FTA-TV 2017 AFL Broadcast rights

[Billy ray]

interesting

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...t-changed-the-game-for-watching-sports-online

 

[damochandler]

interesting

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...t-changed-the-game-for-watching-sports-online

i personally would just pay one lump sum. which you still can do with the league pass. because what if you want to watch other teams play throughout the season

 

[nobbyiscool]

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...l-ten-bid-for-nrl-rights-20150621-ghtkwr.html

Foxtel's acquisition of a 15per cent share in Channel Ten has sounded alarm bells with ARL commissioners who were troubled by the Fox Sports/Channel Nine joint bid when the broadcasters and the code last argued at the negotiating table in 2012. Then, Channel Ten, led by executive chairman Lachlan Murdoch, did not have a bidding partner and was seeking Saturday night NRL games. This put it in competition with Fox Sports' highly prized Super Saturday coverage.

ARL commissioners were uncomfortable dealing with a joint Nine/Fox Sports bid, believing it to be anti-competitive. Now, it is faced with a possible Ten/Fox Sports partnership, which, if News Corporation gains management rights over Ten, effectively means the ARLC is dealing with a single entity. (News Corporation half owns Foxtel with Telstra but has 100 per cent of Fox Sports.)

So, while the John Grant-led commission was wary of negotiating with Channel Nine's Jeff Browne and News' Kim Williams three years ago, now it could be dealing exclusively with the newly installed boss of the global giant, Lachlan Murdoch.

Murdoch, who a year earlier had abandoned any ambitions for AFL to concentrate on the rugby league bid, was furious his bid was rejected. Williams, who released the ARLC from News Ltd's first-and-last-rights hold over the code in order to get the joint bid over the line, was subsequently sacked by Lachlan's father, Rupert.

After all, News had fought a Super League war for media rights and, as a condition of its exit from half-ownership of the NRL, had them extended to 2027.

Williams was subsequently appointed a commissioner on the AFL, whose next rights deal is also on the table.

News Corp now covets broadcasting rights to both winter football codes. Ten currently has zero premium sport, with some upside from Big Bash cricket and V8 supercars.

In the absence of any first-and-last-rights options in either code and with the cash cow delivered via News' investment in Ten, it can launch killer bids for both NRL and AFL.

The problem for both codes is the spectre of News Corporation running their games. ARL Commissioners fear a Ten/Fox Sports combine could shift top-rating games such as the Broncos v Cowboys and the Dragons v Bulldogs to Saturday on Foxtel, while Friday viewers on Ten would see, say, the Titans versus Warriors. That would certainly make Foxtel a must-have subscription.

But Fox Sports boss Patrick Delany is hugely respected across the NRL and has a top working relationship with an administration that can maintain power over its own scheduling.

News Corp's 15 per cent share in Ten still requires the approval of the ACCC. Insofar as AFL, rugby league and cricket are the three big sports on free-to-air

TV, the regulator will view any lessening of competition for their rights with some concern. Australia has the strongest anti-siphoning rules in the world, designed to ensure fans can enjoy the major sports free, with the codes having the money to produce premium product. Ten will cede much of its operations to Foxtel to reduce loss, a necessity for the cost-crippled and ratings-starved network.

One of the problems with the ARL assigning broadcasting rights to Ten, without a partner such as another free-to-air network, or News, would be the need to have a guarantor.

After all, Ten held rugby league rights in the early 1990s but the then Lowy-owned network went into bankruptcy, ceding them to Nine.

Ten has some tycoon owners, such as James Packer, Gina Rinehart, Bruce Gordon and Lachlan Murdoch, but they have hitherto had no unified strategy. Now they have as a partner News Corp, the media world's ultimate underwriter.

A News Corporation/Channel Ten/Foxtel/Fox Sports bid for either AFL or NRL or both would also be attractive to Telstra, which is News' joint-venture partner in Foxtel.

Telstra currently holds the digital rights to AFL and shares NRL rights with Fox Sports. There has been a significant migration away from free-to-air and cable TV viewing by the young, who are increasingly watching games on smart phones and tablets. Joining Telstra in a News Corp/Ten/Foxtel/Fox Sports consortium killer bid for all free-to-air, pay-for-view and digital rights could produce an offer too good to refuse.

Maybe Channels Seven and Nine will react to this prospect by seeking a partnership with Optus. If so, we would be transported back 20 years to the outbreak of the Super League war.

 

[PerfectFooty]

On the verge of a $2 Billion deal and could be announced on Tuesday

- Seven and Foxtel likely to keep rights
- Grand Final to remain afternoon time slot

http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=9019899

 

[Experimental]

On the verge of a $2 Billion deal and could be announced on Tuesday

- Seven and Foxtel likely to keep rights
- Grand Final to remain afternoon time slot

http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=9019899

Doubt it'll be announced in the coming days given the Essendon/Hird situation at the moment. Wait until that settles down first haha

 

[nobbyiscool]

AFL have retweeted that there'll be a broadcast rights announcement at 4.30pm.

 

[Experimental]

Doubt it'll be announced in the coming days given the Essendon/Hird situation at the moment. Wait until that settles down first haha

AFL have retweeted that there'll be a broadcast rights announcement at 4.30pm.

well s**t

 

[PerfectFooty]

Today is a busy day

 

[Connar]

Channel Seven has got AFL again.

