Telstra secures exclusive, six year live AFL games deal

It is a move that could give Nine the option to horse-trade games with incumbent AFL rights holder Seven West Media.

While no one is a fan of exclusive deals, when Telstra are forking over $300 million as part of the record breaking 6 year deal it should be expected.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan announced the deal on Tuesday afternoon in the presence of News Corp chairman Rupert Murdoch, representing Foxtel, as well as Telstra CEO Andy Penn and Seven chairman Kerry Stokes.

THE BASICSA brilliant deal for the AFL that cements its standing as the no. 1 sport in the country.

“After a positive discussion with the (AFL) Commission, the AFL has also received support from our club CEOs to examine a new zoning system where a region is assigned to each club and the clubs are empowered and funded to develop talent and recruit in indigenous or multicultural communities”.

All of the matches for the NSW/QLD teams – the Gold Coast Suns, the Brisbane Lions, the Sydney Swans and the GWS Giants – will continue to be shown LIVE on free to air television.

“When do you predict the first Eagles-Dockers Grand Final will be played in the new Perth Stadium?” she said with a matter-of-fact air.

“Foxtel is very proud of its association with the AFL and we look forward to providing an even better service to the League and its millions of fans”.

The AFL has insisted it will continue to control the schedule for the sport.

A Perth-based grand final could be a long way away, with Mr McLachlan telling the crowd unfortunately they will have to wait until at least 2039 – the year after the contract with the MCG ends.

But in an attempt to make further inroads into the rugby league fortress, AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said his team had negotiated extra space and exposure in the News Corp newspapers in Queensland and NSW.

Seven will broadcast three games live weekly, with Foxtel able to on sell a game.

Informal negotiations with broadcasters began last year, to replace the current five-year deal worth $1.258 billion.

The Telstra deal covers not only mobile apps, but extends to other properties such as offering extended highlights and replays via online and IPTV platforms, which includes the proprietary Telstra TBox and the upcoming Telstra TV box (provided by Roku) which will go on-sale next month.

“We did make the point it seems to us in our experience that twilight games happen to get more ratings than day games do, and if one wants to be the most watched Grand Final in Australia, it would seem sensible it might be a twilight”, Stokes said.

Nine had been in the running for a Saturday afternoon game.

Channel Nine’s $925 million deal with the NRL will involve four free to air games each week, with a Foxtel deal yet to be finalised.