shh
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$70 per month to get the sports channels last time i looked.
$52 all channels.. :shh
$39 for me :shh
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what is your cunning plan Daniel?
If i could get the sports chanel package on it's own for $20 I'd be onto it like a rat up a drain pipe but for something I'd really only use for 6 months of the year I'm not prepared to spend too much.
Waynes costing with only the sports channels as extra rather the whole box and dice could come in close to something acceptable.
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ransom until you give Jailbait Jaws & Slippery Chins back
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Dont forget about Fiddlers Chronicle chapter 8...I havent seen it yet
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Foxtel is cheap as chips for what you get.
Only problem if Foxtel get all games live then they may increase the price per month..
Foxtel have way better coverage then free to air.
The game may suffer as geographic with the least owners of Foxtel would be young families with kids, whom they are trying to promote the game too. Its a problem with the A-League, not all kids are watching it cause not all families have foxtel. If ALeague was on SBS or OneHD the game would increase in the younger generation.
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ransom until you give Jailbait Jaws & Slippery Chins back
No Deal.
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Dont forget about Fiddlers Chronicle chapter 8...I havent seen it yet
The Hispanic dub version is the way to go :thumbsup
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Nine to bid for AFL rights on the siren
Michael Warner
From: Herald Sun
April 16, 2011
CHANNELS 7 and 10 have lodged their final bid in the race for control of the AFL's next round of TV rights.
The AFL Commission is meeting about the TV rights on Monday, but Seven and Ten's rival, Channel 9, is delaying making its last offer until Monday morning.
The commission could rule on the winner on Monday afternoon, but will more likely reconvene later in the week.
TV chiefs expect the long-running saga to be concluded no later than Friday.
Nine is bidding against a joint Seven and Ten consortium for four weekly home-and-away matches, with Foxtel to air the remaining games in the five-year contract, starting next year.
The league is eyeing a pay day of $1 billion, up from $780 million under the existing deal, but is tipped to fall just short.
Seven is expected to agree to broadcast Friday night games live from next year, but is less enthusiastic about allowing Foxtel to simulcast matches.
Nine's offer is more closely aligned with Foxtel's, but will require the pay-TV giant to cough up extra money.
The AFL negotiators - commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick, chief executive Andrew Demetriou, chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan, and commission member Chris Lynch - will make their recommendation before Monday's board meeting.
Mr Fitzpatrick has been absent from recent negotiations after attending a board meeting for mining giant Rio Tinto in London.
He returns tomorrow and will attend next week's announcement.
While the TV component is expected to fall short of the $1 billion mark, that figure could be reached once factors such as the sale of internet rights are included.
In a new twist, it emerged yesterday that Seven was trying to pluck the jewel of rugby league's broadcasting crown by taking a tilt at gaining the rights to the NRL's State of Origin series.
Seven is also interested in snaring rugby league's Friday night games.
All major networks are vying for NRL rights from 2013.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/nine-to-bid-for-afl-rights-on-the-siren/story-e6frf9jf-1226039957585
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Foxtel the winner in footy deal
Caroline Wilson
April 18, 2011
CHANNEL Seven has agreed to share Friday night football with Foxtel for the next five years as the battle for the 2012-16 broadcast rights moves close to a resolution.
A $1 billion, five-year deal remains in the AFL's sights, with a report expected to be tabled at today's AFL Commission meeting in Melbourne confirming that Foxtel will televise all nine home-and-away games live, with four of those games simulcast with the free-to-air broadcast partners.
The AFL last night refused to comment on the broadcast negotiations, but The Age understands that the competition remains hopeful of a resolution before Easter.
Channels Seven and Ten remain in the front-running to win back those rights although Channel Nine in understood to be putting in its final bid today.
Seven executives met AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou three days ago.
Mike Fitzpatrick, chairman of the AFL's broadcast team, who also chairs the AFL, returned to Melbourne over the weekend from international business commitments.
