Razor said:When 7 had the rights to the AFL on Friday night it went up against the NRL on the Gold Coast. The AFL came 4th or 5th every week. Never once came 3rd.
You do of course have a source for that dribble :roll:
That aside the AFL is not fussed about the ratings. The number 1 priority for the AFL is getting the games on the TV screens prime time in NSW and QLD.
The AFL were successful in getting Channel 10 to broadcast Swans and Lions games prime time in NSW and QLD, and with Channel 7 desperate to get the AFL rights back it can only mean more money for the AFL as Channel 7, 9 and 10 battle it out. Channel 7 have already said they are willing to take a ratings blow in the northern markets if it means they are part of the AFL action in the southern states where they have lost major ground since losing the AFL rights.
As I said the NRL TV rights will be the consolation prize for the losing network. Do you really think the NRL has any power in the negoitating process, particularly when you consider NRL games are only ever broadcast on delay in two markets in the whole of Australia. :roll:
Whatever happens, one thing is certain, the northern states will be getting AFL in prime time Friday night, Saturday arfternoon, Saturday night and double headers on Sundays. The other games not covered by FTA TV will be picked up by Fox Footy. The AFL will accept nothing less and with all three commercial networks and Foxtel desperate to be part of the action, they will all surely come to the AFL party.