The 2017 Rights Deal Discussion thread

[Rob]

Channel 7 must be looking at different ratings numbers to me. They could get the same, if not better numbers than A-League by showing Hardcore Pawn repeats.

Last Friday night for instance, 7mate (where presumably the games would be shown) comprehensively smashed the A-League on SBS by showing the moves Up and Robin Hood. Both of which would have cost them hardly anything with much better opportunities for ads. 7Two had even better numbers with just as cheap programming.

Am I missing something here? Why would 7 be interested?

 

[Furn2]

7 will just cherry pick the best games. A-league finals and Socceroos games shown in prime time basically.

 

[Rob]

7 will just cherry pick the best games. A-league finals and Socceroos games shown in prime time basically.

The best A-League games don't rate either. Last week was the Victory v Wanderers, arguably the 2 highest profile teams. And it got fustigated by both 7's multichannels. Funnily enough, SBS1's worst rating night last week was Friday night (only night with a market share less than 3%). The A-League appears to be costing them viewers.

The big Socceroos games would probably get good numbers, but I didn't think the FFA could sell anything but friendlies because they don't own the rights to World Cup + qualifiers. 7 would have to buy those off FIFA.

 

[bigleague]

SBS are significantly scaling back their soccer broadcasting in their attempt to become more mainstream due to increasing funding pressures from the federal government.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/...ock-programming-upheaval-20150318-1m28og.html

 

[The_Wookie]

SBS are significantly scaling back their soccer broadcasting in their attempt to become more mainstream due to increasing funding pressures from the federal government.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/...ock-programming-upheaval-20150318-1m28og.html

yeah Im not sure that will help though

 

[Ned_Flanders]

yeah Im not sure that will help though

Would be more about cost reduction than ratings.

Apparently a few NSW polis are pushing for SBS to be shut down because it's just for the "ethnics" and people who like soccer

Losing soccer saves a fair bit of coin that they can then use to buy in more uk or USA content

 

[Demonoid]

According to the article "Despite an upgrade to the primary channel this season, the residual impact of the original decision remained, with ratings hovering either side of 100,000 viewers nationally."

Putting my AFL hat back on, I wonder then if the Swans/Giants/Lions/Suns ratings would be any better had they been on the main 7 channel rather than 7 mate. In the past, it was assumed that the main channel would capture the casual observers, and the real fans would always know what channel to switch to...

 

[RodneyMaynard]

Would be more about cost reduction than ratings.

Apparently a few NSW polis are pushing for SBS to be shut down because it's just for the "ethnics" and people who like soccer

Losing soccer saves a fair bit of coin that they can then use to buy in more uk or USA content

That's just what Australian TV needs; more US and UK content

 

[Rob]

According to the article "Despite an upgrade to the primary channel this season, the residual impact of the original decision remained, with ratings hovering either side of 100,000 viewers nationally."

Putting my AFL hat back on, I wonder then if the Swans/Giants/Lions/Suns ratings would be any better had they been on the main 7 channel rather than 7 mate. In the past, it was assumed that the main channel would capture the casual observers, and the real fans would always know what channel to switch to...

Actually, A-League ratings are higher on sbs1 this year, which goes completely against the trend as their fox ratings are significantly down. Theres no doubt being on SBS1 has improved their numbers.

 

[bigleague]

Network Ten interested in securing rights to A-League, Socceroos games

Ten's head of sport David Barham says the network is interested in securing the broadcast rights for the A-League - as long as they come at the right price.

The declaration comes in the wake of a Fairfax Media report that soccer's spiritual broadcasting home, SBS, was planning to cut ties with the sport after a celebrated 35-year association.

SBS are believed to be willing to sell off the final two years of their A-League commitments and Football Federation Australia are understood to favour a partnership between Ten and Fox Sports for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons.

Barham said Ten's interest in soccer went beyond the A-League and that they were also keen to win the rights to the FIFA World Cup - which SBS is reportedly also willing to on-sell, UEFA Champions League - which will be up for grabs in two months - and Socceroos matches.

"We'd definitely be able to make a bid for them, no problem," Barham said.

"But ... you've got to see the deal for what it's for and it all comes down to money and all those sort of things."

The acquisition of the Big Bash League rights has been a resounding success for both Ten and cricket in the last few years and FFA would undoubtedly hope a similar union would help boost the A-League's national profile.

"It's got to be value for money, that's all," Barham said.

"We've got to make sure that the value works for our company, that's all."

Barham insisted soccer would forever be a "sport with potential" if it could not find a free-to-air television partner that made it a priority.

With the BBL only going for six weeks during the summer, Barham said the A-League would give his network a steadier stream of sport content during that time of the year.

And Barham didn't stop there, boldly declaring that his network was interested in all sporting rights if they stacked up financially.

Already boasting a sport war chest that includes the BBL, Formula One, netball, V8s and Wallabies Tests, Barham said Ten wanted another major football code to complement it.

"Where it comes down to is which is better value – A-League, AFL or NRL," he said.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/...-aleague-socceroos-games-20150319-1m32pm.html

 

[Gigantor]

We have to read between the lines.

Barham said Ten's interest in soccer went beyond the A-League and that they were also keen to win the rights to the FIFA World Cup - which SBS is reportedly also willing to on-sell, UEFA Champions League - which will be up for grabs in two months - and Socceroos matches.​

In other words, they will only feign interest in the A-League sufficient to get access to the better rating Socceroo matches, world cup and Champions league.

 

[Ned_Flanders]

We have to read between the lines.