Whatever the conclusion, the broadcasting of Australia's national football code will be transformed from next season, with the AFL having negotiated the sale for the next five years of every premiership game, bar the grand final, to pay television.
Significantly more than 30 per cent of Australian homes now subscribe to Foxtel, a figure expected to significantly jump as a result of the forthcoming AFL deal. Along with the grand final, Seven and Ten have also insisted that the Brownlow Medal remain exclusive to free-to-air.
The AFL will also prove successful in its bid for live coverage of every game.
Channel Seven, should it prove successful, will host Friday night football in a simulcast across Australia with Foxtel in an agreement which would see the two televising identical ads.
Channel Nine had already agreed to the nine home-and-away game-sharing arrangement. While the final figure remains uncertain, Channel Seven, which is also bidding on behalf of the Ten Network, has put forward a $400 million five-year bid, as revealed two weeks ago by The Age.
Foxtel, which will pay at least $500 million for five exclusive games, four shared games and every final on a shared basis apart from the grand final, could lift that figure to more than $550 million.
The roles of Channel Nine and Ten in the current negotiation remains uncertain. Nine appears determined to hold the next free-to-air NRL rights but is not out of the AFL race.
Ten is expected, but not certain, to continue its free-to-air partnership with the Seven Network and televise two Saturday games each week and share the finals with Seven. While Ten has indicated it would continue to televise both Saturday afternoon and its premier Saturday night game - sharing both with Foxtel - its financial position remains uncertain.
Either way, Channel Seven has bid $400 million on behalf of both networks in an agreement not including extra money for marketing and advertising.
Should Ten choose not to continue to televise AFL, Seven has committed to televising all four free-to-air games.
Foxtel's bid, at a minimum, is $500 million, more than double its previous rights fee. Once coupled with the minimum $400 million bid Seven has placed on the table, the AFL's broadcast price moves close to $1 billion.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/foxtel-the-winner-in-footy-deal-20110417-1djsz.html
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A final decision isn't far away now with the AFL meeting today to access each of the bids....
Nine has made a late play for control of the five-year contract, to run from 2012-16, in a pitch that would see it share home-and-away broadcasts with pay-TV giant Foxtel.
The AFL Commission will meet later today to assess the bids from Nine, Foxtel and rival co-bidders channels 7 and 10.
A decision could be announced as early as this afternoon, but is more likely later in the week. It is believed Seven and Ten will be given one last chance to better Nine's offer.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/billion-tv-footy-battle-heats-up/story-e6frf9jf-1226040673502
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From inside head quarters
Mike F: "So Andrew tell us how did the bidding process worked"
Andy D: "I told 'em just show me the money"
Mike F: "But Andrew what about the fans?"
Andy D: "The fans :-\ , they aint gonna show me the money directly, so not interested in them. Only really interested in Fox Sports they wanna show me the money."
Mike F: "But Andrew only 30% of the population have Pay TV so I come back to the fans, how can we sell it to them, that they will better off?"
Andy D: "Well that's easy, see I wanna someone to show me the money right? The fans will show Foxtel the money by signing up, that's how Foxtel shows me the money, so it means the fans are part of the show me the money show. We win, they lose everyone is happy
Mike F: "Got ya, how's it go again?"
Andy D & Mike F in tandem "show me the money"
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Footy fans winners in $1 billion TV battle
Michael Warner
From: Herald Sun
April 19, 2011
LIVE footy broadcasts have been guaranteed from next season in a big win for fans.
AFL chiefs were last night closing in on the biggest broadcasts rights deal in Australian history, with all networks agreeing to go live.
But, in a late twist, it emerged Channel 7 and co-bidder Network Ten had split in the negotiations amid growing acrimony over the court case involving defecting Seven sales director James Warburton.
Seven has put a solo offer of $450 million on the table, with Ten in the dark about its partner's intentions.
Read more:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/billion-tv-footy-battle-heats-up/story-e6frf9jf-1226041200563
AFL turns up heat on TV rights bidders
Caroline Wilson
April 19, 2011
THE AFL'S broadcast partners have been asked to raise their bids to at least $40 million between them with commission talks breaking up yesterday in the knowledge that all nine weekly home-and-away games would be broadcast live from 2012 and that a record rights bonanza is looming.
