Just for a change lets look at Vlandy statement that the AFL dropped the ball when negotiating their current contract. It looks like they did a 'Smithy' while agreeing to terms with Seven TV while no deal with Fox sports/Foxtel. If Foxtel realise it, they can have the AFL balls on toast. How so? Well if Foxtel management were half competent they would have CHANGED the current situation specifics , especially in regards to states South Australia and Western Australia. I put some info below and see if you pick the problem, from a business sense.
South Australia AFL FTA/Seven and Foxtel Contract 2017-2022
Market Specifics: SA
Premiership Season only SA
• All 42 matches involving the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide broadcast on free-to-air television, either live or on delay
• All Friday night matches live on free-to-air television and live on Fox Sports and Foxtel
And • A minimum of three Matches per week live on free-to-air television during Premiership season
• All nine Matches per week on Fox Sports and Foxtel and Fox IP Television during Premiership season
Market Specifics Western Australia
• All 42 matches involving West Coast Eagles and Fremantle broadcast on free-to-air television, either live or on delay
• All Friday night matches live on free-to-air television and live on Fox Sports and Foxtel
And • A minimum of three Matches per week live on free-to-air television during Premiership season
https://www.afl.com.au/news/120/2017-2022-broadcast-rights-summary
See the point, there is no incentive for people of SA and WA to take Foxtel subscription as most would be happy with full Home team coverage and other FTA games ie Fri Night, Saturday and Sunday. This lowers subscriptions and Foxtel lives off subscriptions. So I would say Foxtel in a new deal would want to get rid of these home state team bias AND IF NOT PAY A SUBSTANTIAL LOT LESS. So can any re-organization happen? No Seven has locked in these 42 matches for each state with their current deal.
So when Vlandt said you negotiated with both but if you must negotiate with 'one' 'partner' only it SHOULD be with the 'main payer' ie Foxtel. Vlandy- quote.
“ While the AFL was able to renew its free-to-air deal with Seven through 2024, a deal is yet to be done with Foxtel, and V'landys declared that the AFL had made a "massive mistake" in that regard.
In comparison to the AFL, the NRL has extended its deal with Foxtel through 2027.
"What the AFL don't tell you is that the majority of revenue for both the NRL and the AFL comes from Foxtel and it was important for us at the NRL to get the major partner done first and foremost," he said.
That's the one we rely on most. It's given us security of revenues for another seven years.
https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/peter-...greement/f4115091-b308-41fb-be57-f67336a89e9d
PLUS the NRL outrates AFL which would equal less for You.