AFL set to announce bumper TV deal
The AFL could confirm a new monster TV rights deal worth around $2 billion as early as Tuesday.
Channel Seven and Foxtel appear set to stay the league’s broadcasters in a deal that might run for six years.
Under the new deal, the grand final will probably remain a day game despite a long-running push from broadcasters for it to be played at night.
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The AFL’s new deal will start in 2017 and run for at least five years.
The league struck the current five-year, $1.25 billion agreement less than a year before it started in 2012.
The new agreement comes a week after the NRL confirmed a new four-year agreement with the Nine Network.
The rugby league deal has accelerated negotiations for the AFL rights.
Nine’s $925 million deal with the NRL will involve four free-to-air games per week.
The NRL hopes its total broadcast rights deal will be worth around $1.7 billion once a pay TV deal is reached.
-AAP