TELEVISION BROADCASTING OF SPORTS – AUSTRALIA

Nine has options if cricket broadcast rights escalate

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 19 : 23-Feb-18

Nine Entertainment Company has posted a 2017-18 interim net profit of $A116m, compared with $A75m previously, with revenue rising nine per cent to $A720m. Meanwhile, CEO Hugh Marks says that while Nine wants to retain the cricket broadcasting rights, it will not pay an excessive price. He has also signalled that Nine may be open to a joint bid for the cricket rights. Nine paid $A500m for international cricket broadcasting rights under the current five-year deal, with Ten paying $A100m for Big Bash League rights. There has been speculation that the next rights deal could cost close to $A1bn.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED, BIG BASH LEAGUE, CRICKET AUSTRALIA

Networks douse CA’s rights hopes

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Original article by Darren Davidson, Dana McCauley
The Australian – Page: 23 & 25 : 19-Feb-18

Cricket Australia hopes to gain nearly $A1bn for its next broadcasting rights deal, compared with $A600m for the five year-deal that expires in 2018. However, free-to-air TV network executives have warned that the industry cannot afford a large increase in the cost of broadcasting rights. Some have noted that the new rights deal between European pay-TV company Sky and the English Premier League is significantly lower than the previous deal. There is speculation that a free-to-air network will bid for the cricket rights in partnership with Fox Sports.

CORPORATES
CRICKET AUSTRALIA, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE, SKY PLC, BT PLC, AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, YOUTUBE INCORPORATED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, CBS CORPORATION, BIG BASH LEAGUE

Pay TV exemption for gambling ads riles rival broadcasters

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Original article by Andrew Tillett
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 2 : 8-Feb-18

Free-to-air TV networks have urged the Federal Government to ensure a level playing field regarding its a ban on gambling advertisements during live sports broadcasts. The Australian Subscription Television & Radio Association wants an exemption from the ban for pay-TV sports channels that have low ratings, arguing that they are mainly watched by adults. The proposed exemption, which is outlined in ASTRA’s new draft code of practice for pay-TV, is also opposed by the Greens, the Nick Xenophon Team and Responsible Wagering Australia.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION AND RADIO ASSOCIATION (ASTRA) INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, NICK XENOPHON TEAM, RESPONSIBLE WAGERING AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, SPORTSBET AUSTRALIA, LADBROKES, CROWNBET PTY LTD, BETFAIR AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

$1bn battle for cricket broadcast rights

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 20 : 29-Jan-18

One of Australia’s free-to-air TV networks could potentially bid for cricket broadcasting rights in partnership with Fox Sports. Telcos and technology companies are also believed to be interested in a broadcasting deal, with Cricket Australia set to commence negotiations in the next week. The total cost of the next five-year deal for cricket broadcasting rights could approach $A1bn, with expectations that the Big Bash League rights may cost up to $A250m, compared with $A100m under the current deal.

CORPORATES
FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, CRICKET AUSTRALIA, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED, BIG BASH LEAGUE, CBS CORPORATION, NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, YOUTUBE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, SKY PLC, BT PLC, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, FOOTBALL FEDERATION AUSTRALIA LIMITED, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS

Sport proves a winning formula for Seven West Media

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Original article by John Stensholt
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 41 : 25-Jan-18

Seven West Media hopes to retain tennis broadcasting rights when its current contract expires in 2019. Data from Seven shows that audiences for its TV coverage of the 2018 Australian Open are six per cent higher than in 2017, while there has been 135 per cent growth in the number of minutes of Open coverage streamed via its 7Tennis app. Seven CEO Tim Worner argues that free-to-air TV still attracts the largest audiences for live sports coverage.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NETFLIX INCORPORATED

Nine to make a loss on Ashes despite record commercial interest

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Original article by Arvind Hickman
Ad News – Page: Online : 16-Jan-18

The 2017-18 Ashes Test series has been a ratings hit for the Nine Network, whose coverage of the five-match series attracted 14.8 million viewers nationwide, including 10.4 million in the capital cities. Nine also expects its revenue from advertising and corporate sponsorship packages to be 15-17 per cent higher than in 2016-17, and 7-8 per cent higher than its Ashes coverage in 2013-14. However, Nine sales director Sam Brennan concedes that the network will book a loss on its cricket coverage when production costs and the cost of its broadcasting rights are taken into account.

CORPORATES
NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, CRICKET AUSTRALIA, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD

Long queue forming as Australian cricket rights go up for grabs

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Original article by John Stensholt
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 13-Jan-18

Cricket Australia expects all three free-to-air networks to bid for the Big Bash League broadcasting rights, with the Nine Network tipped to retain rights to Test and one-day international matches. Fox Sports could also bid for the cricket rights in partnership with a free-to-air network, while potential contenders for digital broadcasting rights are said to include Optus and YouTube. Cricket Australia is expected finalise a new rights deal by April.

CORPORATES
CRICKET AUSTRALIA, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED, CBS CORPORATION, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, YOUTUBE INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, BIG BASH LEAGUE, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS

Big ratings boost for the Big Bash

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Original article by John Stensholt
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 25 : 21-Dec-17

Nine Entertainment Company, the Ten Network and Fox Sports are likely to be the main bidders for the next Big Bash League broadcasting rights deal. The strong TV ratings for the first BBL match of the 2017-18 season should strengthen Cricket Australia’s bargaining power in negotiations for a new rights deal. Peak audience numbers for Ten’s coverage were 15 per cent higher than the corresponding match in 2016-17, while the Women’s BBL competition has also attracted strong TV ratings.

CORPORATES
NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED, CBS CORPORATION, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, BIG BASH LEAGUE, CRICKET AUSTRALIA

Game on: Foxtel, Fox Sports merger cleared

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 19 : 8-Dec-17

Shares in News Corporation and Telstra rallied on 7 December after the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission signalled that the proposed merger between Foxtel and Fox Sports would not substantially reduce competition. The two companies jointly own Foxtel, while News Corp is the sole owner of Fox Sports. Telstra’s stake in Foxtel will be reduced to 35 per cent if the merger proceeds. ACCC chairman Rod Sims says the regulator took into account the fact that Foxtel’s digital products will be available to Telstra’s rivals.

CORPORATES
FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, 21ST CENTURY FOX INCORPORATED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED

CA inks subcontinent TV deal

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 9 : 10-Oct-17

Sony Pictures Networks India has secured a deal for exclusive broadcasting and digital rights on the sub-continent to all international cricket matches in Australia for six years. The deal with Cricket Australia covers both men’s and women’s cricket matches, and Sony Pictures is believed to have paid slightly more than Star India paid under the current rights deal. Meanwhile, Cricket Australia hopes to finalise a new rights deal with Australian broadcasters by the end of the upcoming summer.

CORPORATES
SONY PICTURES NETWORKS INDIA PVT LTD, CRICKET AUSTRALIA, STAR INDIA, 21ST CENTURY FOX INCORPORATED, BIG BASH LEAGUE, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, CBS CORPORATION, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS