Nine Entertainment "could be the big winner from the financial catastrophe that has gripped the Ten Network," with analysts predicting the "embattled broadcaster could be forced to relinquish control of its Big Bash League rights in cricket," according to Mitchell Bingemann of THE AUSTRALIAN. Ten’s rivals are "likely to circle like sharks for content and sporting rights it might no longer be able to afford." Credit Suisse analyst Fraser McLeish said, "We expect Ten's move into voluntary administration to herald a major shake-up of the Australian free-to-air TV sector." McLeish positioned Nine Entertainment as the "main beneficiary of Ten's financial trouble" as the "under-pressure" network recasts its balance sheet and "moves to a lower cost and lower market share operating model." That could mean "Ten not bidding to renew its BBL rights," due to be renegotiated with Cricket Australia later this year. Nine, which holds rights to int'l cricket Test matches and one-day internationals, "would like to poach the BBL to add to its roster" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 6/16).
SUPERCARS: Supercars CEO James Warburton confirmed that the category will continue to be broadcast on free-to-air TV amid uncertainty over Network Ten’s future. The network's lineup of motorsport content includes Supercars, Formula 1 and MotoGP. Warburton said, "There are strong protections in place to ensure those events remain on free-to-air television. It is business as usual" (Supercars).