 

[blackshadow]

Would like more info on the digital rights (gone to Telstra) and whether there will be HD streaming available on anything but mobile devices. Ideally platforms such as Apple TV, chromecast, Kodi, Xbox and Playstation will be available

 

[nobbyiscool]

Would like more info on the digital rights (gone to Telstra) and whether there will be HD streaming available on anything but mobile devices. Ideally platforms such as Apple TV, chromecast, Kodi, Xbox and Playstation will be available

You can do it now on Xbox and Playstation with Foxtel. Didn't I hear that went HD recently?

 

[Tiger2709]

2.5 billion and seven say they will try and televise all games in HD for those that dont have Foxtel, not sure if they mean they will televise all matches or that all the matches they televise will be in HD, being in WA I have Foxtel, live footy and EPL makes it worth the expense imo, well that's what I tell the wife.

 

[nobbyiscool]

2.5 billion and seven say they will try and televise all games in HD for those that dont have Foxtel, not sure if they mean they will televise all matches or that all the matches they televise will be in HD, being in WA I have Foxtel, live footy and EPL makes it worth the expense imo, well that's what I tell the wife.

I just wrote in another thread - I don't know where this is coming from. Kerry Stokes specifically said something to the effect of "we'll be looking at ways to bring high definition into Melbourne."

He didn't say that they would be broadcasting games in HD.

 

[Wilfork]

Was there anything about digital rights, other than Telstra broadcasting to handheld devices (again)?

If the AFL are still avoiding having a League Pass-type subscription online, then *.

 

[nobbyiscool]

Was there anything about digital rights, other than Telstra broadcasting to handheld devices (again)?

If the AFL are still avoiding having a League Pass-type subscription online, then ****.

Why do people have such a hard time understanding that this will never happen! Even in America, you can't get a full league pass domestically.

Do you really think 7 and Foxtel are going to pay $2.5b for rights, and then let Telstra/the AFL offer a full League Pass that drastically undercuts Foxtels pricing and 7s advertising?

To answer your question - status quo. What is available on Telstra now (phone and T-box?), and Foxtel now (only on the phone & ipad app I think, not on computer) is going to be what we have going forward by the sounds of it.

 

[reubski23]

Was there anything about digital rights, other than Telstra broadcasting to handheld devices (again)?

If the AFL are still avoiding having a League Pass-type subscription online, then ****.

You do realize that there is black outs everywhere on NFL Game Pass and NBA League pass in North America?

 

[PerfectFooty]

I've read the article on the AFL website, but it makes no mention on how many games Seven will be broadcasting in the new deal. I'm assuming it will be the same as what we have now with four games

 

[Billy ray]

So,money in the bank. All signed.
Look for no changes to rules or anything at season end. The game is fine, no need to change.

 

[PerfectFooty]

also somewhat related but will the AFL try to buy back Etihad early now?

 

[nobbyiscool]

also somewhat related but will the AFL try to buy back Etihad early now?

The AFL already takes ownership of Etihad in 2019 doesn't it? Would you bother for the sake of a couple of years?

 

[PerfectFooty]

The AFL already takes ownership of Etihad in 2019 doesn't it? Would you bother for the sake of a couple of years?

Yeah i know but i heard there was talk to get these rights sorted early to buy back Etihad ahead of time

 

[frenchfri12]

7 getting 3 games each round? I assume that the 4th game will be on-sold to 7 each week that there isn't a game on a public holiday ect.?

Also outraged neither 10 or 9 have the rights.

 

[flaps]

The AFL already takes ownership of Etihad in 2019 doesn't it? Would you bother for the sake of a couple of years?

In 2025 I'm pretty sure. Think they buy it for $1. They'd have to buy it for a few hundred million if they were to buy it in the next few years you'd think.

With Channel 7 doing HD games in 2017+, does this mean they'll try and get a few up by next year?

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-...billion-television-deal/6706738?section=sport

"Commencing in 2017 and running until 2022, the deal allows Foxtel to broadcast every match live, while giving Channel Seven three matches live per round in every state and territory, as well as coverage of the grand final and Brownlow Medal count."

Does that mean Ch7 have dropped a game? Or do they mean the Saturday arvo game is still (and why the * still) delayed an hour?

Would have liked to have seen something else other than Telstra own digital rights to be honest.

 

[frenchfri12]

In 2025 I'm pretty sure. Think they buy it for $1. They'd have to buy it for a few hundred million if they were to buy it in the next few years you'd think.

With Channel 7 doing HD games in 2017+, does this mean they'll try and get a few up by next year?

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-...billion-television-deal/6706738?section=sport

"Commencing in 2017 and running until 2022, the deal allows Foxtel to broadcast every match live, while giving Channel Seven three matches live per round in every state and territory, as well as coverage of the grand final and Brownlow Medal count."

Does that mean Ch7 have dropped a game? Or do they mean the Saturday arvo game is still (and why the **** still) delayed an hour?

Would have liked to have seen something else other than Telstra own digital rights to be honest.

7 get friday sat nights and sunday arvo. i think foxtel will on sell their 3:00 game on saturdays to 7 each round, as in 2007 when 10 and 7 got 4 games each, and osld 2 each to foxtel.

 

[Gibbsy]

There's another thread at the top guys