Joint Channel 7 & 10 bid for AFL rights.

Ricardo · **Posted:** Sun Jul 29, 2007 8:30 pm

Seven can thank the AFL for winning every FN this year (when the AFL has been shown).

Btw- SOO rates quite well in Melbourne so it isn't just Sydney and Qld making up the numbers....although the quote does not insinuate that the AFL beat SOO, it did however counter the big win for Nein on Wednesday (SOO) with a big win (as usual) on the Friday night.

sandyhill · **Posted:** Tue Sep 04, 2007 10:28 pm

As expected, Seven have caved in -

http://news.realfooty.com.au/seven-back ... 4-x6c.html

The reporter in the gun, Dylan Howard, has also just been sacked from his radio gig on 3AW following an unrelated article on the AFL he wrote in the 'Geelong Addie' (another gig on shaky grounds) which 3AW management accused him of lieing (similar to last weeks The Footy Show).

Meanwhile, the public has spoken about ch7's footy coverage. In this case, I think the survey doesn't lie in its judgement. It's just stating the obvious -

Nine is still the one
03 September 2007 Herald Sun

FOOTBALL coverage has gone backwards in the hands of Channel 7, according to armchair experts. In a stinging blow for the new AFL rights holder, 66 per cent of fans said footy games made better viewing on Channel 9 than Seven.

The Herald Sun Footy Fans Survey revealed the majority of followers thought the current coverage was not up to previous standards. Channel 7 was supported by 10 per cent of those surveyed, while 24 per cent thought the quality was the same.

Collingwood fans, ever loyal to club president and Nine star Eddie McGuire, :lol:

were the most critical of Seven's foray back into AFL action. Some 80 per cent of Magpie fans believe footy followers are worse off watching Seven.

The best support for Seven came from the north, with 18 per cent of Brisbane fans glad the switch was made. However the majority said long commercial breaks, poor camera angles and boring commentary put Seven well behind last year's standards. (ed - I'd add in the lack of crowd sound affect mikes - all we here are the friggin umps yapping on)

The survey also showed:

SEVENTY-six per cent of viewers want to see the countdown clock on TV, but 60 per cent are opposed to seeing it at AFL grounds.

THREE-quarters of fans said they would still go to watch their team play if the game were being televised live.

SATURDAY afternoon is still the preferred time to go to the footy, with 53 per cent favouring the traditional slot.

FIFTY-one per cent of fans watch at least three games of footy on TV each week.

IN a sign of the times, 76 per cent of fans use websites to gain information on the AFL or their clubs, but only 20 per cent use online forums to discuss footy issues.

Bruce Walker described Seven's footy coverage as "dreadful". "There's too many ads after goals. Not only is it bad on the TV but you go to a game and you're waiting for ages while they cram seven ads in," Mr Walker said. "(Bruce) McAvaney is past it and (Dennis) Cometti isn't as good because he doesn't have the support." (ed - The support cast of the Ox and Mercs are just crap)

Rob · **Posted:** Wed Sep 05, 2007 12:07 am

Can't argue with much of that article.

Although 9 better not fool themselves into thinking theat they were good. It's just that 7 are so magnificently crap.

Ricardo · **Posted:** Wed Sep 05, 2007 11:58 am

Even with Sevens disappointing coverage they still have maintained decent ratings in comparison to Nines coverage last season, although for what they put out they really don't deserve those ratings.

Simmo79 · **Posted:** Wed Sep 05, 2007 3:39 pm

says more about demand than supply. Still, if they cleaned it up a bit they'd do better. I for one can't stand to watch 7's AFL coverage.

Simmo79 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 06, 2007 10:59 am

Quote:

Fox wins $780m AFL ratings war

Simon Canning | September 06, 2007

PAY-TV channel Fox Sports has emerged as the winner at the end of the first season of the $780 million AFL broadcast rights deal.

It registered a huge spike in audiences after scoring more and better-quality AFL games this year.

Viewing of live AFL games on Fox Sports leapt 60 per cent this year, while the Seven Network's return to the game was also a success, with its Friday night and Sunday ratings up 8 per cent and 5 per cent respectively on those broadcasts by other networks under last year's arrangements.

Channel 10's ratings were disappointing, however, with the average number of viewers for its Saturday afternoon and night games falling 5.7 per cent and 4.5per cent respectively.

Fox Sports channel director Tony Sinclair said the placement of AFL on a general sports channel - rather than on the AFL-focused Fox Footy, as last year - also helped viewing numbers as the AFL picked up more casual viewers.

