Rob’s bits ‘n’ bobs is back to look at the cricket broadcast deal, changes for Weekend Today and fitness videos for Netflix.
The real reason 10 didn’t win the cricket broadcasting rights
It’s been fascinating to watch the latest round of cricket rights play out.
As we reported earlier this week, Seven and Foxtel have reached an agreement with Cricket Australia to extend the media rights from the 2024-25 season to the 2030-31 season.
It was no surprise to anyone who had been following this story as 10 had taken a battering in the press over their bid of a reported $1.5b.
Reports in the News Corp mastheads revealed Cricket Australia did not have faith in 10 to deliver audience growth and production values.
But that was all a furphy.
10 had already proven itself as a broadcast partner when they had the Big Bash League. Their coverage was innovative and audiences loved it.
And here’s the other key point. It doesn’t actually matter who has the rights when it comes to the coverage. That’s because most of the production is outsourced.
Crew working for Nine easily transfer over to Seven or 10 and do the same job, no matter who the broadcaster is.
No, the real story here is Cricket Australia’s desire to keep Foxtel part of the mix.
Sources at 10 reveal the network stopped actively pursuing the rights in early December when it became apparent CA was not open to allowing 10/Paramount to buy free-to-air rights AND streaming rights.
That’s because CA was determined to keep Fox Sports as a broadcast partner.
With a fractured relationship with Seven, CA approached Nine to team up with the News Corp owned Fox Sports.
But Nine was having none of it.
While the network was open to becoming a broadcast partner at the right price, its priority is tennis and Olympics.
I’m told CA even tried to get 10 to team up with Fox Sports in a desperate attempt to avoid signing a deal with Seven.
10 made it clear it would not partner with anyone else. That’s because sources tell me crickets rights are a loss leader for FTA coverage to the tune of tens-of-millions of dollars.
Seven, to its credit, has played hardball with CA and come out with a deal that suits them.
The question remains as to why Cricket Australia refused to consider a scenario that did not include News Corp.
Changes coming to WEEKEND TODAY
Some big decisions are set to be made next week when executives at Nine return to the office.
After tapping Ally Langdon on the shoulder to host A Current Affair and replacing her on the Today show with Sarah Abo, decisions are yet to be made regarding the weekend version of the Today show.
Towards the end of last year Charles Croucher moved to Canberra to become Nine’s Chief Political Editor, leaving an empty chair as the host of Weekend Today.
Previously, I spoke about Nine’s finance reporter Chris Kohler impressing executives when he filled in over Summer.
Sources tell me he is the hot favourite to be announced as the new co-host.
Questions remain about other on-air changes though.
Some big decision to be made in the coming weeks.
Get fit watching Netflix
TV addicts like myself are often criticised for being lounge-lizzards and sitting on the couch watching hours of TV.
But it looks like Netflix could soon be changing all that with the inclusion of fitness videos on its platform.
Puck News is reporting we’re likely to be offered exercise options as the streaming giant pivots to a lifestyle brand.
The website reports Nike videos have already appeared on the US platform (I haven’t seen them in Australia) so get ready to get up off the couch and work out in your Jane Fonda lycra!
Where to find Rob this week
- Friday night I’ll be on 2GB/4BC talking TV on Nights @ 9pm (NSW) and 8pm (QLD)
- Sunday from 5am – 8am I’ll be co-hosting WEEKEND BREAKFAST on 4BC with Olympia Kwitowski
- Tuesday & Thursday I’ll talk entertainment on AFTERNOONS WITH GREG CARY @ 2.45pm on 4BC
The problem is that Channel 10 had missed out on its bid for major sporting rights – the AFL (2015 and 2022), the NRL (2012 and 2015), the Cricket (2013 [Ironically, TEN had the Big Bash] and 2022).
So the main question is What happens with Channel 10 right now? Network Ten’s big problem is that they don’t have major sports, a very weak News/Current Affairs portfolio, very weak morning and Saturday lineup and some primetime programs which fail to outrate the ABC. Unfortunately, Channel 10 has never returned to a competitive network.
The question remains as to why Cricket Australia refused to consider a scenario that did not include News Corp….because of the decision makers on the CA board who also have News Corp interests.
I agree the ACB have acted Disgracefully over this whole dirty episode.
And must come clean and explain to the Australian sporting public the real reason it shafted Ten.