Nine calls in veteran for sports fix
By James Chessell
April 26, 2005
One of Kerry Packer's most trusted lieutenants during the 1970s and '80s, Lynton Taylor, has returned to the PBL fold after a decade on the sidelines to help the embattled Nine Network sort out its problems with sporting rights.
It is understood Mr Taylor rejoined Nine - which is battling declining ratings, rising costs and weakening advertising revenue - earlier this month on what a source described as a "consultancy basis" to work on AFL, rugby league and cricket rights.
Nine sources said chief executive David Gyngell last week brokered a new long-term deal with Cricket Australia for international and domestic broadcasting rights, but relations with the nation's two largest football codes have proved more problematic in recent months.
Nine's contract with the AFL expires in 2006 and the network has indicated it might not bid to retain its broadcast rights. Nine's supposed ambivalence follows the decision by two ousted Nine executives, Ten executive chairman Nick Falloon and Seven boss David Leckie, to form an alliance to bid for the AFL rights.
Concerned that Nine has secured cheap rugby league rights in the past, ARL chairman Colin Love is reportedly agitating for the separate sale of the code's regular season, State of Origin and international games to drive up the price.
Nine has the first and last rights for rugby league but Mr Taylor, an influential player in the World Series Cricket revolution, now has an office at the network's Willoughby offices to ensure things go smoothly.
Nine's relationship with rugby league has been tested by the code's likely decision to play through the Commonwealth Games next year despite the protests of the broadcaster.
Mr Taylor is another member of the PBL "old guard" assisting Mr Gyngell who is engaged in one of the fiercest ratings battles with Kerry Stokes's Seven Network in years.
PBL director and former Nine boss Sam Chisholm is said to be playing a more active role. The network recently promoted Nine's Melbourne general manager, Ian Audsley, to national general manager and is reportedly considering a cost-cutting drive.
On an operational level, there have been several changes within the news and current affairs divisions in an effort to claw back the ratings lost to Seven in the past 18 months.
Mr Taylor's new position at Nine marks a surprise return for the 67-year-old. He severed ties with Nine in late 1993 year after 21 years working for Mr Packer amid speculation the departure was not voluntary. Ironically it was Mr Gyngell's father, Bruce, who is said to have told Mr Taylor his services were no longer needed.
Mr Taylor, whose son Chris is turning around PBL's New Zealand network broadcast interests, is best known for his role in establishing World Series Cricket. He was in charge of all sporting contracts and negotiations during most of his time at the network and is expected to work closely with Nine's present director of sport, Gary Senton.
When Mr Packer sold Channel Nine to Alan Bond in the '80s, Mr Taylor worked for PBL marketing. Until recently, Mr Taylor was working at TWI Australia, the broadcast division of sports marketing group International Management Group, but records show he resigned as a director earlier this month.
