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Long wait on AFL rights for TEN

AFL fans could be waiting for some time to learn whether TEN will be airing any games next year.

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AFL fans could be waiting for some time to learn whether TEN will be airing any games next year.

Seven won the Free to Air rights and is undecided if it will on-sell some to TEN or Nine.

AFL chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan tells News Limited, “It will be done by the end of the year, but I don’t think it’s going to happen in the next week or months.

“It will probably be late in the year before it’s done. These things take a long time. It’s just the way it is. They are big and complicated deals.”

Any move away from AFL will likely mean some commentators and broadcasting staff are left without regular work.

ONE relaunches on Sunday with less sport in primetime, but retaining the football for 2011.

  • Tagged with AFL

13 Responses

  1. Ten’s coverage in extremely disappointing. On the previous weekend, Ten showed no live games in my area. Simply because they didn’t have access to the Swans game.

    And the advent of One has made no difference. It occasionally even shows Before the Game at its normal time, but then not the actual match until 1030 PM or thereabouts.

  2. The fact that Murdoch pulled TEN out makes me think they don’t want the AFL. Why would he decide to pull out and then say onsell to us. I just don’t see Seven on selling to Nine, period. As for onselling to TEN well like i just said, TEN said they don’t want it so why should they be able to backflip. IMO i think Seven will keep all 4 games. They paid enough for them.

  3. I fully agree with Brad and Mr Chandler and pretty much everyone who has said that Network Ten is highly unlikely or will not get a share of the broadcast deal. The original contract between the 7 Network and Network Ten was to bid jointly for the AFL. 3 weeks before the new tv contract was locked in Ten pulled out. Lachlan Murdoch the interim CEO said that the price was too high (or words to that effect) and then 7 was left alone to bid for it and succeeded. If 7 decide to on sell a game not two they will ask Ten to pay a lot for it, in which Ten will not be able to afford and will not get any. If the old guys were still their and if the raid had never happend this would have not happened. James Warburton would not have been poached and the relationship allbeit a professional one would not be strained. This whole saga has Lachlan Murdoch’s fingerprints all over it.

  4. 10 definately played games with a lot less delays as compared to 7, but I certainly won’t miss their stupid 5 minute warning! The only good thing about 10’s coverage was Channel One, with full HD. I’m just glad all games will now be live on Foxtel and in HD.

  5. I think there’s a 50/50 chance Seven will give Ten 1 or 2 games a week, but it’s highly unlikely Seven will give Ten any Grand Finals.

  6. @FJ – what a delusional thing to say. League only “makes money” now because it was so cheap to buy. If the cost skyrockets there will be nothing but losses all around

  7. I think there’s a fair chance Seven will keep all four games and use them to boost audience numbers for 7 mate. Have 2 games on the main channel in Victoria and put the other 2 on 7 mate.

  8. @ FJ, the best Saturday night shares Channel 10 get for the year is during the AFL season. AFL is a success for them on Saturday nights.

    Why would 10 prefer to get an inferior product that is only watched by two states?

  11. Its a given TEN will take the games off Seven – Seven dont want 4 games. More interesting if TEN can secure finals and a GF or two

  13. It all comes down to money. Ten knows how much Seven wanted them to contribute and they walked away. It is unlikely that Seven will let them back in the tent for anything less than the original amount particularly as Nine are interested and Seven can afford to go it alone if they want.

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