The_Wookie
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Foxtel will finally grow a pair now we past the offers with non binding bidding. If Foxtel don't stop Seven having games on 7 plus it will cause the AFL subscribers numbers to plummet especially on Kayo. Seven have said they want digital content of what they show and threatened that if they don't get it , 'it's a deal breaker'. Seven plus will have something like 6 games a weekend. Someone in Sydney can watch a game in Brisbane, Melbourne ,Adelaide, or Perth all on Seven plus. This point if taken up by Seven having the digital content from all the games they (Seven Show) it will cause Foxtel to put in a sub par $200m offer for the measly offering that they get. Other things that Foxtel wants which Seven won't give up is all those home games, which is a discreet point from the digital content isssue. On the digital issue Seven will argue we pay millions and no digital content of games we show????? Seven says NOW that's a deal breaker. I cant see big bucks coming from Foxtel because all the AFL can offer is currently owned by Seven, ie Home State games, wanting to show such game on a digital format ie 7 Plus. Finally Foxtell wants a super Saturday, again the AFL will not be able to offer this. I can see Foxtel losing $$$ if they pay over $200m especially as Seven Plus case as cancelling of subscriptions of Kayo will grow as 7 plus will be able to show up 5/6 games per round. Up to now you could not watch a Perth game being in Melbourne generally, but with 7plus you will. So their is plenty of poison pills in this negotiations, some of which might even kill you aka Fox/Kayo really low ball the AFL, possible, yeah sure. Lets see the quality of negotiators at Foxtel they went good at corona virus negotiations and subsequent deal and held their ground why complaining about the SA<WA home games in the Ext Contract 2023-2024, BUT with the Seven plus digital play by Seven and the possible large loss of Kayo AFL subscribers ( which their is not as many as the NRL, I think Foxtel might take the axe to the AFL if they ignore Foxtels major conditions, especially as they pay the most.
KAYO NUMBERS NOW 1.3 MILLION SUBS 9/8/22
BROKEN UP BY 60% NRL AND 40% AFL GIVES YOU A NRL 780K SUBS AND AFL 520 SUBS
FOXTEL RESIDENTIAL 1.48M
So maybe Mr reds call over 'can the foxtel/ kayo withstand 500,00 leaving, the bigger question is whats the breakeven point Foxtel has to pay if Seven get their digital rights. I suggest high $180m pa. Anything less might be a loss in the account books, which after all Foxtel had to get a loan (200m) with off the Murdock family a year ago so it's tight. A bad deal with the AFL could just about kill Foxtel/Kayo in regards to broadcast rights for the AFL
Ok in the first place, games available in Perth and SA on 7plus wouldnt necessarily be visible to viewers in Melbourne without a VPN. Geoblocking is a thing.
Its far more likley that final shakeup wll see 7 will end up with a similar deal to Nine. 3 national games a week - Thursday, Friday and Sunday afternoon, simulcast on 7plus, AND Fox. Thursday rates better than Saturday, so that should make Seven happier, the AFL has been reluctant to expand the timeslot to the full season but its going to happen, probably as early as next year.
Half the interstate broadcasts now are shown in Sydney and Queensland where they rate 3/10s of bugger all, the other half are shown in WA/SA...and 1/4 of those are already on delay. The league might try to compromise this by only showing away games on FTA live with home games on delay or not at all - which works for the league anyway as it will boost attendances.