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Nine to bet its bank on footy
2010 Wimbledon winner Rafael Nadal. Source: Getty Images
CHANNEL 9 has dumped Wimbledon after almost 40 years as it clears the decks for an all-out assault on footy's $1 billion TV rights.
Nine chiefs yesterday confirmed the network was terminating its long-running association with the historic All-England Club.
"Unfortunately, it (Wimbledon) hasn't rated well in recent years and we think that money is now better invested on other sporting properties," Melbourne station boss Jeff Browne told the Herald Sun.
The shock move is tipped to save Nine about $15 million in licence fees and production costs, money it can now throw at the AFL and rugby league.
Rival broadcasters Seven, Ten and Foxtel have already indicated their readiness to bid for the next round of AFL rights, running from 2012-2016 - a five-year package the league hopes to sell for more than $1 billion.
But a cashed-up Nine now looms as the wild card in the upcoming negotiations.
Nine is believed to be particularly keen on pioneering Monday night football as the AFL explores options for a new timeslot catering for the arrival of the Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney franchises.
Industry chiefs believe a Monday night fixture could be worth as much as $100 million over five years.
Nine is also committed to showing all games live, something Seven has largely refused to do under the current contract.
Live matches will allow TV networks to establish stronger links with corporate gambling agencies such as Tabcorp and Betfair to promote in-play odds.
But full-blown negotiations between the stations and AFL bosses remain stalled because of a delay in the release of a crucial Gillard government report detailing changes to Australia's strict anti-siphoning laws.
The anti-siphoning list, now expected to be handed down after the federal election, will determine which sports are protected for free-to-air stations.
The AFL and Foxtel have been lobbying for new legislation to allow pay-TV stations to bid directly for at least four home-and-away matches a round.
Under current laws, only free-to-air stations can purchase matches.
The Wimbledon tournament was a favourite of Nine's late owner, Kerry Packer, who set up a luxurious marquee on the club's surrounds each year to wine and dine his friends and business partners.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/nine-to-bet-its-bank-on-footy/story-e6frf9jf-1225892928468
Nine look set to chase hard to get the AFL broadcast rights, the bastards are even going to show live Monday night AFL. f**king merkins won't even show Sunday NRL before midnight, if at all down here.
Let them either have Rugby League solely, or nothing. If they want AFL then they don't the NRL.
Given 9 has now shown it's cards, that it is more interested in AFL than league, and given the long association 7 has had with AFL, it looms that league could soon become almost exclusively shown on Channel 10. Which I believe augers well for every NRL fan, given there'd be a good chance a lot of the games will be replayed on One, or played live on One in states outside Sydney and Brisbane.
2010 Wimbledon winner Rafael Nadal. Source: Getty Images
CHANNEL 9 has dumped Wimbledon after almost 40 years as it clears the decks for an all-out assault on footy's $1 billion TV rights.
Nine chiefs yesterday confirmed the network was terminating its long-running association with the historic All-England Club.
"Unfortunately, it (Wimbledon) hasn't rated well in recent years and we think that money is now better invested on other sporting properties," Melbourne station boss Jeff Browne told the Herald Sun.
The shock move is tipped to save Nine about $15 million in licence fees and production costs, money it can now throw at the AFL and rugby league.
Rival broadcasters Seven, Ten and Foxtel have already indicated their readiness to bid for the next round of AFL rights, running from 2012-2016 - a five-year package the league hopes to sell for more than $1 billion.
But a cashed-up Nine now looms as the wild card in the upcoming negotiations.
Nine is believed to be particularly keen on pioneering Monday night football as the AFL explores options for a new timeslot catering for the arrival of the Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney franchises.
Industry chiefs believe a Monday night fixture could be worth as much as $100 million over five years.
Nine is also committed to showing all games live, something Seven has largely refused to do under the current contract.
Live matches will allow TV networks to establish stronger links with corporate gambling agencies such as Tabcorp and Betfair to promote in-play odds.
But full-blown negotiations between the stations and AFL bosses remain stalled because of a delay in the release of a crucial Gillard government report detailing changes to Australia's strict anti-siphoning laws.
The anti-siphoning list, now expected to be handed down after the federal election, will determine which sports are protected for free-to-air stations.
The AFL and Foxtel have been lobbying for new legislation to allow pay-TV stations to bid directly for at least four home-and-away matches a round.
Under current laws, only free-to-air stations can purchase matches.
The Wimbledon tournament was a favourite of Nine's late owner, Kerry Packer, who set up a luxurious marquee on the club's surrounds each year to wine and dine his friends and business partners.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/nine-to-bet-its-bank-on-footy/story-e6frf9jf-1225892928468
Nine look set to chase hard to get the AFL broadcast rights, the bastards are even going to show live Monday night AFL. f**king merkins won't even show Sunday NRL before midnight, if at all down here.
Let them either have Rugby League solely, or nothing. If they want AFL then they don't the NRL.
Given 9 has now shown it's cards, that it is more interested in AFL than league, and given the long association 7 has had with AFL, it looms that league could soon become almost exclusively shown on Channel 10. Which I believe augers well for every NRL fan, given there'd be a good chance a lot of the games will be replayed on One, or played live on One in states outside Sydney and Brisbane.
