TELEVISION BROADCASTING OF SPORTS – ECONOMIC ASPECTS – AUSTRALIA

$100m play looms for World Cup TV rights

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by John Stensholt, Jessica Halloran
The Australian – Page: 5 : 16-Aug-23

Optus is believed to have paid up to $30m for the broadcasting rights to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. It has also on-sold the free-to-air rights to selected matches to Seven West Media for about $4m. FIFA has set a deadline of 19 September to submit bids for the local broadcasting rights to the next men’s and women’s World Cup tournaments; it is believed to be seeking up to $100m for the rights, following the ratings success of the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Optus, SBS and the three commercial free-to-air networks are expected to submit bids.

CORPORATES
FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS)

Sports face $200m broadcast hit

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by John Stensholt
The Australian – Page: 19 : 4-May-20

Executives of Australia’s free-to-air and pay-TV networks believe that the value of sports broadcasting rights has fallen in 2020 because events are being held without crowds due to the pandemic. The Australian Football League and the National Rugby League in particular are expected to face a large decline in broadcasting fees when their 2020 seasons resume. Meanwhile, there is doubt as to whether Fox Sports will renew its broadcasting rights deal with Football Federation Australia beyond the current season.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, FOOTBALL FEDERATION AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Nine proceeds with caution on cricket rights

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 21 : 25-Aug-17

Write-downs resulted in Nine Entertainment Company reporting a 2016-17 net loss of $A203.4m, although its underlying profit was 2.7 per cent higher at $A123.6m. Revenue of $1.24bn was three per cent lower. CEO Hugh Marks says Nine is keen to acquire the rights to the Big Bash League as well as renew its existing cricket broadcasting rights, and he hopes for a swift conclusion to negotiations with Cricket Australia. However, he has cautioned that the subdued advertising market means Nine cannot afford to pay much more than at present for sports broadcasting rights.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, CRICKET AUSTRALIA, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, TWITTER INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, YOUTUBE INCORPORATED, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, BIG BASH LEAGUE

Sports rights at a tipping point: Worner

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 17-Aug-17

The cost of broadcasting rights for major sports events has risen sharply in recent years, but Seven West Media CEO Tim Worner says media companies cannot afford to pay any more than at present when negotiating new deals. He adds that rights deals should reflect the higher profile that free-to-air coverage has brought to sports that were previously exclusively on pay-TV. Nine Entertainment Company CEO Hugh Marks says that while Nine is keen to secure the rights to all cricket formats, the cost and likely financial returns will be key considerations.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, BIG BASH LEAGUE, CRICKET AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, YAHOO!7 COMMUNICATIONS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS

Networks up ante on cricket TV rights

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Jake Mitchell
The Australian – Page: 23 & 25 : 28-Mar-16

The Nine Network’s current five-year deal broadcasting rights deal for international cricket matches played in Australia is worth $A450m. Some experts believe that the next rights deal could be worth around $A700m, while broadcasting rights for the domestic Twenty20 competition could potentially top $A50m after the ratings success during the 2015-16 summer. Meanwhile, TV networks are looking at options for offsetting the ratings impact of rain-affected matches.

CORPORATES
NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, CRICKET AUSTRALIA, TEN REN TEA (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS, INTERNATIONAL CRICKET COUNCIL, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, DENTSU AEGIS MEDIA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, OPTIMUM MEDIA DIRECTION PTY LTD, THE A LEAGUE PTY LTD

New TV rights put to ACCC

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 31-Aug-15

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) is scrutinising Foxtel’s proposed acquisition of 15 per cent of Ten Network. Fairfax Media raised concerns that the acquisition would reduce competition in the sports rights market. Nine Entertainment raised similar objections. The ACCC is due to make a decision on the deal by 10 September 2015.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, MULTI CHANNEL NETWORK PTY LTD, KFC

Ad prices to soar for TV football

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 17 : 31-Aug-15

The Seven and Nine TV networks intend to increase advertisement prices, with price rises of about 30 per cent. The average cost of a 30-second TV spot for a prime-time Australian Football League or National Rugby League match would rise to $A39,000, from $A30,000. The rises are necessary to recover the costs associated with new sports broadcast rights deals.

CORPORATES
SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, SILVER POINT CAPITAL LP, OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC, APOLLO GROUP INCORPORATED

Football rights on agenda as providers talk to codes

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by John Stensholt, Jared Lynch
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 30 : 22-Jun-15

The latest five-year deals for Australian Football League and National Rugby League broadcasting rights are expected to fetch between $A1.5bn and $A2bn. Both codes are believed to have held talks with digital companies and online steaming services. However, companies such as Google and Netflix are expected to partner with traditional media companies to offer content rather than providing live streaming of matches themselves. Singtel Optus is also keen to secure digital broadcasting rights.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, FETCHTV PTY LTD, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, SKY SPORTS, FOX FOOTY CHANNEL

Sports rights inflation ‘almost untenable’, says MCN boss

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 25-May-15

Multi Channel Network CEO Anthony Fitzgerald has questioned whether the continued rise in the cost of sports broadcasting rights is viable for both TV networks and advertisers. Telstra’s MD of media and marketing, Joe Pollard has expressed similar sentiments, saying the telco will not overpay for sports rights. The Australian Football League is believed to be seeking about $A1.75m for its next rights deal, compared with $A1.25bn for the current deal.

CORPORATES
MULTI CHANNEL NETWORK PTY LTD, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, SKY PLC, BT PLC, PREMIER LEAGUE