AFL seal massive $2.5 billion TV broadcast rights deal

The AFL have sealed a $2.508 billion deal for the TV and digital rights of the sport from 2017 to 2022.

For the six years after the current deal expires at the end of 2016, Seven Network, Foxtel through Fox Sports and Fox Footy and Telstra will be the broadcasters of the AFL.

The deal almost doubles the previous deal, which lasted five years from 2012-2016 and was worth $1.25 billion.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan, Chairman Mike Fitzpatrick, Seven chairman Kerry Stokes, News Corp’s Rupert Murdoch and Telstra chief executive Andy Penn were all in attendance to announce the deal.

This is the same stable of TV channels, with the addition of Telstra as the mobile rights holder. They previously paid $100 million for the digital rights for the AFL.

Once again, every game of every round will be broadcast live by Foxtel, with at least three games a week live on Channel Seven. The final will be exclusively live on Seven.

“In addition, the Seven Network will telecast a further 11 games live across the season that are played on public holidays, the eve of public holidays such as Anzac Day/Easter Thursday and between 5-6 Thursday night games,” Gillon McLachlan said.

On rounds without public holiday or Thursday games, the split will be:
1 Friday night game
2 Saturday afternoon games
1 Saturday twilight game
2 Saturday night games
2 Sunday afternoon games
1 Sunday twilight game

Telstra will be the exclusive rights holders for live mobile streaming, securing the rights to all matches on mobile devices for the period of the deal.

The matches are currently broadcast the AFL live app, and digital rights were expected to contribute a significant amount to any new broadcast rights deal.

All nine games will be broadcast live across the Seven Network, Foxtel and Telstra streaming services each week, AFL chief Gillon McLachlan said on Tuesday.

“It gives our game a chance to invest in the future,” he told reporters on Tuesday in Melbourne.

Seven’s Kerry Stokes said games willbe shown in HD on free-to-air during the deal.

The AFL will retain total control over fixturing and the current 22-round season will remain until at least 2023.

Seven will also hold exclusive broadcasting rights for both the grand final and Brownlow Medal.

The deal guarantees nine games will be played each round with the exception of split rounds.

There will be one game on Friday night, two on Saturday afternoon, one twilight game on a Saturday, two on Saturday night as well as two games played on Sunday afternoon and twilight.

Mr McLachlan said between five and six Thursday night games would also be included each season.

He said free-to-air partner Seven would broadcast at least one Friday night, one Saturday night and one Sunday afternoon match live across the country.

News Corp’s executive chairman Rupert Murdoch said it was a good investment for Foxtel, the media group’s half-owned pay TV broadcaster.

“We believe in the strength of the the game and will do everything we can to make it stronger,” he told reporters.

He was asked if it would affect the NRL deal and he said: “no, it won’t affect the NRL deal”.

The NRL on Monday sealed a $925 million, five-year deal with free-to-air broadcaster Nine for the rights to screen four live NRL matches a week, the top-rating State of Origin series and finals.

Foxtel is still to finalise how much it will pay to broadcast the remaining four NRL matches each weekend from 2018 – and possibly simulcast Nine’s matches.

AFL Chairman Mike Fitzpatrick was understandably pleased with the deal.

“The AFL understands the challenges ahead for our sport in a rapidly changing and increasingly globalised environment,” Fitzpatrick said.

We don’t take success for granted, and we have always endeavoured to look ahead and make hard decisions for the long-term future of the game.

“The last ten years have been about expansion and investment in the AFL competition. Over that period, we added two new teams and invested in stadiums and infrastructure at the elite and community level around Australia.

“Senior AFL football is now played in every state and territory.

“Our challenge over the next decade is to make the right investments to grow our reach into every state, region, town and community. Last year we had an average of 32,000 at our premiership games, we had over 1 million participants, and we have over 13,000 teams in 267 leagues across Australia, and we had nearly 200,000 women participating in the game.

“These are the figures and numbers we need to protect and grow.

“We need to continue to be the first choice for our elite and talented athletes, we need to strengthen our clubs at all levels, and we need to invest in the community level of our game.”

With AAP