Australian commercial broadcaster Ten has not held any discussions with pay-television broadcaster Foxtel with regard to sublicensing rights to the Australian Football League Aussie rules tournament.
Under a six-year rights deal beginning in 2017 Foxtel has the right to sell on one Saturday afternoon match per round to a free-to-air broadcaster.
Earlier this month, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission approved Foxtel’s deal to acquire a 15-per-cent stake in Ten.
Ten chief executive Paul Anderson to NT News: “We're open to having discussions on any sports rights. What we want is sports rights that give us a franchise, and a game just by itself is more problematic than having a franchise that gives you finals and gives you the ability to cross sell and integrate across the whole year.”
Anderson added: “Having a game of AFL does have advantages but clearly that comes at what price you pay for it.”