They’re not going to announce a change in rightholder on the eve of the playoff series. Would be terrible optics. If it’s getting announced this week, it’s not going anywhere. A Paramount/10 or Stan/9 shift would have had to have been tied up in the bye week, or wait until the end of the season.
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Why do people assume this will be the case?
It may work exactly like it does now, with 7 choosing primarily Victorian games to produce, and being able to simulcast Fox games into interstate markets. The only difference would be a limited number of these games in WA/SA would be fully exclusive to Fox.
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She didn’t speak to them because they’re not conspiring to paywall an entire day out of the weekend.
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Do you know the Stan/9 Paramount/10 bid?
I suspect it would work similarly to now if it turns out like you described, which it probably will as a worst case scenario for those states.
I was more taking the other comment as saying there should be no guarantee whatsoever for interstate clubs because Victorian teams don’t have the guarantee, in which case it’s hard to think that there wouldn’t be a reduction in Vic teams FTA exposure.
This forum is starting to become a bit of a joke now with pure speculation, it’s clear that both Fox and Seven should retain the rights as expected, however the finer details like Fox’s Super Saturday and 7’s intended Streaming rights are yet to be confirmed.
This will hopefully be similar to how they are now, because truth be told, there’s nothing really wrong with the current module of AFL broadcasting. Fox will always be dominant given they care about the AFL and all their other sporting rights more than the FTA channels. Fox Footy is the most watched Foxtel channel for a reason, and this should continue going forward if they were to acquire the rights again. Both Foxtel and Seven need to improve in areas in relation to the actual broadcasts but that will be a discussion for another day.
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AFL boss Gillon McLachlan insists free-to-air coverage will be a cornerstone of the next broadcast deal and has dismissed the federal government’s concerns as “irrelevant”.
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Highly doubt it. It’s irrelevant! 
Why is it clear? I don’t think they’ve done such a great job that no one else should be considered! My head knows it will be 7 and Foxtel but I’d prefer Paramount+/Ten.
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When the AFL decided to go early, it was likely that their process would beat any changes to either the list or how it operates and it was probably somewhat unforeseen that we’d get the sort of commentary from the Government of the day that we’ve said given its been a long time since we’ve seen something similar.
But everyone else will be watching what happens - both sports and broadcasters - because any changes are likely to impact their future deals, especially if the Government either increases the number of events that are on the list, change how the list works or enforce more FTA coverage, any of these changes will have tangible impacts on future deals.
The Government has already nailed its colours to the mast in terms of its position - they want to protect FTA’s ability to carry sport (which means retaining the list) - they’ll have to make some changes to the way it operates and who it binds (the streaming loophole really needs to be closed and while I suspect we know what this will be, what is defined as “free”, ie is it terrestrially delivered FTA or is it simply available freely via some broadcast means).
Real consideration needs to be given to not allowing media companies who have both FTA and Streaming services from abusing their privileged position to negotiate to lock out alternate providers who are only interested in streaming/subscription rights otherwise the likes of Foxtel, Optus and overseas streamers like DAZN, Amazon etc may decide to walk away.
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Don’t disagree with any of that. Still don’t see the benefit of fast tracking an update to the list but all good.
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I’m not advocating a fast-tracking of any changes, but if the Government is concerned about this, they have the capability to change the situation rather than having to resort to an ‘intervention’ in the nature we’ve seen over the last few days.
Personally I would prefer 10 to have more entertainment programs. Having sport will limit how much entertainment we get from them. And I prefer the content they have on air to sevens.
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The article of the title is “Commentary legend Cometti weighs in on free-to-air AFL rights”, not sure why it appears mislabeled.
“It [increasing the number of matches behind a pay wall] may be the best decision for them [the AFL] but not for the people that follow footy,” said Cometti, the iconic commentator who called for the Seven and Nine networks and Triple M radio during a career lasting more than half a century.
According to the article Paramount/10 and Nine are still in the running, with a deal expected to now be finalised by late September.
But I feel it could be more likely to expect the current partnership remaining for the next deal.
Also this from Gillon McLachlan, the “irrelevant” comment in context:
“But we actually want free to air coverage. We are lucky to have an incredible partner in Seven, we’re lucky to have free-to-air partners who want to broadcast our game, so it’s irrelevant to us, frankly, because as I’ve said to the minister, we value free to air coverage. It’s a cornerstone of our broadcast.″
That’s very interesting, that nine is still in the mix.
Might need to order more popcorn if it is now being delayed until late September.
I thought with Jr Murdoch in town last week it was close to be called.
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Absolutely, me too!
At what point do the AFL walk away from Fox/seven? If both parties are still struggling to see eye to eye than really is this a long term smart business plan by the AFL to just sign up with them again?
It’s like people voting for the same party, cause their dad did, which their dad did, and before that their dad did too. But whinge nothing changes! 
In short, according to the age, Nine/Ten are still I with a chance.
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The longer it drags out the more likely it will change hands. If we see an announcement before seasons end we know it’s going to 7/Foxtel. If it happens after then it could well go somewhere else
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Wonder if there is some Nine business based motivation behind the editorial.
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They just need to make a decision. Just do it.
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