February
The Australian at the heart of Saudi’s billion-dollar push to dominate global sport
Danny Townsend ran Sydney FC and then the A-League. Now he’s in the box seat to observe Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to dominate world sport. Will his gamble pay off?
Seven West says advertising dollars returning amid streaming surge
Investors shrug off poor profit update after bullish comments from the Stokes-controlled group’s chief executive, sending Seven and Nine shares soaring.
Wallabies stand to bank millions under new TV bonus linked to wins
Nine is in the final stages of securing a new five-year deal to broadcast rugby union worth more than $210 million that pays up if the Wallabies can turn their form around.
January
Foxtel’s new owner Len Blavatnik makes a $10b bet on big sport
The Soviet Union-born businessman made his first billion in the oil industry before reinventing himself as a music mogul. Can he pull off his third act?
Netflix refines its sports plan as Jake Paul helps wow investors
The streaming service says acquiring the rights to stream full seasons of sport makes no economic sense, despite success with the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson boxing match.
Foxtel’s $3.4b sale a bet on a billionaire, not a deal of the decade
There’s much more to the pay TV and streaming provider’s ownership change than the headline price. Now Saudi Arabia is involved.
Saudi Arabia nears deal to take big stake in Foxtel’s new owner DAZN
The investment would value the British sports streaming business, in which News Corp will have a six per cent holding, at more than $16 billion.
December 2024
Ten writes TV licence values to zero as losses balloon to $322m
But the broadcaster, now owned by Paramount Global, said it was optimistic about the future as it repositioned itself for a world where streaming dominates.
November 2024
V8 Supercars taps advisers for $200m-plus TV deal
Sources with direct knowledge of the negotiations said the motor racing organisation has already met with Nine and incumbents Seven and Foxtel about a new deal.
September 2024
Why Rich Lister Bruce Gordon is suing the TVSN shopping channel
WIN claims TVSN breached its contract by refusing to meet – all while it was quietly striking a new deal with the Seven Network behind WIN’s back.
August 2024
Ban all gambling ads and let the kids play the game, not the odds
Kids appear to know as much about multi bets as they do about the players they are watching.
July 2024
Streaming, catch-up services on verge of eclipsing TV advertising
Revenue growth has slowed significantly across the media and entertainment sector – particularly in news – a widely followed annual PwC survey has found.
May 2024
Labor’s controversial sports broadcast plans heading for Senate fracas
The government’s proposal, which would allow big streamers like Netflix to bid against free, local platforms, is “un-Australian”, according to the Greens.
ARN throws a Hail Mary to revive collapsed radio merger
Takeover target SCA gave a dim view of the revised plan, which doesn’t include private equity firm Anchorage Capital.
New laws risk the end of free sports on TV
The government has one chance of modernising how broadcast rights are organised. Otherwise, iconic sporting events will be harder to find.
April 2024
Foxtel faces its streaming apocalypse
Once the country’s most profitable media group, Foxtel is losing subscribers and is facing a mega-sports rights bill. Will it make it through?
December 2023
Amazon snaps up rights to cricket World Cups until 2027
The deal means major tournaments including the T20 World Cups – previously aired by Foxtel, Nine and Seven West – will instead be consolidated at Prime Video.
October 2023
England wants $50m for next two Ashes series
Seven may be out of the race to secure the rights to the English Ashes series, informing top executives it could not meet its financial expectations.
Matildas success prompts World Cup rights deal
The FIFA Women’s World Cup was a major success for Football Australia. Now, they’re betting on the Matildas to generate a record broadcast deal.
British cricket execs hosted at AFL, NRL as Ashes talks heat up
Seated among the thousands of fans at the NRL and AFL grand finals were two unlikely attendees: two English executives in charge of brokering a new Ashes deal.