Fuck them. Footy on Channel 9 means a continuation of blackouts for Friday night footy in the northern states. Fox Footy is not an option as most people don't have or aren't willing to pay for access to Pay TV.Packer's pledge: I want footy on Nine
27 October 2005 Herald Sun
Damian Barrett
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/ ... 22,00.html
JAMES Packer yesterday labelled the AFL Australia's premier sport and vowed his Nine Network would do all it could to retain the game's broadcast rights.
Speaking publicly for the first time about the rights battle, Packer, executive chairman of PBL, warned Nine remained determined to defeat the Channels 7 and 10 alliance.
The concession from the NRL rights holder that AFL was No. 1 indicates PBL-led Nine is ready to fire its best shot in the rights war.
"We want to keep them if we can," Packer said yesterday. "I am not quite sure how the bid will play out tactically, but . . . the AFL is the premier sport of Australia and we would love to have it on our network, and we will try hard to end up with it on our network."
Nine's commercial relationship with the AFL strengthened yesterday with confirmation of yesterday's Herald Sun report outlining AFL deals with betting agency Betfair, which is half-owned by PBL, and Tabcorp.
Industry sources yesterday said the Betfair deal -- which, when combined with the Tabcorp contract, would reap the AFL more than $7.5 million over five years -- strengthened the PBL-Nine position with the AFL.
Packer's pledge comes as the Seven-Ten consortium continued a legal challenge of aspects of the AFL's first offer of refusal presented two weeks ago.
While the next deal is still expected to be completed by late December, the legal maneuvering is set to slow negotiations for the rights deal that is expected to incorporate the 2007-11 seasons.
In its contractual first rights obligations delivered to the Seven-Ten bid two weeks ago, the AFL placed a $140 million-a-year price tag on its post-2006 rights to broadcast the game.
It is expected the offer will be rejected -- a standard procedure in TV rights negotiations -- which would allow Nine to submit its best offer. The AFL must then offer last rights to the Seven-Ten alliance.
Nine has formed an alliance with Foxtel, with a 4-4 split of games on free-to-air and Pay-TV understood to be its preferred position. It would, however, probably switch to a 5-3 arrangement if the AFL demanded. The Seven-Ten consortium has settled for 5-3.
Crucial to the next deal will be the AFL's stance on coverage of matches into New South Wales and Queensland on Friday nights.
The AFL ideally wants live, or near-live, coverage, which the Seven-Ten deal is best equipped to deliver.
Nine, committed to an NRL double-header on most Fridays, would argue Foxtel could best broadcast that slot into the developing markets.
"We think the Friday night broadcasts at the moment work well for all parties, obviously we are committed to rugby league, having extended our contract (with the NRL), so that is a reality," Packer said.
I just hope Channel 9's interest sees a bidding war with the rights awarded to the Channel 7/10 consortium and the AFL reaping more profits. Also means no more conflict of interest Eddie commentating.
This latest offering from Packer at least confirms one thing, the AFL is the jewel in sports broadcasting in Australia. As long as the next rights deal leads to better coverage in the nothern states I'll be happy.
What's your preference for the awarding of the TV rights?
