Bazball Ashes coverage could be a big headache for Channel Seven

breaking point

Ashes aside, this week may be the moment when the sports broadcasting economy reaches its breaking point.

On Wednesday this imprint reported that Foxtel’s new owner DAZN could consider a formal application to reduce its spending on the AFL deal, worth around $420 million a year until 2031. In a statement, DAZN categorically denied that this was the case.

But the fact remains that the AFL rode a wave of excellent conditions to secure its $4.5 billion, seven-year deal, which distorted the expectations of every other code. At that point, ad revenue was recovering from the pandemic and there was no sign it would fall off the cliff as it has since, making similar contracts completely unaffordable.

Seven had already tried to blow up the cricket contract in 2022. Senior sources with knowledge of the figures say Seven needs to score an average of 29 goals per game to sell enough advertising to break even. This figure was 24.5 in 2025; That makes it no surprise that new rules were introduced this month to encourage more targets next year.

But while Foxtel relied more on subscribers as advertising revenue was the icing on the cake, its executives were angry that they still had to pay as much as they did.

“No one likes to be pushed to their outer limits.” Gil McLachlan I covered this byline for a recent profile Siobhan McKennaThe deal was brokered by Foxtel boss Patrick Delany.

The prospect of selling Foxtel without future AFL rights was a non-starter. Foxtel’s most valuable asset, Kayo, was still in its growth phase, so they had to acquire it no matter the cost.

There is a suggestion in some quarters that DAZN doesn’t care about the rules, citing its approach to codes in France and Belgium (albeit in different cases). Relax Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni InfantinoTwo names that you are unlikely to find next to them in the dictionary integrityHe suggests there may be some truth to this. However, Foxtel is a reliable partner in Australia.

While DAZN going nuclear in the AFL is unlikely, it could disrupt the entire market. Even having a cranky partner is bad news for the league. Sports contracts often include a “change of control” provision that allows both parties to step back and re-evaluate the deal if the broadcaster has new owners. It is not known whether the AFL agreement includes this provision.

But the biggest loser here may be rugby league, which, unlike the AFL, has no guaranteed broadcast revenue after 2027. Competition increasingly seems to have missed the top of the market. Foxtel needs both codes to survive, but the number of potential subscribers is limited.

If Peter V’Landys He has set the AFL’s deal as the benchmark for the NRL, there’s a snowball chance of DAZN giving him something close to that. In 2022 V’Landys said: reporter: “If Foxtel coughs, all codes catch cold.” Well, we can see this play out.

Rainy, probably…

Makeup artist and influencer Mia Fevola In another twist in the long-running ratings war with Nine, he has officially signed a comfortable new gig on the Seven Network, In the Background can reveal.

Daughter of former AFL player and Fox FM breakfast presenter Brendan FevolaMia has become something of a social media star. His arrival at Seven was rumored at the new Docklands digs in the city’s south end, but on Thursday his name appeared as a “Presenter” in the company’s internal systems, reporting directly to the Melbourne news boss. Chris Salter. Fevola is said to be available to present the weather report at weekends, but Seven said he joined on a temporary basis while his role has not yet been determined.

Fevola in form with Seven Dancing with the Stars earlier this year. At 25 and with no TV experience, could this be the edge Seven needs in Melbourne next year after beating Nine in 2025?

hysterical for Hanson

Sky News has gone absolutely crazy Pauline HansonThat’s thanks not just to One Nation’s soaring poll results, but also to her second burqa display in the Senate on Monday.

Mocked as usual After Dark Those who emerged during the election preparations, Peter Dutton He was showing off his rookie numbers compared to the One Nation leader. He was a guest on Sky’s program After Dark programs on six of the last nine nights, including each show, excluding Credlin, He made up for this by hosting the chief of staff, James AshbyOn Monday.

The adulation could barely be contained when introduced by. Paul Murray A “rock star” last week, he shamelessly told himself and viewers that polling was a “baffler” on the next election. Talk about unbiased news coverage!

Pauline took a night off on Thursday and let someone else do the talking. Barnaby JoyceHe is alleged to be the party’s future Senate candidate.

‘No photo’ zone violation

Last week we informed you about Sky’s “photo-free” facility at News Corp Headquarters in Sydney’s Surry Hills. In the Background It is said that some News staffers have already received slaps on the wrist for trying to take a few cheeky photos.

However In the Background Spies have provided footage from inside the bunker as construction continues on the studios, just days before the official move.

In fact, it turns into one big, happy family. Australian boss this week Michael Miller He informed the soldiers that they will have new cellmates when the company’s content houses Medium Rare, Storyation and Visual Domain also move to Holt Street next year.

Add to this the fact that Sky and News Corp are hosting joint Christmas parties at their local offices for the first time this year. Thanks to the antics of a select few in recent years, the days of getting the boss’s black card cleared at Sydney’s Marble Bar are long gone.

Miller’s email confirmation this week was the icing on the cake.

“Coming together is a beginning, standing together is progress, and working together is success.” -Henry Ford.