Read more:
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-turns-up-heat-on-tv-rights-bidders-20110418-1dlor.html#ixzz1JtJvgF1s
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All games live on Foxtel :thumbsup
4 games live on FTA :thumbsup
What's not to like?
Surely people don't expect every game to be on FTA?
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i pay $60 for IQ2 with sports = nice case of Asahi :cheers
eff 7,9,10, they're sh¡t
i want my sport live and without commercials and i'm prepared to pay for it
last time i checked it wasn't free to get into the 'G
Sounds like the adult channel would be on the menu for that price.
.....which reminds me, after 5 years I'm still waiting for those 2 DVD back i loaned you back you effer - Schindlers Fist and Sick Degrees of Penetration.
When you're writing these posts do you actually laugh? Are you laughing when your writing this stuff?
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All games live on Foxtel :thumbsup
4 games live on FTA :thumbsup
What's not to like?
Surely people don't expect every game to be on FTA?
I reckon if you cannot afford Foxtel there's alot not to like - remebering that only 30% of homes have PayTV
I ask this:
If the AFL was offered say $900 mil by a FTA network for ALL games with a guarantee to show all games live by spreading things over their digi channels would they take it over what's being suggested here; the $1 bill for the split of games between the FTA & PayTV?
Guarantee you they'd take the $1bil over the option of og having everygame live over FTA - it's about the $$$ not the fans
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Rubbish. The AFL would take the $900m in the blink of an eye for that much FTA exposure.
Problem is the networks don't have anywhere near that much money, and from every indication they don't want that many games of football anyway because most of them don't rate so don't blame the AFL.
I don't see the problem, FTA is getting no less football under this deal than previously, and now it will be shown live. That's a win.
Every game will also be show live on Foxtel - for the majority of households that cannot afford to go to the footy every week or live too far away, that's a win. How often do you get to the footy WP?
I think you are only against it because you don't have Foxtel ;D
Thank stuff for Foxtel I say - do you really believe a FTA channel would show a winless Richmond vs a winless North Melbourne @ 5pm on a Sunday night live?
FOXTEL IS THE HERO :cheers
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Rubbish. The AFL would take the $900m in the blink of an eye for that much FTA exposure.
Disagree - they didn't take it last time, they wouldn't take it this time
Why did the AFL chose a $780mil deal for the current 5 year block over a $650mil that offered more FTA exposure? The original Seven/Ten offer the last time guaranteed more FTA exposure than the $780mil that Kerry Packer/Foxtel offer that the AFL accepted and eventually Seven/Ten matched? Because they chose the $$$ over the fans
Problem is the networks don't have anywhere near that much money, and from every indication they don't want that many games of football anyway because most of them don't rate so don't blame the AFL.
Haven't you learnt that we must blame the AFL for everything - it's the way footy works ;D
I don't see the problem, FTA is getting no less football under this deal than previously, and now it will be shown live. That's a win.
Every game will also be show live on Foxtel - for the majority of households that cannot afford to go to the footy every week or live too far away, that's a win.
I was anti the current deal because of the amount of games not on FTA
Absolutely agree that live footy on FTA is a win that's not in dispute but I again come back to what about those people that cannot afford Foxtel?
30% of the population have it - that's less than 10 mil people so how can anyone say the fans are better off beggars belief.
How often do you get to the footy WP?
Every week gerk ;D
I think you are only against it because you don't have Foxtel ;D
Actually we do have Foxtel have since the day it came on the market
Hence why the deal doesn't effect me one way or another. But it does effect people I know who cannot afford Foxtel
Thank eff for Foxtel I say - do you really believe a FTA channel would show a winless Richmond vs a winless North Melbourne @ 5pm on a Sunday night live?