Barham said Ten's interest in soccer went beyond the A-League and that they were also keen to win the rights to the FIFA World Cup - which SBS is reportedly also willing to on-sell, UEFA Champions League - which will be up for grabs in two months - and Socceroos matches.​

In other words, they will only feign interest in the A-League sufficient to get access to the better rating Socceroo matches, world cup and Champions league.

This happens with every comp known to God

You agree to show the meh stuff to get the rights to the stuff you really want.

 

[Rob]

This happens with every comp known to God

You agree to show the meh stuff to get the rights to the stuff you really want.

Ordinarily i'd say that makes sense, but the 2 are unrelated. You can buy World Cup and Champions league rights without touching the A-League.

TBH it makes even less sense why 10 would want the A-League given they have the big bash. They also have the NBL but that rates hopelessly badly. Which is a lesson for those that think commercial FTA coverage instantly means big audiences.

 

[Ned_Flanders]

Ordinarily i'd say that makes sense, but the 2 are unrelated. You can buy World Cup and Champions league rights without touching the A-League.

TBH it makes even less sense why 10 would want the A-League given they have the big bash. They also have the NBL but that rates hopelessly badly. Which is a lesson for those that think commercial FTA coverage instantly means big audiences.

Just a guess, but I suspect the Ffa would be sweetening the deal to get the a league on one of the commercials

 

[Gigantor]

This happens with every comp known to God

You agree to show the meh stuff to get the rights to the stuff you really want.

The point remains that A-League fans might be celebrating prematurely in thinking all of a sudden A-League games will be shown live on commercial FTA.

 

[Ned_Flanders]

The point remains that A-League fans might be celebrating prematurely in thinking all of a sudden A-League games will be shown live on commercial FTA.

Who's celebrating what? It's one article.

 

[Gigantor]

Who's celebrating what? It's one article.

There are many sports forums out there.

 

[Ned_Flanders]

There are many sports forums out there.

Dude, who cares what forums think? They are full of freaks like us who over react to every little puff of breeze

 

[Gigantor]

Dude, who cares what forums think? They are full of freaks like us who over react to every little puff of breeze

Yeh, but geez, the fantasy makes for some great reading.

Check this feature article from the Roar's main soccer writer:
http://www.theroar.com.au/2015/03/2...s-football-broadcasting-bidding-war-heats-up/

and I quote:

If this week’s media reports are to be believed, free-to-air A-League rights are up for grabs, which could spark a fierce bidding war for Australia’s fastest growing sport.​

"fierce bidding war", that's what he has said, and the soccer fans on the Roar actually believe it.

This is on the Roar, we aren't even talking about 442.

Anyone who takes even a cursory glance at the Fox ratings from the last 3 or 4 weeks will see that they have been nothing short of abysmal, a few even dropping into the low 30s.

That is before we even consider that a 45 minute half in which a goal may not even be scored is hardly conducive for showing on commercial FTA.

 

[Ned_Flanders]

Yeh, but geez, the fantasy makes for some great reading.

Check this feature article from the Roar's main soccer writer:
http://www.theroar.com.au/2015/03/2...s-football-broadcasting-bidding-war-heats-up/

and I quote:

If this week’s media reports are to be believed, free-to-air A-League rights are up for grabs, which could spark a fierce bidding war for Australia’s fastest growing sport.​

"fierce bidding war", that's what he has said, and the soccer fans on the Roar actually believe it.

This is on the Roar, we aren't even talking about 442.

Anyone who takes even a cursory glance at the Fox ratings from the last 3 or 4 weeks will see that they have been nothing short of abysmal, a few even dropping into the low 30s.

That is before we even consider that a 45 minute half in which a goal may not even be scored is hardly conducive for showing on commercial FTA.

dude, its a blog

thats like going onto any club board here and taking the shit we say seriously

 

[Gigantor]

dude, its a blog

thats like going onto any club board here and taking the shit we say seriously

Surely you are not suggesting that you and I would stoop to publicly (and earnestly) demonstrating a similarly poor understanding of such important matters of state.

 

[Ned_Flanders]

Surely you are not suggesting that you and I would stoop to publicly (and earnestly) demonstrating a similarly poor understanding of such important matters of state.

Im saying 99% of people on the net know shit, and i include myself, and if we start freaking out because of what bloggers think this world is truly ****ed

 

[Rob]

Im saying 99% of people on the net know shit, and i include myself, and if we start freaking out because of what bloggers think this world is truly stuffed

No-one's freaking out, but we're all entitled to have a chuckle.

Good to see the roar hasn't changed much since I last had a look about a year ago.

 

[Gigantor]

No-one's freaking out, but we're all entitled to have a chuckle.

Good to see the roar hasn't changed much since I last had a look about a year ago.

It's a chuckle all right.

But I'm just blown away by all this conspiracy talk (the AFL get paid overs because they are favoured by the commercial FTAs, and if soccer had such sweetheart deals then soccer would be the biggest game in Australia, etc).

 

[Demonic Ascent]

Of course Foxtel will talk the price down in the end the market will pay what it has to.The article is only Murdoch talking through his loss making newspaper(sic) trying to get the best price
I hope the AFL does go down the live streaming route eventually and stuff the the TV leaches.I would rather pay my money to the AFL direct.

They need to at least have the capacity to do so to leverage against the networks. If Ten and Nine are out it leaves little leverage for the AFL with a joint Fox/7 deal. However if they think the AFL may walk and adopt their own streaming service they would both see the dollars walking out the door (especially Foxtel) and you'd see them come back to the table pretty quickly.