"On Fox Footy it was a single genre broadcaster and so you are either in or you are out, and you don't catch the casual eyeballs," he said. "We get surprised by the numbers because people do actually want to watch (quality sport)." Mr Sinclair also said much of the channel's audience growth came from the growing number of Foxtel subscriptions.

Fox Sports - which is 50 per cent owned by The Australian's publisher News Limited - agreed to pay $315.5 million over five years to secure four AFL games a week, most of which are now live.

This year Fox Sports also extended its NRL coverage to Monday nights for the first time, and ran concurrent live games on its interactive channel.

With the three commercial networks and pay-TV investing almost $1.3 billion in the rights to the two football codes over the next several years, 2007 emerged as a big test for Seven. It was also the first time it has split coverage with another network.

The NRL, now in the third year of its broadcast deal, also extended Nine's coverage to two games on Friday nights.

But even as both codes are heralding home and away season viewing figures as being robust, an analysis of the season obtained by The Australian has revealed worrying dips in a number of important timeslots for both the codes.

A ratings analysis by Mediacom, one of Australia's largest media buying agencies, has revealed significant trends away from the traditional viewing patterns of both codes on free to air.

The AFL's flagship Saturday afternoon games - once the mainstay of the code - lost almost 40,000 viewers on last year's figures - with an average audience of 644,000 tuning in.

Saturdays proved to be a Bermuda Triangle for AFL audiences on Ten, with the evening games also leaching audience numbers at a worrying rate. The evening game audience lost 41,000 viewers on average compared with last year.

Seven and Fox appear to have been the beneficiaries of a loosening grip on the code by Ten.

But the battle between Seven and Ten was lies, damned lies and statistics during the 2007 season, with both networks claiming victory over the other at various times. "We are extremely pleased with the outcome for this year," Ten spokesman Gus Seebeck said.

Mr Seebeck claimed Ten's games averaged 674,000 compared with Seven's 699,000, based on Oztam data, and that the network's coverage reached a cumulative audience of 11.8 million over the season.

Seven, on the other hand, stated that it had an average audience of 772,000 for its matches on Friday nights.

The Mediacom figures also showed Friday night AFL broadcast rose to an average of 771,405, up 57,000 on last year.

On Sundays, when Seven was forced into a delicate juggling act with its commitments to the V8 Supercars, there was a lift of 41,000 viewers.

The NRL was not immune to variable free-to-air figures, with Nine finding success on Friday nights with its regular series of double headers, lifting audiences from 666,000 last year to 709,000 in 2007.

However, Sundays proved to be Nine's challenge, with audiences moving away from the late afternoon telecasts.

Audiences dropped from 545,000 to 512,000.

NRL chief executive David Gallop admitted that Sundays had become an issue for broadcasters but was enthused by the numbers overall.

"We have been very encouraged given the new format with an extra game on Friday night. It's certainly allowed us to get increased numbers in Queensland and maintain our position in Sydney. I think the numbers are very pleasing," he said.

Mr Gallop admitted that in terms of pure audience reach, it was difficult to look past the national appeal of the AFL.

"Their numbers are always a reminder of the power of a truly national profile," he said. "But in our traditional markets we continue to perform very well."

While Seven may be pleased with its return to AFL, Nine is happy with its Friday Night Football and Ten is pleased with the ability to lure viewers to what would otherwise be a ratings dead zone for the network, it is the Fox Sports story that has attracted attention as the finals loom.

The AFL's chief executive Andrew Demetriou declined to comment on the figures for the home and away season.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/st ... 82,00.html

Rob · **Posted:** Thu Sep 06, 2007 11:24 am

It's not bloody rocket science to explain all of those figures - Ten's matches this year have been of a much lower quality due to having to select them before the season and Fox getting first pick in many weeks. Late in the year they've had some woeful matches.
Fox have had 4 matches which obviously would increase their subscriber base amongst football supporters which in turn increases ratings.

In the NRL's case, their Friday night match is rating higher because it's live. That 709k figure certainly wouldn't include their 2nd (delayed) match, which usually rates around 300-400k.

thorno26 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2007 5:07 pm

Yes Seven's coverage of the AFL this year has been crap. There are a few reasons for that. Apart from the crapy camera angles and the 27 ads between goals, the commentary is nothing short of woeful. Alot of people didn't like Eddie, and I must admit I'm not his biggest fan, but seriously, he is craps all over Bruce, which isn't hard to do. It is correct to say that Dennis doesn't have the support he had whilst at Nine. But I think the biggest problem is the fact that its always the same commentators. Once upon a time, when they had all games... you know, back when AFL rocked with games played at 12 venues across australia seven covering all games. We had commentators like Peter Landy, Drew Morphett, Kevin Bartlett, Peter McKenna etc Now, its just Bruce and Dennis, the worst combination in football. I used to think that Michael Christian was bad, but nothing is as bad as Bruce.

