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Seven banks on AFL rights: ‘We have a very strong relationship’

Mark Di Stefano and Patrick Durkin

Aug 16, 2022 – 12.50pm

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Seven West Media chief executive James Warburton says he is confident of retaining the rights to broadcast the AFL from 2025, despite a bidding war with Channel 10 and Paramount and Nine Entertainment.

But another source close to the negotiations brushed off reports that Channel 10 and Paramount had submitted a low ball offer and said the AFL is on track for a “strong result” and was in “no rush” to finalise the deal, as it pushes to reach a record $600 million a year benchmark.

Mark Di Stefano is Rear Window columnist, based in the Sydney newsroom. He previously worked at BuzzFeed, the Financial Times and The Information before joining the Financial Review as a media and tech correspondent.

Patrick Durkin is Melbourne bureau chief and BOSS deputy editor. He writes on news, business and leadership.