News New AFL TV Rights Deal (2017-2022) - 2.508 Billion

Kappa

Brownlow Medallist
Oct 7, 2014
27,769
37,131
AFL Club
Collingwood
There do appear to have been some genuine technical difficulties ...

(1) The video codecs used by the AFL broadcasters clearly struggle with the LED advertising boards. Any video that's got a closeup of those LED sign boards in the background collapses after a few seconds. It's happened all year.

(2) We have seen from the video review process that they lose significant signal fidelity when recording / playing back the video in that review. You look at a slo-mo and the ball looks clear ... Then a few moments later they go back to the same slow mo shot and the ball is blurred to buggery. There's a BigFooty thread about it here

The issue is far more complicated than what people want to believe it is.

Channel 7 are not screwing over their customers on purpose.
 

SpongePie

Premium Platinum
Feb 14, 2010
3,721
3,633
AFL Club
Collingwood
Looking forward to Telstra delivering a shitty online presence once again.
Low def - Check.
Cant use my paid for pass while traveling out of the country, unless I sign up for a second different pass - Check.

I wish they would just look at what the NFL does with their Game Pass and copy that. That thing is awesome. Can even change commentaries.
 
Sep 28, 2006
11,415
7,081
QLD
AFL Club
Collingwood
Other Teams
LA Lakers,NE Patriots,Liverpool FC
Looking forward to Telstra delivering a shitty online presence once again.
Low def - Check.
Cant use my paid for pass while traveling out of the country, unless I sign up for a second different pass - Check.

I wish they would just look at what the NFL does with their Game Pass and copy that. That thing is awesome. Can even change commentaries.
That would be great.
 

Markfs

Brownlow Medallist
Nov 13, 2008
25,831
20,669
Fremantle
AFL Club
Collingwood
Other Teams
Sydney Sweeney's Shaving Team...
i've seen a couple of homes set up with the wide screen stuff. I'm not big in this area. I'm just happy to be able to see the game. I dont really want to see the whites of the players eyes in stunning definition...but people talk about channel 7 as treating their customers badly. Channel 7 is free to air. I'm pretty happy with that. The rest of the world has put sport under subscription, and we have done that here but only in part. I dont buy stuff because of television advertising - i dont buy much stuff at all - so I'm basically getting the channel 7 games for free. I'm pretty happy with that and i'll like that to continue. There's probably a number of you who would be happy if the whole thing went subscription based and it gave you super high definition leading edge technology ....and they charged you $100 a month. Well I'm not one of them. I understand that modern movies require high techology formats because the storylines are so weak and boring that the only interesting thing is the special effects....I dont see AFL that way.

The funny thing is that the things that annoy me most about footy broadcasts are the actual way the game is portrayed. The endless shots of the crowd. The endless shots of the coach - sometimes missing action to show how the coach is feeling. The endless change is camera angles for no good reason. The endless shots from behind the goals - which do bring insights into the use of zoning and forward presses - but which sometimes end up like trying to view ants in the distance. I've sat and stood behind the goals at footy matches in the past and cursed because it was hard to see what was happening at the other end of the ground. I never thought I would do the same watching footy on tv. It seems crazy. Style over substance. TV direction by hipsters. That annoys me far more than the definition. But then you have to understand that I started watching footy as a boy when the TV was black and white and it was all free to air and the stations used 2 cameras. It's a different world.
 
Nov 25, 2006
2,389
2,973
Melbourne
AFL Club
Collingwood
The lack of streaming options is a worry. The AFL should have opened it up to allow streaming to smart TVs, Apple TV, rokus, Android tv streamers etc.

Complete lack of foresight over where things are heading.
Telstra and their share holding of Foxtel is probably the issue. The AFL wouldn't want to put the sole pay TV operator off side, so Telstra getting digital rights goes hand in hand, at least until digital rights out price pay TV.

From what I've read Games will be available through Foxplay and Telstra's new TV service/box, but as you said there's better, more accessible options.
 

Markfs

Brownlow Medallist
Nov 13, 2008
25,831
20,669
Fremantle
AFL Club
Collingwood
Other Teams
Sydney Sweeney's Shaving Team...
Just a point.... people talk about the AFL bending over for a particular broadcaster. The AFL has to keep a competitive environment for the rights in the long term. If Murdoch gets it stitched up then the price will fall. If they give it to Kerry Stokes then the price will fall. If you want to know why, then you only have to look at your local supermarkets. Woolies and Coles have had it stitched up for ages and both make a fortune. It becomes harder and harder for outside players to come in. Aldi came in because it was a huge overseas player but we're never going to get a real competitive market in supermarket retail and in the long term, grocery prices are going to rise. In the footy world, we have channel 9 that is an option but there really isnt too many outside players that can handle broadcast rights. As the options for the AFL decrease, Murdoch and Stokes and Telstra will gradually screw the price down. In fact, the only thing that it keeping the price up is that the AFL is saying to Stokes that it will go full subscription with Foxtel. On the other side, Foxtel needs AFL to survive. Thats good for the AFL but it's a house of cards if Rupert decides to cash in his chips and go elsewhere where he can find a sport that he can buy. He's done that in the past with rugby league. It's all a balance for the AFL. It might seem like it is bending over but it needs to keep these guys happy and interested, while trying to foster competition for the next rights.
 