Yep that game on 7mate would be much better than repeats of Magnum PI ;D
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Disagree - they didn't take it last time, they wouldn't take it this time
Why did the AFL chose a $780mil deal for the current 5 year block over a $650mil that offered more FTA exposure? The original Seven/Ten offer the last time guaranteed more FTA exposure than the $780mil that Kerry Packer/Foxtel offer that the AFL accepted and eventually Seven/Ten matched? Because they chose the $$$ over the fans
Huh? 7/10 matched the 9/Foxtel offer. The AFL got the best price AND the extra FTA exposure.
Haven't you learnt that we must blame the AFL for everything - it's the way footy works ;D
I love bashing the AFL :thumbsup
Just not this time
I was anti the current deal because of the amount of games not on FTA
Absolutely agree that live footy on FTA is a win that's not in dispute but I again come back to what about those people that cannot afford Foxtel?
30% of the population have it - that's less than 10 mil people so how can anyone say the fans are better off beggars belief.
30% of households have it, not population.
If your team falls outside of the 4 FTA games per weekend and you can't afford Foxtel, go to the game. If you can't afford Foxtel and can't go to the game, watch/listen online. If you don't have the internet listen on the radio. If you don't have a radio, stiff sh¡t. What sort of socialist vortex are you living in? Where does it say every household in Australia should have the right to watch every AFL game on FTA TV? All games are never going to be on FTA because they dont rate, they FTA networks refuse to show them all live, and they don't have the money. The 70% of households without Foxtel are no worse off. Do you remember when there was only 1 game on TV a week? Fans are better off now than ever before.
Every week gerk ;D
Lucky you. What % of households do you think go to the football every week? 30%? 15%? 5%? 1%? Should the AFL provide subsidised access to all games for the households that can't afford to attend? Sydney to Melbourne, accommodation, food & drink, tickets to the 'G all for $19? Surely it's only fair? ;D
Actually we do have Foxtel have since the day it came on the market
Hence why the deal doesn't effect me one way or another. But it does effect people I know who cannot afford Foxtel
It doesn't effect them any differently now than before ???. Can they afford to go to games? Life isn't always fair.
Yep that game on 7mate would be much better than repeats of Magnum PI ;D
Hey Selleck rates man :lol
(http://www.tsbmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/selleck.jpg)
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Disagree - they didn't take it last time, they wouldn't take it this time
Why did the AFL chose a $780mil deal for the current 5 year block over a $650mil that offered more FTA exposure? The original Seven/Ten offer the last time guaranteed more FTA exposure than the $780mil that Kerry Packer/Foxtel offer that the AFL accepted and eventually Seven/Ten matched? Because they chose the $$$ over the fans
Huh? 7/10 matched the 9/Foxtel offer. The AFL got the best price AND the extra FTA exposure.
read the fine print of the offers ;D
You ask people in Sydney without Foxtel if they are any better off under the current deal which simply says the Ch 7 will show Friday nights at what ever time they feel like as opposed to the guarantee of showing it 10.30pm under their first offer. I would think having a replay start at 10.30pm is darn sight better than it starting at 1.00am on Saturday morning ;D
Also the $650mil offer guaranteed 5 games on FTA, the Ch9/packer deal did not it guaranteed 4 games only. Seeing Chs 7 & 10 only had to match the Ch9/Foxtel offer we are stuck with only 4 games on FTA
30% of households have it, not population.
If your team falls outside of the 4 FTA games per weekend and you can't afford Foxtel, go to the game. If you can't afford Foxtel and can't go to the game, watch/listen online. If you don't have the internet listen on the radio. If you don't have a radio, stiff sh¡t. What sort of socialist vortex are you living in? Where does it say every household in Australia should have the right to watch every AFL game on FTA TV? All games are never going to be on FTA because they dont rate, they FTA networks refuse to show them all live, and they don't have the money. The 70% of households without Foxtel are no worse off. Do you remember when there was only 1 game on TV a week? Fans are better off now than ever before.
