A record deal of more than $500 million a year would cement the AFL’s position at the top of Australian sport.
As AFL teams prepared for the final round of the regular season last week, media executives were huddled around computer screens, tweaking contracts for lawyers to pore through.Roarke Smith of the Bulldogs is tackled by Conor Nash of the Hawks in Launceston on Sunday. The Bulldogs needed a big win to qualify for the finals.With the top eight now decided, outgoing CEO Gillon McLachlan could deliver news of an agreement as early as this week.
For some time, AFL has held a claim to be the true national sporting competition. If the game’s executives can finalise a multi-year deal worth more than $500 million a year, the AFL will again show its status as the top dog in Australian sport. Current rugby league, cricket, tennis and soccer deals will likely pale in comparison to the deal being negotiated to air the AFL beyond the 2024 season.One source close to the negotiations predicted a strong result for the AFL, with observers predicting the game will secure something moderately above its previous deal.Leaks to the media from the supposedly secret negotiations have complicated the process.
The AFL’s investment committee – made up of CEO McLachlan, chairman Richard Goyder, and commissioners Paul Bassat and Robin Bishop – has been apparently left frustrated as patchy details about the negotiations have trickled into public view. Some have been dismissed as broadcasters trying to “talk their book” in the press.
Seven West Media, owner of Channel 7, along with pay-TV provider Foxtel have been privately confident of again being the game’s broadcast partners, as this masthead reported last week.
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