Gee Channel 9 have really proven how committed they are to the AFL in the northern states. British Open Golf replaced the footy last night. Never mind we got the footy in Sydney at 5:00am this morning.Herald Sun wrote:Nine wants total TV control
By Damian Barrett
July 15, 2005
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,86 ... 11,00.html
CHANNEL 9 last night declared itself a certain bidder for the AFL's TV rights beyond 2006, and said it wanted the lot.
Senior Nine executive Lynton Taylor told the Herald Sun his network was confident it would meet every criteria demanded by the AFL.
The revelation all but guarantees a fierce auction for the rights, a dream scenario for the AFL, which is hoping to reap more than $130 million a year from the broadcast deals.
It also puts pressure on Channels 10 and 7, which formed a surprise alliance for free-to-air AFL rights in March.
"We most certainly will be bidding on the basis of having all the rights, what happens to those rights subsequent to our achieving them is a matter for subsequent decisions," Taylor said.
Taylor would not comment on a possible Nine alliance with pay-TV operator Foxtel, but the Herald Sun understands a 4-4 or 5-3 FTA-pay TV split is being discussed.
Given the AFL's next rights demands of promoting football in New South Wales and Queensland, via live or near-live FTA coverage, it had been thought Nine - with double-header Friday night commitments to NRL - would struggle to defeat the 7-10 alliance.
But its likely involvement with Foxtel could provide leverage in those states, while a Friday 10.30pm delayed AFL coverage into NSW and Queensland may also appease the AFL.
"I have no doubt that we are capable of meeting the requirements of the AFL, but as yet we don't know the requirements of the AFL because they are not in a position to talk to us," Taylor said.
Taylor said Nine, which has the 2002-2006 rights to cover matches on Friday and Sunday, was confident of its football-broadcasting quality.
He declined to respond to comments made last week by Ten's sports boss David White that the AFL rights negotiations were "in our favour".
"I don't want to make comment on David's view. All I know is in the past few years, the appreciation for our coverage on the Nine network against that of the Ten network has been remarkably better," he said.
"Therefore, we think the AFL would see us as primary broadcaster, and prefer to remain with the Nine network than the Ten network."
Nine was angered when it was left on the AFL rights outer by the alliance formed by Seven and Ten in March.
Its then-chief executive David Gyngell initially hinted it might not compete for the next rights.
"We are very keen, we are intent on retaining rights for the AFL for the long term," Taylor said.
"We will meet whatever conditions are finally agreed between ourselves and the AFL when we are at liberty to talk to them."
The AFL has legal obligations to offer the next broadcast FTA deal's first and last rights to the 7-10 alliance.
It receives $100 million a year, including contra arrangements, from its broadcast packages.
Whether it be golf, tennis or rugby league, Channel 9 simply aren't capable of promoting footy in the northern states. Surely the AFL aren't that stupid to fall for the Nine offer. Yes a bidding war would be great, but at the end of the day Channel 9 should have nothing to do with footy as they have no interest in the game in NSW and QLD and money shouldn't be the AFL's only concern. Packer is a rugby league supporting scumbag. Oh and while I'm on my rant, I hope the AFL doesn't forget the changing of timeslots for footy and rugby league in NT this year. Fuck off Channel 9.