1 game a week? Yeah I do that was back in the late 70's early 80's when I was but a child running around in a woollen jumper without sponsors logos - those were the days :angel: :thumbsup
And who's fault is it that games don't get shown live on FTA?
It's the AFL who didn't demand it last time that games must be live, they just gave the networks the option. They took the big $$$ but now sook because it's not live on Fridays and as for Saturdays - well it's up not up to Ch10 it's up to the AFL to give permission and for whatever reason they don't allow Ch10 live coverage of Melb games on a Saturday night to go live
Lucky you. What % of households do you think go to the football every week? 30%? 15%? 5%? 1%? Should the AFL provide subsidised access to all games for the households that can't afford to attend? Sydney to Melbourne, accommodation, food & drink, tickets to the 'G all for $19? Surely it's only fair? ;D
I have no idea of the % but how many fans has the game lost in the last 5-10 years because they don't get to see their team on TV when they are playing interstate because most of those games are shunted off to PayTV?
The AFL in their wisdom are trying to grow the game in western Sydney & the Gold Coast, surely FTA coverage to grow their brand (hate that term btw) is paramount in these things working? As it stands FTA gives more exposure whether it be on their main channels or on their other digi channels
And just another thing is there a possibility that clubs are going to lose members because people are going to chose hooking up to Foxtel over a membership because they can't afford both? Would that scenario be good for the game?
Wouldn't think so ;D
Thanks gerk - good debate :thumbsup
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Telstra in pitch for AFL live online
James Chessell
From: The Australian
April 20, 2011
FOOTBALL fans will be able to watch live AFL games online for the first time if Telstra is successful in a push for expanded digital coverage, a move that could nudge the 2012-16 broadcast rights deal above the $1 billion mark.
While co-bidders Seven Media Group and Ten Network Holdings have split over the value of free-to-air AFL rights, with Ten pulling out, it is understood Telstra has shown a willingness to pay for mobile and online content on the basis it can simulcast at least one match a round on the internet.
Sources close to the AFL remain confident that Telstra will "make a financial contribution for the first time" during the current negotiations, meaning the code's chief executive, Andrew Demetriou, should hit his $1bn target for the next five-year deal. Under the 2007-11 deal, Telstra can broadcast AFL games on a 12-hour delay. With the National Broadband Network under construction, Telstra is keen to pay more to secure exclusive and expanded content for mobile devices and its fledgling T-Box internet television service.
Telstra has offered significantly more than the $50 million to $60m it currently pays but its contribution will be dwarfed by the television networks. Seven is almost certain to clinch the free-to-air rights for $450m, with Nine reluctant to match the price.
Sources said a deal might not be struck before Easter, as an AFL subcommittee of Mr Demetriou, chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan, chairman Mike Fitzpatrick and commissioner Chris Lynch is yet to make a final recommendation to the AFL Commission.
Seven and Ten paid $780m for the 2007-11 free-to-air rights and then on-sold four games a week to pay-television group Foxtel for $315m. It is understood interim Ten chief executive Lachlan Murdoch pulled out three weeks ago, arguing Ten would lose too much money as part of a bid with Seven.
Citigroup analyst Justin Diddams estimates the networks lose about $18m a year on the deal compared with the amount of advertising the AFL generates.
Seven has taken Ten to the NSW Supreme Court over the defection of chief sales and digital officer James Warburton, but sources on both sides said it was a question of value that led to the split over the AFL rights. Relations between Seven chief executive David Leckie and Mr Murdoch are said to remain solid.
Ten's absence means Seven could sub-license one or two games a round to Ten or Nine. The AFL could also attempt to split the free-to-air rights by selling Seven the more popular games (Friday and Saturday nights) and offering a Sunday game to Nine.
The negotiations are further complicated by Foxtel, which is likely to pay about $500m for the exclusive rights to five games a round as well as the right to simulcast the other four matches shown on free-to-air TV.
Nine chief executive David Gyngell has been hoping a willingness to allow Foxtel to live broadcast all games -- and therefore pay more -- would provide a structure where Nine would not have to match Seven. This scenario, however, seems unlikely.
