At a time "when sports broadcast rights are booming across the world," Channel Seven CEO Tim Worner has declared his network will make a "sensible" decision when it comes to reapplying for the Australian Football League rights, according to Pierik & Heffernan of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Seven, Foxtel/Fox Sports and Telstra are the current rights-holders in the five-year, A$1.25B ($1B) deal, "with negotiations set to formally begin within weeks for a new contract," starting in '17. This deal "could be for as long as a decade." Ten and Nine "have already expressed interest in bidding, while the league could yet produce a game of its own per week via its website and available on hand-held devices." Bidding "is set to start" at about A$1.5B. CCZ Stratton Equities research analyst Roger Colman said that "he had not ruled out a new broadcasting deal" reaching A$2B but said it was more likely to fall short. While live sport, in particular the AFL, has become a key plank of Seven's offerings, Worner said that "his network would take a pragmatic approach during negotiations." Worner: "There's no 'whatever it takes,' you know. There are sensible decisions, and we'll be making a sensible decision." Official discussions "will begin when tender documents are distributed to networks." AFL chiefs "hope to have a deal struck by midway through next year." Nine's ability to seriously bid could be impacted by its National Rugby League commitments, "while Ten's chief Hamish McLennan has said his network is interested depending on what was available." The AFL "could also look to do a deal with the Apple TV network, while Google and YouTube could also emerge in discussions over the digital rights" (SMH, 11/4).
