Asked about the lunch, Martin told Mediaweek: “We have a great relationship with Peter and Andrew.” He added that it’s not unusual for the four executives to catch up.
Martin didn’t have any comment about any new bid for State of Origin, except for this not-too-cryptic comment: “We retain an interest in other sports if they present an opportunity for us.”
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I’m not sure what you have against simulcasts. If you have a close look you will find that they are all doing it now and that includes the FTA networks. Channel nine are currently showing the ashes and aquatic world championships which are both simal casts. 7plus also has sporting events as does tenplay which are all simul casts.
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Nine, Stan could jump ship after Rugby’s amateur decline
Just some speculation about NRL Rights in a Rugby Union Story.
Nine and Stan Sport have the rights to rugby until the end of 2025, but already have suggested they won’t be paying what they are now – $27 million cash annually – to renew.
Industry insiders say Nine and Stan are building a war chest to make a bold bid for exclusive rights to the NRL when the current deal with Nine and pay television network Fox Sports expires at the end of the 2027 season.
There will be little money for rugby from Nine, and other broadcasters won’t be throwing cash at the game.
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Sounds like a sensible strategy. As long as Fox aren’t involved it would be a good deal.
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It was reported Seven want to go at it (at least a game), with Warburton and Martin seen regualrly meeting/dining with V’landys and Abdo. But with their AFL investment (recently signed), hard to see too much money being free, as well as recently re-signing with CA too among other expenses.
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They actually paid less for CA but I agree. I don’t think 7 will be able to pay enough to get it. But 9 also got the Olympics too.
I think status quo would probably stay since it looks like sports organisations want to keep Fox (CA & AFL).
Would be interesting if 9/Stan goes for all or nothing like 10/Paramount did with cricket or if they would concede and go with Fox if they have to (I assume they would, since if they don’t it would be 7 & Fox)
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I suspect Foxtel could become the sticking point, how vital will Stan Sport (let alone 9Now) be to them, same goes for another huge 10 bid (if they view NRL delivering similar) with Paramount Plus/10 Play.
I’m of the view, had Foxtel (who pay lions share including Telstra) been too hard and forced AFL’s hand and said ‘no’ to Seven having 7Plus, that Seven would’ve actually walked away or at least bid far less and ended up with Nine or 10 for sure. Hard to believe that’d happen after the 2001 shenanigans and then there was C7Sport and arguably cost Seven 2002-2006 in the overall ratings due to no major winter sport (despite other programming starting to dominate).
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Next on the horizon for Warburton is doubling up on winter codes with an attempt to snatch the NRL’s State of Origin. The three annual games are a regular ratings hit across both linear and digital channels for current rights holder Nine, though negotiations are not likely to take place until 2025.
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Warburton is a complete clown. Just an absolute fool. The arrogance is astounding.
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The NRL’s big Las Vegas gamble starts on March 2. Among questions worth pondering are these – which media executives are going, and what does that mean?
The NRL’s broadcast rights – some of the most lucrative among the major leagues – expire in 2027. Foxtel has the bulk of the rights, while Nine Entertainment owns the free-to-air games, and wants more, particularly for its Stan Sport platform. It discussed its NRL strategy at its executive offsite just outside of Sydney earlier this month.
The awful part of that report is the constant fawning to Fox. The NRL behave like there is no other media companies. The fans will continue to be treated pathetically if Fox continues to get the rights. This has occurred for years and years and will also be seen through the cricket and afl rights deals which are also a disaster for the fans.
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I don’t think AFL rights are a disaster for fans given all local teams excluding vic gets their teams on FTA & live on FTA for 20 of 23 H&A matches.
I do agree that cricket deal is a disaster for fans as 50 overs & T20 men’s matches aren’t on FTA
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You’re opinion, but as I’ll keep saying (much to the annoyance of others), whilst there is a simulcast deal I won’t expect that the deal is the best media rights arrangement for the sport.
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The cricket deal has proven to have killed much of the interest in the BBL as well. It’s no longer a premium product,
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I don’t get that? If it’s pay tv exclusive then it’s a bad deal for the fans (while the sports gets the money) but a simulcast means that fans get to see it on FTA & the sport gets money from pay tv broadcaster
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I don’t like simulcast deals. It cheapens the product without exclusivity. Its diminshes return on investment for broadcasters. It’s my opinion. I know many disagree with me but so be it.
Nine have openly stated they don’t like these deals. They’ve obviously been forced into them in the past but recent deals with tennis, rugby and Olympics are exclusive without simulcast deals.
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Quite possibly - but broadcasters no longer necessarily have the coin both in their accounts and that sports orgs are desiring to invest in the sports.
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In most recent times broadcasters such as nine have demonstrated that they have the ecosystem to support exclusive deals.
I’d argue that the AFL knocked back a better deal of z$6v over 10 years with paramount rather than the disaster of a deal with seven and fox.
Sports organizations need to move away from fox and seven.
Nine have set themselves up well, agreed and the suite of radio stations and Stan gives them a deep presence. But the big question is whether a Stan/P+/7+ deal is financially viable for the networks and something sports organisations are willing to partner with.
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In your first post, didn’t you say the deals were bad for fans? How is simulcast bad for fans when they get matches on FTA & also the choice on pay tv?
Isn’t the new deal a similar $ figure over 7 years ($4.5billion)? And the AFL probably went with stability instead of untrusted product of P+/10. Also again how is that deal a disaster? It has 7/7+ FTA concept & pay tv concept too. It feels like a win-win for fans & the AFL