Seven and Ten paid over the odds for the 2007-11 rights after they were forced to match an eleventh-hour bid from the late Nine owner, Kerry Packer.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/industry-sectors/telstra-in-pitch-for-afl-live-online/story-e6frg9hx-1226041809565
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Thanks gerk - good debate :thumbsup
Whoa it aint over, I haven't won yet!
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Seven, Foxtel to share AFL rights
Jesper Fjeldstad
Sunday Herald Sun
April 24, 2011
CHANNELS 9 and 10 have chosen rugby league over Australian football, and the two free-to-air broadcasters are set to drop out of the AFL rights race.
Seven is on the brink of signing off on the next five years' rights in tandem with Foxtel, with all games to be beamed live into Australian homes.
The Sunday Herald Sun has learned that Channel 10 has pulled out of the race not only because of acrimony over the defection of executive James Warburton from Seven to Ten, but to be in a better position to bid for part of the next NRL rights.
The current rugby league deal expires at the end of 2012.
The AFL rights deal is tipped to be sealed within days.
The jewel in the crown of the new rights deal will be Friday night and Saturday night football - the two most valued time slots - being simulcast with Foxtel.
The pay-television provider, which will fund more than half of the agreement and is seeking to broadcast all home-and-away games live, will be the big winner from the deal.
Channel 9, which used its final bid to try to trump Seven by offering live simulcasts, is no longer considered a genuine bidder by industry sources and is there purely to drive up the price.
That has been done to keep Seven out of the NRL rights bidding war, which will commence as soon as the NRL has formed its inaugural commission.
Former AFL chief executive Wayne Jackson, the last person in charge of negotiating a deal with a backdrop of the NRL being a major force, predicted rugby league would influence the final figure, but said the expected $1 billion prize for AFL rights was a boon.
"It places Australian football in a great position," Jackson said. "And to have Friday night live, if that transpires South Australia and Western Australia deserve it, and it's important that it comes to rural areas too."
Channel 7 is expected to secure the rights with a $450 million-plus bid to host four matches a week, while Foxtel will tip in more than $500 million for five exclusive games after a change to anti-siphoning laws means Foxtel could bid in its own right.
Telstra's contribution for the internet rights will bring the value up to the $1 billion mark.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/seven-foxtel-to-share-afl-rights/story-e6frf9jf-1226043830115
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Broadcast deal gets final polish
Caroline Wilson
April 25, 2011
A RESOLUTION to the AFL's projected $1 billion-plus broadcast rights agreement is now just days away, with the Seven Network reportedly lifting its bidding price over the Easter break by $25 million over the five-year contract.
League bosses Mike Fitzpatrick and Andrew Demetriou look likely to announce the historic new deal by Thursday, in a landmark agreement which will reap the AFL and its clubs at least an estimated $925 million from Foxtel and Seven alone, even before the Telstra online contract and marketing and advertising additives are taken into account.
Although Seven will offer Channel Ten two of its four contracted free-to-air games, there remains genuine doubt now as to whether Ten's new boss Lachlan Murdoch and his board will be prepared to pay its share of what now amounts to free-to-air rights of $425 million over five years, with an additional $50 million in contra.
As the AFL, Foxtel, Seven and Telstra make the finishing touches to shape football fans' viewing habits from 2012 until 2016 both Seven and Ten have denied internal conflicts have led to Ten's decision to remove itself from negotiations, with Ten also casting doubt on a reported interest in bidding alone for the free-to-air NRL rights.
And in other developments in recent days:
■ Foxtel has refused to lift its bid from $500 million plus a marketing component and will televise every AFL game except the grand final live, with five exclusive home-and-away games each week.
■ The AFL has tentatively agreed to push Friday night games back by 10 minutes in return for live coverage on both Seven and Foxtel.
■ It has emerged that Network Ten remains in contact with Seven but has repeatedly indicated an unwillingness to pay its scaled share of the free-to-air rights, which would have seen Ten televise two of the five grand finals from 2012 and two Anzac Day clashes.
