The Sydney vs Adelaide game over the weekend at the SCG had all 4 commentators physically at the ground, yes they travelled outside of Victoria!
One of only a handful of times they’ve achieved this in 2022, the other one that comes to mind was one of the Pre-Season games in Tasmania, when they sent a team of 4, Showdown 51 sent a team of 3 commentators over, with the Play by Play commentators staying in Melbourne with the experts/boundary at Adelaide Oval.
I’m assuming this is all because there will be a Thursday match every week. Seven have to give something up to get that and I guess that will be the Saturday game. I am not sure what everyone is flapping on about. Fox pay more money for the rights so it’s only fair they ask for this. Unless seven give more money for an extra game a week then it’s a fair ask from fox.
And all these reports are speculation.
For ten to get it, they need to be able to sell themselves as the one to be with.
Fox and seven just need to say, here you know what we offer, what more do you want.
The next month is going to be watch this space as the networks throw the money at the AFL.
And the overall winner if there is no AFL on FTA on Saturday’s will be Daryl, as he will think great Seven will have space to bring back Hey Hey it’s Saturday against no competition… 
remember be carful what you wish for!!
I mean I get your arguments but it’s fairly obvious what the fans are and would be upset about - an ever decreasing number of matches to watch for free. The financial makeup of the deal is largely irrelevant to them.
It’s hard to believe it’s 2022 and Darryl Summers is still drawing solid audiences for the network And although the seasons don’t align all that well, it could be a big boon for the A-League and Super Rugby on Saturday nights as well without a major rival football code shown for free.
My assumption, rightly or wrongly, when I see FTA wrt the next deal is that we’re talking about streaming rights as well. If Seven or whoever the FTA partner is don’t get them then it’s mind boggling.
I’m waiting to see Seven turn their back on Foxtel and partner with 10/Paramount.
Not out of the question:
With all 9 matches (including the Seven broadcasts) simulcast on P+ too.
Why would 7 do this?
They would only get half the finals this way and every 2nd Grand Final
Clearly money. If they can’t cough up the cash the AFL wants and we know that Paramount are cashed up then it might be a beneficial arrangement for them to at least keep some rights.
The deal could even ensure that their commentary remains on the Paramount+ simulcast. Something we now know Foxtel want to ditch.
Ten would want a Sat arvo game as a lead in to 10 News First
7 - Thursday night, Friday night, Sun arvo
10 - Sat arvo, Sat night
P+ all matches
Finals and Grand Final split between 7 and 10
Vitally important for their stellar news service.
I think this is a good deal - This goes back similar to the 2007-11 deal. A Saturday Night game will help boost the primetime ratings. Ten’s big problem is Saturday night audience numbers. Since Ten exited the AFL in October 2011, the ratings have gone downhill. This left a big hole on Friday and Saturday nights without the Footy.
Meanwhile, Fox is putting the larger proportion of the money into the deal… It shouldn’t come as a surprise that they want some exclusivity and the AFL is clearly trying to extract the most money they can from the rights so it stands to reason that such a move would move the bid amount
Just because they’ve asked for it, its no guarantee that they’d get it if 7/Fox were successful.
Another difference is that Foxtel can provide live coverage in 4K but FTA cannot (unless the new federal government begins a broadcast trial in the next couple of years). Even so, I think 4K FTA broadcast won’t be in place for the next broadcast deal, perhaps just before the Brisbane Olympics in mid 2032?
I think if this kind of thing is to happen, it makes more sense that Nine’s TNF bid is incorporated into the 10/P+ offer.
10/P+ still the undisputed home of the AFL with 8 exclusive matches per round, Nine get exactly what they wanted, the AFL get a ‘big’ FTA broadcaster involved and presumably get decent newspaper coverage with 9/ Fairfax to somewhat offset losing News (who admittedly has a larger reach).
I think fans want 10 to get the Sunday Arvo match, because some (maybe most?) don’t like the 3:20 slot. So if 10 has it then it would be 2:10 leading to their news
10 News rates poorly and isn’t necessarily locked into a 5pm timeslot. When 10 last had the rights I don’t think they even bothered with a news bulletin on Saturdays, the schedule was from memory:
3.30 Saturday Afternoon Football (90min delayed telecast)
6.30 Before The Game
7.30 Saturday Night Football (30 min delay if in Melb or live if interstate)
This has been discussed already in this thread:
Weren’t they local bulletins as well?
But all of the commentators are Sydney based, aren’t they? Bolton, Speed, etc.
NO GAME WILL EVER BE DELAYED IN MELBOURNE. Why would the network shout themselves in the foot with that strategy? Why would anyone?
This was a Fox game, Speed lives there but the others don’t.