I’m still not confident Seven will broadcast the Australian Open next year.
I think it is more likely than not Seven will try to reach some (very awkward and legally challenging) arrangement with TA, to on-sell to Nine a year early.
I just don’t see how they can even have any remote focus on tennis next summer, now they’ve got brand new cricket coverage to set-up, let alone potential clashes. Tim Worner also panned tennis during that flat as a tack cricket press conference. Not good
Better off having a broadcaster who actually WANTS tennis and HAS full rights, be able to put heart and sole into the Aus Open.
Yes, It’ll be sad no farewell packages can be done. But you know what, Nine have now lost cricket, so they’re in that same boat.
Just out of curiosity, I wonder whether there would be a restriction by Tennis Australia as to who Seven could sell the rights to this season.
If Ten can get there hands on it, go all in. Promote. Use this as a way to completely relaunch the network. Blanket outdoor promotion. Make it an event in itself with a massive lead up over several months. With a tag line perhaps of ‘from the network that constantly reinvents television - having bought you big event television in Australian Idol etc and / or the move away from Sunday night at the movies etc’
No word either way, one would assume no, but others seem to think they might need to logistically and financially they may need to, but to me they may give secondary channels a big boost over this Summer especially given to announcement to the contrary
It has been speculated this may occur. Otherwise it will have to air one of the Tennis / Cricket on 7mate when they clash which the respective sporting bodies may not like…
People keep speculating about the same things - there has so far been no indication either way, so why contemplate what might happen.
Unless otherwise indicated, Seven will maintain the tennis rights this year, probably hoping the AO finals do not conflict with Cricket commitments. Until the Summer of Cricket schedule is assembled, contemplating a “sale” seems pointless - at this point this years Tennis rights are probably not for sale
Personally I dont think they would sell something that could be an asset to another network - one minute they criticise a Seven deal with the BBL and then they speculate Seven would sell the AO rights
If Seven were to sell them, Seven would probably want to get $50 million for them and Nine offer $10 million - with the view that it was a “fire” sale.
Ultimately, it will end up on 7Mate (with the AO final LIVE on Seven)
I seriously doubt they will given Nine any advantage and retain the rights. They probably won’t be too worried about upsetting TA as its the last year of the current broadcasting contract. The only catch may be is if anything is specified in the contract that the AO airs on Seven’s main channel