Mar 5, 2002
12,949
11,860
Victoria
AFL Club
Collingwood
Telstra and their share holding of Foxtel is probably the issue. The AFL wouldn't want to put the sole pay TV operator off side, so Telstra getting digital rights goes hand in hand, at least until digital rights out price pay TV.

From what I've read Games will be available through Foxplay and Telstra's new TV service/box, but as you said there's better, more accessible options.

Yeah I understand the mechanics of it. But, they are going for the best deal dollar wise, rather than the best deal "fan wise". They need to strike a balance.

They should be looking at NBA Live Pass, MLB Pass, NHL Pass etc and looking to copy those models. For all I care Telstra can still run it, as long as they are told they need to produce apps for the major platforms.

I'm also not sure if Telstra's new service (which will be via a Roku media streamer) will include access to footy.
 
Nov 25, 2006
2,389
2,973
Melbourne
AFL Club
Collingwood
Yeah I understand the mechanics of it. But, they are going for the best deal dollar wise, rather than the best deal "fan wise". They need to strike a balance.

They should be looking at NBA Live Pass, MLB Pass, NHL Pass etc and looking to copy those models. For all I care Telstra can still run it, as long as they are told they need to produce apps for the major platforms.

I'm also not sure if Telstra's new service (which will be via a Roku media streamer) will include access to footy.
Agree the balance is out of whack and that goes further digital rights. Channel 7 haven't been innovative in how they show the footy and there are numerous issues regarding the quality of camera angles, commentary styles and personalities. Also match start times and days are all compromised to suit broadcasters, not fans attending games.

Re footy being shown by Telstra it remains to be seen, but I read it here. http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...wscorp-seven-and-telstra-20150818-gj2648.html

Sydney Morning Herald said:
$300 million from Telstra to broadcast over its planned Telstra TV service and to handsets and digital devices.
 

Markfs

Brownlow Medallist
Nov 13, 2008
25,831
20,669
Fremantle
AFL Club
Collingwood
Other Teams
Sydney Sweeney's Shaving Team...
Yeah I understand the mechanics of it. But, they are going for the best deal dollar wise, rather than the best deal "fan wise". They need to strike a balance.

They should be looking at NBA Live Pass, MLB Pass, NHL Pass etc and looking to copy those models. For all I care Telstra can still run it, as long as they are told they need to produce apps for the major platforms.

I'm also not sure if Telstra's new service (which will be via a Roku media streamer) will include access to footy.

well nba league pass which does all the game costs $36 a month.... maybe they should do something for the fans and set up something like that...

however NBA does offer the following friendly advice
"Sports blackouts are a factor in every programming distribution service. Blackouts are determined primarily according to who has the rights to broadcast a given game in a given area, and are defined by the NBA. Blackouts take place when a game is televised locally in your area via a regional sports network or an over-the-air station. If a game is blacked out on NBA LEAGUE PASS in your local area, you should tune to your local TV station to see the game. Games appearing on national television are not available live on NBA LEAGUE PASS.

This applies to games being televised on ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV. You may view these games on the designated channel on your television."

the baseball is a lot cheaper.... and a lot more boring but it's certainly cheaper here and every angle is shown via the pass and it offers the following friendly advice

"Regular Season Local Live Blackout in the U.S. and Canada: All live games streamed on MLB.TV and available through MLB.com At Bat are subject to local, regional or national blackouts. Except for certain MLB regular season and Postseason games as described below or in certain MLB Club home television territories for which MLBAM may offer in-market subscription Services, all live games will be blacked out in each applicable Club's home television territory. If a game is blacked out in an area, it is not available for live game viewing. If you are an MLB.TV subscriber within an area subject to blackout, the applicable game will be available as an archived game approximately 90 minutes after the conclusion of the game."

So if your're in Melbourne and you buy your friendly AFL Super Dooper Live Pass at $50 a month that shows every team and every angle and interviews with your favourite players and their girlfriends and pets, remember the friendly blackouts that are likely to happen when your team is playing in Melbourne.
 

Markfs

Brownlow Medallist
Nov 13, 2008
25,831
20,669
Fremantle
AFL Club
Collingwood
Other Teams
Sydney Sweeney's Shaving Team...
i'm amazed that the NRL rights are about the same as the AFL. I didnt watch state of origin this year but I realise that its a pretty good product. I havent watched any other weekly matches, although I watch a bit of the finals. I would think that I wouldnt be different from many people living in Victoria, WA and SA and Tas. I'm not sure about the ratings that NRL gets in Qld and NSW but the rights for NRL seems to be extremely expensive. I'd love to know why channel 9 and fox pays them so much
 
Mar 5, 2002
12,949
11,860
Victoria
AFL Club
Collingwood
"Telstra won't stream live AFL matches to its 'Telstra TV' Roku box, only to smartphones and tablets, and it's cutting off non-Telstra customers as part of the new AFL broadcast rights deal."

http://www.theage.com.au/digital-li...-footy-fans-by-the-balls-20150819-gj2f76.html

Absolutely pathetic.

