One of the key players in the coming AFL television rights bidding has conceded now could be a good time for the league to start negotiations.
Channel Ten’s Head Of Sport David White would not be drawn on whether the new rights deal will pass the $1 billion mark, as expected.
But he has spoken publicly about potential figures, something the TV channels have so far not been keen to discuss.
“Things are looking like they’re on the up and up, so the AFL might think that now is a pretty good time to start being involved,” he told radio station SEN.
When asked if the new rights deal might fetch $1 billion, White replied: “It’s a nice round number, it will be what it will be, to be honest.
“Let’s take the emotion out of it, I’m sure the AFL if they get a collective agreement from one or more broadcasters for an amount of money they’re happy with, they’ll do that deal.
“Whether it’s a billion dollars or 1.2 or 800 million, I don’t know, we’ll just have to wait and see what’s on offer.”
The current five-year rights deal with Seven, Ten and Foxtel expires at the end of next season and the AFL will probably want the next agreement signed this year.
This deal is worth $780 million.
The new agreement will eventually feature an extra game per week, with Gold Coast joining the league in 2011 and Greater Western Sydney set to make it 18 teams in 2012.
There will be no right of refusal in the bidding for this agreement, which was a crucial part of the last battle between Seven and Nine for these current rights.
Nine, who then held the rights, made their bid and Seven exercised the right to offer a larger amount, which the AFL accepted.
Meanwhile, White has said he backs the idea of Monday night football as the league tries to come up with a fixture for an 18-team competition.
“I’m a supporter of Monday night football, I think it’s a good thing,” White said.
“(It’s) a bigger, more robust and more popular competition now, I personally think a Monday night slot would work well.”
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