In saying all this, NRL coverage in Melbourne has been nothing short of woeful. I was desperately hoping that with Nine losing the AFL rights they would go head to head with AFL. What are they affraid of? A movie will never beat the AFL in the ratings! So why not just show the NRL game? Especially the storm games that are played interstate. In Qld and NSW they at least get the AFL live on Fox if not on free to air, so why can't league supporters in Melbourne. The Storm are the premiers for crying out loud and also, NIne is supposedly major supporter of the Storm.

So... is there a way that one can get Channel Nine Sydney in Melbourne? Or do we have to be punnished for living interstate? Its the same for AFL fans living North, except, 10 WILL SHOW LIVE BRISBANE AND SYDNEY games at least. Anys, if someone could help me out I would be most greatful.

Simmo79 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 22, 2011 5:36 pm

bumpity-ump-ump-ump. It's that time again. Mildly-informed TV rights values speculation. I'll start with someone from the SMH who isn't Roy Masters:

Quote:

When asked about content costs - particularly the broadcast rights for the AFL amid speculation they might be sold for $1 billion - Mr Leckie said there would be no cost surprises. ''We've pretty much budgeted for what it's going to be,'' he said, playing down the prospect of a blowout in football rights. He forecast ''low single-figure'' cost growth.

http://www.smh.com.au/business/seven-st ... 1b2jl.html

Jeffles · **Posted:** Tue Feb 22, 2011 5:45 pm

$780m x single-figure (less than 10%) is less than $858m. I think they'll more than this. Maybe not the billion. My call is $900m over 5 years.. There'll be more games to sell, they'll be in NSW and Qld and Foxtel will get a better cut of games to force more southerners into subscriptions. All things to boost rights.

beastjim · **Posted:** Tue Feb 22, 2011 10:56 pm

That would probably be single figure growth in costs for Seven. Most of the growth is still likely from Fox Sports and of course whatever Nine adds into the deal. Grand Final and Finals break down will be interesting, Nine surely won't be as stupid this time.

Jeffles · **Posted:** Wed Feb 23, 2011 9:09 am

beastjim wrote:

That would probably be single figure growth in costs for Seven. Most of the growth is still likely from Fox Sports and of course whatever Nine adds into the deal. Grand Final and Finals break down will be interesting, Nine surely won't be as stupid this time.

They won't, because the bloke in charge at the time was David Leckie who is now at Seven. Maybe Seven will be that stupid?

yob · **Posted:** Thu Mar 31, 2011 10:56 am

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/busines ... 6030989408

Quote:

It is believed Nine managing director Jeff Browne has based his network's bid around pay-TV group Foxtel gaining the right to broadcast all nine AFL games per round live from 2012. Foxtel has lobbied the AFL to give it live rights for all regular season games, including the ability to simulcast the four matches per round shown on free-to-air TV.

Egan · **Posted:** Thu Mar 31, 2011 11:03 am

Jeffles wrote:

$780m x single-figure (less than 10%) is less than $858m. I think they'll more than this. Maybe not the billion. My call is $900m over 5 years.. There'll be more games to sell, they'll be in NSW and Qld and Foxtel will get a better cut of games to force more southerners into subscriptions. All things to boost rights.

AFL have guaranteed that people in Perth will get all Dockers and Eagles games on Free To Air TV, though there may be a delay as there is now where foxtel covers it live than its on 40 mins later on a station.

Laz · **Joined:** Tue Feb 22, 2011 10:13 am **Posts:** 77

yob wrote:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/nine-happy-to-team-with-pay-tv-in-afl-bid/story-e6frg8mf-1226030989408

Quote:

It is believed Nine managing director Jeff Browne has based his network's bid around pay-TV group Foxtel gaining the right to broadcast all nine AFL games per round live from 2012. Foxtel has lobbied the AFL to give it live rights for all regular season games, including the ability to simulcast the four matches per round shown on free-to-air TV.

[/quote

The word going around today is that 7 is starting to get very nervous because there's talk that foxtel could be teaming up with 9 and will show every game live, $500 million each.

Joint Channel 7 & 10 bid for AFL rights.

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