...and you can't even use it on your phone if you're not with Telstra (back to the future - this is what used to be the case). So much for making footy available to more people. Foolish.
 
Last edited:
The lack of streaming options is a worry. The AFL should have opened it up to allow streaming to smart TVs, Apple TV, rokus, Android tv streamers etc.

Complete lack of foresight over where things are heading.

Collingwood on CTV is Hinting the Club coulb be doing our own Coverage of Games. I guess thru Streaming. In the Near Future
 
Mar 5, 2002
12,949
11,860
Victoria
AFL Club
Collingwood
Collingwood on CTV is Hinting the Club coulb be doing our own Coverage of Games. I guess thru Streaming. In the Near Future

I'm happy if that can come to fruition, but I'm not sure how.

Even if it does, it will all be PC based.

One good thing I did read is that Foxtel Play will now work on PCs for live games. So if you know someone with Foxtel you will be able to watch games via their app on the PC.
 
I'm happy if that can come to fruition, but I'm not sure how.

Even if it does, it will all be PC based.

One good thing I did read is that Foxtel Play will now work on PCs for live games. So if you know someone with Foxtel you will be able to watch games via their app on the PC.

Be thru Smartphones and SmartTV's.

Use the Collingwood App

As well as Internet Based
 
They need to develop apps for multiple platforms, smart tvs, android tv (media players and smart tvs - formerly called google tv), apple tv etc. I really hope it happens, but doubt it will.

I say there could be a good chance.

It be more When they do it
 

Kappa

Brownlow Medallist
Oct 7, 2014
27,769
37,131
AFL Club
Collingwood
i'm amazed that the NRL rights are about the same as the AFL. I didnt watch state of origin this year but I realise that its a pretty good product. I havent watched any other weekly matches, although I watch a bit of the finals. I would think that I wouldnt be different from many people living in Victoria, WA and SA and Tas. I'm not sure about the ratings that NRL gets in Qld and NSW but the rights for NRL seems to be extremely expensive. I'd love to know why channel 9 and fox pays them so much

The NRL haven't been finished, only the best games + SoO has been sold.

The experts are predicting the NRL rights could go between 1.7-2billion at best. Foxtel has declared war on the NRL, they aren't going to fork out a large sum like they did with the AFL.
 

anshell

Norm Smith Medallist
Jan 10, 2008
6,822
8,770
Hobart
AFL Club
Collingwood
Other Teams
manchester united
"Telstra won't stream live AFL matches to its 'Telstra TV' Roku box, only to smartphones and tablets, and it's cutting off non-Telstra customers as part of the new AFL broadcast rights deal."

http://www.theage.com.au/digital-li...-footy-fans-by-the-balls-20150819-gj2f76.html

Absolutely pathetic.

...and you can't even use it on your phone if you're not with Telstra (back to the future - this is what used to be the case). So much for making footy available to more people. Foolish.
That's absolutely crazy stuff.So if you're not a Telstra subscriber,you won't be able to watch any games on the live A.F.L app?Surely this can't be true?It's going to disenfranchise a lot people,and make a lot of people angry.
 

Markfs

Brownlow Medallist
Nov 13, 2008
25,831
20,669
Fremantle
AFL Club
Collingwood
Other Teams
Sydney Sweeney's Shaving Team...
The NRL haven't been finished, only the best games + SoO has been sold.

The experts are predicting the NRL rights could go between 1.7-2billion at best. Foxtel has declared war on the NRL, they aren't going to fork out a large sum like they did with the AFL.

Yes you're right. NRL is showing a little too independence for Rupert Murdoch. I now understand his comment at the AFL press conference about "always" preferring footy..... it looks like rugby is going to be squeezed..... its interesting to note so many people here think the AFL Commission is in charge. The real boss here is foxtel and murdoch. People should ask him how the AFL is doing to address congestion in the coming years...he may not be making those decisions but if the ratings fall, he will be kicking young Gillon's head
 

BC__

Turnover Specialist
Oct 15, 2013
623
486
AFL Club
Collingwood
I'm a telstra customer and I must say i love the afl app live pass as its unmetered with telstra. $90 a year or round about. every game live and replays. *ing gold if you ask me. never get buffering when i watch it on my phone, will say over wifi it sometimes does buffer very rarely if there's more than just me using the wifi but thats just my shyt net. When it happens i just hotspot my phone to my tablet and its happy days
 
I'm a telstra customer and I must say i love the afl app live pass as its unmetered with telstra. $90 a year or round about. every game live and replays. ruddy gold if you ask me. never get buffering when i watch it on my phone, will say over wifi it sometimes does buffer very rarely if there's more than just me using the wifi but thats just my shyt net. When it happens i just hotspot my phone to my tablet and its happy days
Employee number?
 
Back