■ Seven has told the AFL it was prepared to televise all four free-to-air games available each week generally scheduled on Friday night, Saturday afternoon, Saturday night and Sunday afternoon should it fail to reach an agreement with Ten or Channel Nine.
Foxtel, as previously reported by The Age, has proved successful in its push for all nine home-and-away games live each week, four of which will be simulcast with free-to-air showing identical advertisements. Foxtel, for the first time, will also televise all finals except the grand final live and simulcast also.
Telstra's bid for the AFL's online rights has been placed by industry experts at $100 million over five years, with IPTV and extended mobile telephone coverage. Should that negotiation prove successful, Fitzpatrick and Demetriou's broadcast package would earn the league an Australian sporting rights record payday of $1.25 billion, even before advertising and marketing are taken into account.
Not only will the AFL's investment into new markets, the Gold Coast and western Sydney, have won a massive vote of market support but the league's existing clubs would have their immediate to medium-term futures guaranteed. The rights deal will also prove a major fillip for AFL players who are pushing for 25 per cent of the game's total revenue, along with a significantly increased and restructured retirement fund.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/broadcast-deal-gets-final-polish-20110424-1dt11.html#ixzz1KSSqJEdo
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I think Caro has her sums wrong unless she's including monies for the rights not mentioned in her article. $925m + $100m = $1.025b not $1.25b :wallywink.
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3aw news saying the official tv rights deal announcement will be tomorrow morning with SEVEN and FOXTEL winning the rights. SEVEN will then on-sell a couple of games to either NINE or TEN with NINE the favourite. If that's all true then for the next 5 years we'll have footy on SEVEN, NINE and FOXTEL.
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3aw news saying the official tv rights deal announcement will be tomorrow morning with SEVEN and FOXTEL winning the rights. SEVEN will then on-sell a couple of games to either NINE or TEN with NINE the favourite. If that's all true then for the next 5 years we'll have footy on SEVEN, NINE and FOXTEL.
If I was Seven - I'd keep all 4 FTA - why would you consider on selling the ANZAC day game, Dream time at 'G and some of the other ones that quality H&A games
Good win for 7 - all Grand finals this time round
Now if Ch 7 just get back to some HD all would be well with the FTA world (btw ditto Ch9 re NRL & Cricket)
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3aw news saying the official tv rights deal announcement will be tomorrow morning with SEVEN and FOXTEL winning the rights. SEVEN will then on-sell a couple of games to either NINE or TEN with NINE the favourite. If that's all true then for the next 5 years we'll have footy on SEVEN, NINE and FOXTEL.
If I was Seven - I'd keep all 4 FTA - why would you consider on selling the ANZAC day game, Dream time at 'G and some of the other ones that quality H&A games
Good win for 7 - all Grand finals this time round
Now if Ch 7 just get back to some HD all would be well with the FTA world (btw ditto Ch9 re NRL & Cricket)
SEVEN to sub-licence Sunday games to NINE according to the Courier Mail.
They also claim the NRL will also get a billion dollar tv rights deal so how reliable that news article is is anyone's guess.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/nrls-sights-on-billion-dollar-tv-deal/story-fn6ck6f9-1226045227405
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AFL to lock in TV deal, but picture still fuzzy
Caroline Wilson
April 27, 2011
NETWORK Seven boss David Leckie and Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams are expected to meet AFL heads Mike Fitzpatrick and Andrew Demetriou tomorrow in Melbourne to sign the league's new five-year broadcast deal, which will reap the competition at least $1.025 billion in television revenue alone.
DEAL OR NO DEAL: Footy's new jackpot:
- Total deal worth $1.025billion over five years.
- Seven to pay $425 million for four games each week: Friday night, Saturday, Saturday night and Sunday.
- Foxtel to pay $500-$525million for five games each week exclusively and all nine shown live.
- Ten has not ruled out buying Saturday games from Seven but baulking at price.
