Network Ten, along with streaming partner, Paramount Plus are reportedly making a joint bid for the entire Australian Football League (AFL) broadcast package, starting in 2025.
The bid will see the nine games per round split between streaming and free-to-air broadcasts, with sources telling The Age that both parties will present to AFL chief executive officer, Gillon McLachlan and his two senior offsiders, Travis Auld and Andrew Dillon, in New York within the next few days.
The deal will also include the AFLW, with more games being broadcast on free-to-air, while also creating the possibility to double-up games on Ten Bold.
Additionally, Ten’s co-chief executives, Beverley McGarvey and Jarrod Villani, have also travelled to New York for the presentation, which will involve meeting the Paramount Plus executives.
Industry sources have said Paramount Plus would work as the subscription service, much like Foxtel, and would have the lion’s share of games each round, with Ten broadcasting three games a week.
It’s also said Paramount Plus will cover most of the costs, with the streaming platform charging AU$8.99 a month, they will also use CBS as a major selling point in the bid, with the major network already holding the broadcasting rights to the National Football League (NFL) and the Emirates FA Cup.
The news comes after Catapult CEO, Will Lopes, broke down their partnership with the AFL.
