Next AFL TV Rights deal

[Dubstep Dookie]

ransom until you give Jailbait Jaws & Slippery Chins back

No Deal.

[Dubstep Dookie]

Dont forget about Fiddlers Chronicle chapter 8...I havent seen it yet

The Hispanic dub version is the way to go 

[one-eyed]

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

[one-eyed]

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

[one-eyed]

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

[WilliamPowell]

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"

[one-eyed]

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

[gerkin greg]

All games live on Foxtel
4 games live on FTA 
What's not to like?
Surely people don't expect every game to be on FTA?

[10 FLAGS]

i pay $60 for IQ2 with sports = nice case of Asahi 

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?

[WilliamPowell]

All games live on Foxtel
4 games live on FTA 
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

[gerkin greg]

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 
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 

[WilliamPowell]

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 

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 

I think you are only against it because you don't have Foxtel 

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 

[gerkin greg]

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  

I love bashing the AFL  
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  

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?  

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  

Hey Selleck rates man  

[WilliamPowell]

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 

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 

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 

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?  

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 

Thanks gerk - good debate 

[one-eyed]

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