Channel 10 swoops on popular Francesca Cumani in mega deal

Fresh from its staggering $100 million outlay for the Melbourne Cup rights late last year, Channel 10 has swooped on Francesca Cumani and poached her from Channel 7 in a mega deal that will see her earning $31,250 per hour of work.

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Fresh from its staggering $100 million outlay for the Melbourne Cup rights late last year, Channel 10 has swooped on Francesca Cumani and poached her from Channel 7.

In a deal believed to be worth just over $5 million for Cumani over five years, the racing glamour girl will front the annual Melbourne Cup Carnival coverage until 2023.

That amounts to one of the most lucrative gigs in television, given it entails just 20 days work all up as Ten only owns the rights to four days worth of racing per year.

In simpler terms, Cumani stands to earn about $250,000 per day of work over five years.

Or $31,250 per hour. Nice work if you can get it.

Racing commentator Francesca Cumani has been poached by Channel 10 in a $5 million deal. Picture: Nigel Wright

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It should, however, be noted that Cumani also contributes to ITV’s racing coverage in the UK.

Not surprisingly the popular racing commentator, who has risen to be one of the most recognisable faces in Aussie racing circles, is thrilled with her new gig.

“When the Melbourne Cup moved homes I was hopeful I could go with it because I could not imagine it not being part of my year and I am really, really thrilled to be part of it with Channel 10,” Cumani said of the move.

“I would have been so miserable watching from afar.”

Cumani said her deal was “for now” racing specific.

The popular woman will only be working 20 days in those five years. Picture: AAP Image/John Gass

“Channel 10 have got the Melbourne Cup for the next five years and hopefully they will want me for entire duration,” she said.

“You never know what is going to happen in the future, so we will see.”

Sources say Seven is mightily miffed that it has lost Cumani and is now scrambling to find a suitably knowledgeable replacement alongside Bruce McAvaney to help front its extensive racing coverage throughout the spring and autumn carnivals.

“It’s a huge loss for them because Francesca isn’t just a pretty face … she really knows her stuff. And there’s no one else that’s as good as her at what she does,” an insider said.

However, another rival network source has taken a jab at Ten, saying the massive, multimillion-dollar Melbourne Cup deal was a “waste of money”.

“Four days of non-prime time TV per year,” the source sniffed.

“Seven paid a fraction of what they paid. Which is why they let it go.”

Originally published as Channel 10 swoops on popular Francesca Cumani in mega deal