Channel Ten Is 'Under Pressure' To Get TV Rights To One Of The Key Sports

Channel Ten faces pressure "to get a big sporting code over the line in the next year" or face seeing its share of the $2.9B TV ad market and audiences remain static, according to Julian Lee of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Nine and Fox Sport's $1B bid for the TV rights to the rugby league "has ratcheted up the pressure" on Ten to acquire the rights to one of the four key sports up for renegotiation in the next year. Commonwealth Bank Media Analyst Alice Bennett said, "Missing out on the NRL deal is negative for Ten, given our view that premium sport is crucial if Ten is to return to a 28%-plus revenue share." In the next 12 months, rights to cricket, football, V8 Supercars and possibly tennis "are all up for grabs" (SMH, 7/28).