The tight contest ensured that the seven-year broadcast deal,easily the largest in Australian history,exceeded even the AFL’s hopes for $600 million per year. The code will receive $642 million a year when the deal commences with the 2025 football season.
“It[AFL] is the No.1 sport in the country,where content is king,” Goyder said.
Foxtel chief executive Patrick Delany attested to how tough the final bidding process was,especially when the final presentations were made last Monday,when the so-called silent auction commenced,pitting the owner of this masthead - Nine Entertainment,Paramount,and Seven West Media/Foxtel,against each other.
“In the last 48 hours,and in particular on Monday with the shoot out,the competition became very intense and cutthroat,” he said.
“It was a matter of putting your best foot forward otherwise,it was time to go home. All bidders took that extremely seriously. And there was very hot competition for the rights.”
Channel Ten and Paramount lobbed a $6 billion offer over 10 years and Paramount Global chief executive,Bob Backish,was part of the team presenting its bid to the AFL executives.