Kerry Stokes' Seven Network has "shelled out" about A$40M ($37M) for the exclusive media rights to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in '18, according to John Lehmann of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. The deal "continues Seven's sport rights spree," following its A$170M acquisition of three Olympics starting with the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. Under the deal, which "includes all digital rights," Seven will pay about A$10M more than the A$30M Network Ten "forked out for the recent Glasgow Games." Nine paid about A$50M for the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in '06. Seven is focused on "winning the rights to more live sports and showed with its recent acquisition" of the NFL that it believes there "is value in niche sports" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 8/19). In Sydney, Darren Davidson reported execs at Seven "are confident the Gold Coast deal represents great value because the network has paid less" than what Nine paid for Melbourne 2006, "and includes all media rights." Seven West Media CEO Tim Worner said that "home soil sports events guarantee big ratings, and pointed to the bumper audiences pulled in by Sydney 2000, and Melbourne in 2006." Worner: "Australians love watching Australians win and nothing rates like a Games on home soil." Seven is planning to extend the main broadcast "beyond the primary channel to its two digital multichannels, and soon to be launched broadband powered television platform HbbTV" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 8/19).
