Well if it was looking like Ten/Paramount were going to get the rights, I don’t think Gil and Kerry would be so close. So it’s looking more and more like Seven will retain the rights.
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He still would need to maintain a strong relationship considering the AFL needs to work with them for the next 2 years.
But I agree it is more likely to go to 7/Foxtel
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Media companies Nine Entertainment Co, Paramount, Seven West Media and Foxtel will present to the AFL’s top executives in what industry sources are describing as a silent auction designed to keep pressure on the current broadcast partners and generate more money than the $946 million being paid to the sport over the next two years.
The media sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because negotiations are commercial in confidence, said the AFL organised the back-to-back meetings for this Monday despite the terms of a new agreement being all but signed with Seven and Foxtel. They are asking each broadcaster for their best and final bids and a deal could be signed before the end of the week.
Looks like they pinched my exact screenshot as well, I somewhat made a contribution to the report 
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With the AFL taking the silent auction route, I think Nine and Paramount have a slight better chance to win the rights.
The key problem remains Nine’s ability to promote the AFL in NSW and Queensland given the network’s existing commitment to the NRL and rugby union (through Stan). I hope Nine’s executives will give the AFL a proper answer during the meetings.
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Depends how silent it actually is
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An interesting quote from the article in The Age about the impact of a new deal involving Seven and Foxtel. This might’ve already been mentioned here before.
A new deal will lead to AFL games in NSW and Queensland shown live exclusively on Foxtel and on a delay of up to two hours on Channel Seven under the terms that have been agreed. There will be no changes to the number of games on delay in South Australia and Western Australia and Victoria will be unaffected, according to the sources.
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That bit of the article stood out for me too. Something tells me that doesn’t sound right (if not be completely wrong altogether) - it wouldn’t make logical sense for FTA viewers in ‘developing’ markets to get a worse deal than viewers in ‘heartland’ states of SA & WA.
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Probably makes sense to 7, wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the same 6 delayed games SA/WA get, but the article doesn’t give a number.
Whenever I hear this I imagine them miming out their bids 
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Hard to see 7 having the same number of games without a Saturday night game.
From 77 to 70 possibly.
With Fox still paying the lions share and still not getting any SA/WA exclusivity.
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Given the ratings performance in both states of the coverage on Seven (and associated multis), I reckon this one they might have been ok with.
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I am in sydney and AFL games are hard enough to find on FTA as it is without delaying them 2 hours here. I still really hope that Paramount or even Ch9 get the rights. as was said it doesnt make sense to be delaying games in developing markets if the AFL really wants to grow the game.
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Hopefully the silent auction process will be ethically run so the actual top dollar is extracted.
There are a number of concerning issues with a resigned deal with seven and fox. It will be a disaster if NSW and Qld matches go behind a pay wall and on massive delays. It will kill any traction that has been made. The super satruday scenario is also a travesty of epic proportions for the AFL.
Hopefully 9 or Paramount can come up with significantly more money than the other two to finally put to rest the disaster that has been the 7/fox deals over the last 10 years.
Depends what games they are, some of the Brisbane Lions games (e.g. Easter Thursday v Collingwood) rate quite well for Seven in QLD.
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That will still be live on 7 in QLD. It would be the Fox produced Sat/Sun games on delay
The SA/WA arrangement being implemented in NSW and QLD would be one thing and probably an ‘acceptable’ tradeoff for both Seven and Fox.
It would be a massive mistake if all home Brisbane, Gold Coast, GWS and Sydney games were only shown on FTA on delay in their home markets. To go to bacco’s point, ratings would be even worse under such a scenario because only diehards who don’t have Foxtel would seek out delayed games.
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Delayed games is a stupid idea. Full stop. Either air them live or don’t air them at all.
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I seldom watch sport but even I know people are discussing these games on platforms like Reddit and Twitter as they’re being played. The AFL and the networks look like colossal fools by even considering delaying games.
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Delayed coverage would also significantly impact one of their biggest advertisers in sports betting companies.
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Part of the enjoyment with watching the games is the discussion after a quarter has concluded. What could the team do better or what can they maintain to keep the lead they have, and also the potential for memes and other content is ripe in the heat of the game.
Delayed games is something that should not be considered anymore in this day and age.
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