- Internet rights to be determined. Telstra likely to pay at least $100 million.
- Season: Minimum of 22 rounds plus minimum four weeks of finals.
Foxtel will also exclusively televise the pre-season competition, simulcasting the NAB Cup grand final with Channel Seven.
Seven has pointed to the new rules allowing games to be televised on second channels which would mean the network could televise NRL games prime time into New South Wales and Queensland in conjunction with AFL to be shown on its second channel, with the opposite scenario unfolding in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-to-lock-in-tv-deal-but-picture-still-fuzzy-20110426-1dv55.html#ixzz1Kdlxro5f
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AFL to ink broadcast agreement
Football Caroline Wilson
April 28, 2011
THE AFL'S billion-dollar broadcast rights deal could be signed, sealed and delivered to the public today. Channel Seven and Foxtel executives were last night preparing to fly to Melbourne early today to sign the historic deal which would underline the futures of all 18 clubs.
While the final breakdown of the Foxtel-Channel Seven-Telstra broadcast rights package, which will control visual communication of the game from 2012 until 2016, remains inexact, it is understood the Foxtel (a minimum of $550 million including advertising) and Seven ($475 million including advertising) components alone will exceed $1 billion, with the expanded online rights purchased by Telstra worth at least a further $100 million.
While Seven could yet sell at least one and potentially two weekly home-and-away games to channels Ten or Nine - it will deal initially with current broadcast partner Ten - the AFL's most enduring broadcaster remains determined to televise all four free-to-air games should the correct purchase price not present itself.
The AFL contract - unsigned as of last night - stipulates that Friday night football, which will start slightly later from next season, will be televised live on free-to-air television. Foxtel has also agreed it will not mount its own coverage of free-to-air games but use the coverage provided by Seven or any other free-to-air provider.
Seven will soon embark on a recruitment campaign for new broadcasters should it retain all four games. It looks certain to also retain its current team of Bruce McAvaney and Dennis Cometti.
Foxtel remains the big winner under the deal, having offered just over double its previous five-year amount but gaining the right to televise live every AFL premiership game except the grand final.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-to-ink-broadcast-agreement-20110427-1dx35.html#ixzz1KkHC7TYN
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Rumor is that the ABC will get 2 games
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Rumor is that the ABC will get 2 games
Highly doubt it - Seven have the rights to FTA games and will only on sell to another network at a premium price. ABC couldn't afford and wouldn't pay it
Midday - early afternoon announcement they are saying
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Seven has pointed to the new rules allowing games to be televised on second channels which would mean the network could televise NRL games prime time into New South Wales and Queensland in conjunction with AFL to be shown on its second channel, with the opposite scenario unfolding in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.
When did 7 get the rights to NRL?
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Seven has pointed to the new rules allowing games to be televised on second channels which would mean the network could televise NRL games prime time into New South Wales and Queensland in conjunction with AFL to be shown on its second channel, with the opposite scenario unfolding in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.
When did 7 get the rights to NRL?
Caro's talking about how it would work if SEVEN goes after the upcoming NRL tv rights.
AFL to make their announcement at 2.30pm today.
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The deal with SEVEN and FOXTEL has been done. Only waiting for the media conference now. There's a rumour that Foxtel is paying $650m for their part of the tv rights so combined with Seven's $475m the AFL will easily get more than their $1b target even before adding the Telstra $100m web rights.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/112514/default.aspx
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CHANNEL 10 is still in the mix to broadcast AFL for the next five years, with a deal to team up with Channel Seven looming as a real possibility.
The landscape could become clearer soon, with a resolution on whether Seven will share or go it alone possible in the next fortnight.
If talks lead to a deal being struck, it is almost certain Ten would continue to broadcast Saturday afternoon and Saturday night games next season.
As Seven has very much been the marquee act in the TV deal, it may hold exclusive rights to the AFL finals, Grand Final and Brownlow Medal.
In the past, the networks have shared those golden assets.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/ten-in-bid-for-afl-games/story-e6frf9jf-1226076725084