AFL broadcast rights 2025-2031

[turdall]

I actually think SA and WA miss out on 2 a year for each team on FTA.

[4KSports]

They don’t miss out. It’s just delayed for 3 out of 22 games. Plus they get the odd extra FTA game compaired to Vic market.

QLD/NSW Developing markets and high Foxtel penetration compaired to SA/WA established market and low Foxtel penetration

[turdall]

I was sure that deal changed a few years ago and there were 2 games a year that were exclusive to Foxtel.

[Aurora]

The AFL and various codes are responsible to themselves, they only have to look at the V8s and other modes to see what happens when you move to a pay-only broadcast. You do lose a chunk of your viewers over time when you make it more difficult for them to access your content, which limits your potential when you are actively trying to grow the reach of the game, which is what the AFL have been actively trying to do.

[parano1a]

@turdall

I was sure that deal changed a few years ago and there were 2 games a year that were exclusive to Foxtel.

SA/WA get every home team game on FTA. I think a total of 6 games per year into each market are on a forced 3 hour delay on FTA and therefore the live telecast is exclusive to Foxtel.

[lexington]

Home team and marquee games on FTA, all other games on streaming.

Bet my bottom lip that’ll be Paramount’s offer - and it’ll be a bloody good deal.

[William_C]

@lexington

Home team and marquee games on FTA, all other games on streaming.

Bet my bottom lip that’ll be Paramount’s offer - and it’ll be a bloody good deal.

what home games and what “marquee” games are you referring to?

[parano1a]

@lexington

Home team and marquee games on FTA, all other games on streaming.

How would this work for Victoria where there are 10 “home” teams?

[lexington]

Well they don’t all play at the same time do they? And there’s only 9 games total per weekend… usually one each in WA, SA, QLD and NSW. That leaves five games - ten teams - in Melbourne, so you fixture a Saturday arvo, Saturday night, best of the bunch on Sunday game - with the current rolling schedule you’ve got more ability to choose the game based on current performance (just as the AFL is already doing)

Marque games would include ANZAC Day, Dreamtime at the G and other significant games as well as all finals

[FootyKick]

Jon Anderson reports in the Sunday Herald Sun “not to take 10/Paramount’s bid lightly” as one of the masterminds behind it is David Barham.
Barham was instrumental in putting together the original Channel 10 calling team 20 years ago, including Tim Lane, Stephen Quartermain, Anthony Hudson, Malcolm Blight, Robert Walls, Luke Darcy and Matthew Lloyd.

If 10/Paramount win the rights and Dave is in charge of their coverage, then I think we can rest assured knowing that the game will be in safe hands.

[Jack_Nicholas1]

that’s very interesting and very smart from Paramount executives to have him involved in those negotiations Barham is a very Smart producing talent who knows the AFL world inside and out so that’s very interesting

[bacco007]

@FootyKick

If 10/Paramount win the rights and Dave is in charge of their coverage, then I think we can rest assured knowing that the game will be in safe hands.

Does anyone realistically expect that Ten couldn’t produce AFL coverage? While they may be a bit short of personnel at the moment an early announcement for 2025 onwards could be a significant benefit as it gives them more time to (re)assemble a strong on and off-screen presence.

I think the limiting factor to Ten/Paramount’s bid is whether they are able to convince their American masters to make the appropriate investment.

[charlie]

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but does anyone actually know when the AFL will announce who gets the 2025 onwards rights?

[FootyKick]

IIRC Gillon McLachlan has said he wants it done before the end of the season when he steps down as CEO. It will be his last big project.

[John.S]

@FootyKick

It will be his last big project.

Tasmania would be that.

[bacco007]

I doubt we’ll see a decision on Tasmania before Gil leaves

[Jeffmister]

Isn’t the vote on that happening in August?

[Wally]

@NewsWeary

The game belongs to the fans and they should never forget that. If they make it too hard for the fans to access the teams they want to see and if they start stuffing around with draws etc and bow to the demands of the rights holders, they’ll start losing viewers.

@NewsWeary

@foxyrover

If it’s too hard for some older people, then so be it.

Hopefully you live to a ripe old age and discover some of the joys of what people have to cope with in their advanced years. Some of these elderly people don’t get out much and derive little enjoyment from life. Kind of heartless to expect them to just suck it up when one of their few remaining pleasures is taken away.

I agree with this and that is why the AFL should not be giving the rights to Paramount where all games will be on a streaming service that for many people is difficult to access and set up, requires reliable high speed internet they don’t have, and lacks basic functionality that Foxtel and other streaming platforms have had for a long time. Not to mention the inevitable technical issues that will arise.

But Murdoch = bad so the mostly older people who still use Foxtel and like the service can get screwed. /s

[bacco007]

@Jeffmister

Isn’t the vote on that happening in August?

My understanding it goes to the clubs in August and it needs their support to proceed - from there it goes to the Commission

[captaincupcake]

@Wally

I agree with this and that is why the AFL should not be giving the rights to Paramount where all games will be on a streaming service that for many people is difficult to access and set up, requires reliable high speed internet they don’t have, and lacks basic functionality that Foxtel and other streaming platforms have had for a long time. Not to mention the inevitable technical issues that will arise.

This is going off on a bit of a tangent, but I wonder if by 2025 we’ll see Paramount+ on another platform besides streaming (especially if they get AFL rights) in order to address some of these concerns. It’s possible (but not likely I imagine) a deal could be done to put it on Foxtel Satellite (most likely as an added channel you must specifically subscribe to like ANT1 and RAI). Another potential scenario is that 10 sets aside some spectrum on their multiplex and runs a channel or two (called Paramount+ Sport or something like that) that is encrypted and roll out special STBs that can access that channel via subscription (this is fairly common in Europe).