Ten pulls out of AFL TV negotiations

Posted June 23, 2011 18:26:00

The Seven Network say they have no problems televising four AFL games per round for the next five years, after the Ten Network pulled out of the running.

Seven earlier this year bought the rights to broadcast four matches as part of the AFL's $1.253 billion rights deal, under which Foxtel will show all nine matches live.

Seven had been in negotiations with Ten to on-sell two of their four games, but Ten have now decided not to buy them.

That leaves Seven to show all four matches - on Friday night, Saturday afternoon, Saturday night and Sunday afternoon - unless they can now broker a deal to on-sell one or more to the Nine Network.

Under Seven's deal, the four games will be screened on their secondary channel, Seven Mate, in NSW and Queensland.

Seven currently only screen two games per round, on Friday nights and Sundays, with the remaining matches split between Ten and Foxtel.

But Seven Melbourne general manager Lewis Martin said they were happy to double their AFL schedule.

"We are excited about the prospect of carrying all the AFL games for which we bid," Martin said in a statement.

"But we wish to acknowledge that Channel Ten has been a terrific AFL broadcast partner for the past five years, and their commitment to the game over the past decade.

"We understand and empathise with how difficult these decisions can be.

"That said, we have planned to broadcast all four games every weekend from next year, plus finals, the grand final and the Brownlow Medal and we look forward to becoming the sole free-to-air destination for AFL."

Ten's head of sport David Barham said it was sad news for those who had been involved in the network's AFL team.

"It's just a pure business decision," he said.

Barham declined to comment on whether not having AFL commitments would increase Ten's chances of securing the right to broadcast NRL games.

-AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia

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Ablett pulls out of Demons clash

Updated April 16, 2011 13:23:00

Gold Coast's hopes of upsetting inconsistent Melbourne at the Gabba on Sunday have suffered a major setback with skipper Gary Ablett withdrawing because of a calf injury.

Gold Coast assistant coach Shane O'Bree confirmed Ablett would not line up against the Demons, robbing the Suns of their gun midfielder and also their third senior recruit.

Key defender Campbell Brown will miss a month because of suspension and free-running backman Nathan Krakouer was demoted.

Ablett's replacement will not be named until the official team sheet handover before Sunday's clash.

Who gets the call-up will depend on weather conditions.

Waiting in the wings for the tap on the shoulder are first-year trio Alik Magin, Hayden Jolly and Jack Hutchins.

The Suns' admission that Ablett will not play comes after the club's football manager Marcus Ashcroft allayed any injury fears and declared the Brownlow medallist would be "OK" on Wednesday.

"He has no real issues," Ashcroft told the media after Ablett failed to train with the main squad.

Suns' project player Karmichael Hunt may be one of several defenders saddled with minding Melbourne's exciting forward Liam Jurrah, according to the Suns' development coach Anthony Lovell.

Lovell said Hunt and fellow inexperienced defenders Josh Toy and Seb Tape were all likely to be on a rotation system to eyeball the spring-heeled Demon in the absence of suspended centre-half back Brown.

He said if Jurrah is firing then Melbourne is at its most dangerous and the Suns cannot afford the dangerous forward any chance to weave his magic.

"We have talked about him a little bit at match committee," Lovell said.

"He's one that clearly is a barometer of how Melbourne is going and if he's going well then usually they are going well.

"We may use a few different players on him.

"Remember our progress is as much about educating the young players as well as getting experience and you have Hunt, Tape and Toy who could all be given the opportunity to play on him."

After heavy losses to Carlton and the Western Bulldogs in their first two matches, Gold Coast appeared more suited, at least in the midfield, to matching it with Melbourne than their previous opponents until Ablett's withdrawal.

The Suns' on-ball brigade will now be led by Michael Rischitelli, Daniel Harris and 2010 number one national draft pick David Swallow.

Lovell said it is one part of the ground the Suns are confident they are of equal or better strength than the Demons.

He said if their on-ball division can generate enough drive, win contested balls and the stoppages, they will increase their inside 50s ratio and put scoreboard pressure on the inconsistent Demons.

"The stoppages will be critical," Lovell said.

"It's the team that wins the contested footy and the stoppages that usually wins.

"It's probably one area on the ground that we do match-up well against them."

The Suns promoted Matt Shaw and Luke Russell for their AFL debuts, while veteran ruckman Josh Fraser and Josh Toy will return to the side.

Melbourne named an unchanged side for Sunday's clash and it took the unusual step of heading to Brisbane a day earlier to allow it two Gabba training sessions instead of one.

- AAP

First posted April 16, 2011 13:18:00

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