0
THE AFL has confirmed a $1.253 billion TV rights deal for the next five years, which will see all AFL games shown live.
Channel 7 and pay-TV giant Foxtel have secured the AFL's broadcast contracts, with the online rights going to Telstra.
The free-to-air network will have a minimum of four games per round, while Foxtel will show all nine games live, every week.
Friday night football, as well as Saturday night and Sunday afternoon footy will all be shown live on free-to-air.
Only the Saturday afternoon game will be subject to delayed coverage on free-to-air.
All finals will be broadcast live on free-to-air TV in all parts of Australia.
What do you think of the new deal? Tell us below
"The overwhelming guiding principle of these negotiations was to deliver our supporters a better TV deal wherever they are around Australia," said AFL Commision Chairman Mike Fitzpatrick.
"This is a great deal for football and a great deal for all of the football industry which has contributed to the growth of the game.
"Most importantly this is a great deal for football supporters who remain the heart and soul of our game."
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou spelled out the new arrangements for free-to-air coverage across the country.
"Channel Seven will broadcast a minimum of four games per weekend in a standard round," he said.
"In NSW, the ACT and Queensland, there will be four games of live football on free to air every week. In these markets, all four games will be broadcast on 7Mate, creating a free to air AFL destination supported by strong cross promotion support on the Seven primary channel.
"In Victoria, Friday night football will now be live, with a reduced delay to be near live at 30 minutes in South Australia and a reduced delay in WA for Friday night games.
"In Victoria, Saturday night football and Sunday afternoon football will be live on free to air, with only the Saturday afternoon game on delay. In SA and WA, the majority of Saturday night and Sunday games will be live.
"This represents an outstanding result for our fans across the country, with more live football on free to air television than ever before."
Foxtel will provide a dedicated footy channel, to be called Fox Sports AFL.
The Herald Sun also understands Foxtel will show the Brownlow Medal live, simultaneously with Channel 7.
Seven and Ten were expected to bid together, but fell out in recent weeks over money and a court dispute involving defecting Seven executive James Warburton.
Channel 9 has emerged as a possible home for Saturday or Sunday afternoon football should Seven opt not to broadcast all four of its free-to-air matches.
The windfall will trigger a push by the game's 800 players for a bumper pay rise in their Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations.
Players have told the AFL they want a fixed 27 per cent cut of all future revenues, which, on last year's figures, equates to $220 million.
http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl...-1226045868122