Play is "well under way" in the next round of TV sports broadcast rights negotiations in Australia, with cricket, tennis, football and V8 Supercars all in play, according to Sally Jackson of THE AUSTRALIAN. The new deals signed by the Australian Football League and National Rugby League over the past 18 months have "lifted price expectations sky high." The last time the Nine Network sat down to negotiate with Cricket Australia, seven years ago, the cricket TV rights went for an estimated A$320M. That contract expires at the end of March, and if Nine fails to strike a new one by the end of December, rivals Seven and Ten "will be free to sit at the table." Meanwhile, Ten and Nine are reported to have signaled their interest in the rights to the V8 Supercars, with Seven's current six-year deal coming to a close at the end of this year. There has been speculation the V8 outfit would like to double its previous agreement. The V8s are "reportedly aiming in the region" of A$350M ($362.7M) for their next deal. Another hot property is tennis rights, which include the Australian Open and the Davis Cup. Seven has them until '14 and is believed to be "determined to retain them." It is believed Tennis Australia will be "looking for at least a 25% increase" on the A$100M Seven is estimated to have paid for its current five-year deal (THE AUSTRALIAN, 10/29).
