THE AFL's stunning prosperity seems assured for the next decade, with Channel 9 certain to bid for the next television rights amid predictions of a five-year $1 billion term.
There had been speculation the death of sports lover Kerry Packer and Nine's new ownership structure might see the network decide to opt out of the AFL rights race.
The network has this year slashed costs in all departments under majority ownership from private equity firm CVC Asia Pacific.
However Nine insiders say the network has already considered its options and will throw its resources at the rights, which could be decided much earlier than the end of this deal, which expires after the 2012 season.
Frenzied bidding for the rights would ensure the AFL could continue its expansion plans into Queensland and Sydney, while still funding the 16 existing sides.
While anti-siphoning rules mean Foxtel cannot seal a deal for all eight games, then sell off some games to rivals, it can still be a key player in negotiations.
That would see the rights rise again, possibly as high as the magical $1 billion mark during five seasons.
The Foxtel-Nine deal for the 2012 Olympic Games in the British capital London is considered the prototype for a prospective AFL deal.
The AFL could also boost its broadcast value by selling off the rights in individual packages, dividing Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays.
There will be no first and last rights agreement, which in 2006 allowed Seven to usurp Nine, meaning the highest bid will win.
Should Nine and Foxtel work together for the rights, they could then farm off several games to another network, likely to be Channel 10.
The AFL would be expected to keep one network out of telecasting football to increase competition and ensure the value of its TV rights remained high.
In the days before his death in December 2005, Packer signed off on a monster bid from Nine, but Seven and Ten soon matched it.
It has left Nine frozen out of the AFL market. But after losing the ratings for the first time this year, it is determined to win back rights to a game that is a ratings bonanza.
Last month Nine spent up on a $110 million deal that will see it telecast the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and the 2012 London Olympics.
New boss David Gyngell presented the deal to the IOC, but Nine powerbrokers Eddie McGuire and Jeff Browne were also integral to the deal.
