AFL 2021: TV rights deal extended as Foxtel and AFL reach new agreement

The AFL has extended its TV rights deal with Foxtel as Gillon McLachlan reveals when we’ll get a decision on a night Grand Final.

The AFL has extended its broadcast rights deal with pay-TV giant Foxtel until the end of 2024.

In a pre-Christmas win for league boss Gillon McLachlan, both Foxtel and digital rights holder Telstra have signed on for two extra seasons.

Free-to-air provider Channel 7 extended its own deal with the AFL for the same period in June as part of revised arrangements struck with the competition’s broadcast partners during the COVID-19 shutdown.

But the AFL said the total value of its new two-year deals with Foxtel, Seven and Telstra was $946 million.

Kayo is your ticket to the best sport streaming Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

Gillon McLachlan said a decision on a night Grand Final would likely be made by April. Picture: AFL Photos

Foxtel, which pays the lion’s share of the game’s TV money, will continue to air all nine home-and-away matches live each week on its Fox Footy channel and Kayo streaming service.

Seven maintains exclusive access to the AFL Grand Final, while Telstra revealed it had plans to improve the digital experience for fans at Marvel Stadium.

McLachlan said the extended TV deals gave the industry greater financial certainty following a season hammered by the COVID crisis.

“This is a massive vote of confidence in our game,” McLachlan said.

Asked about when the AFL would make a decision on the start time for the 2021 Grand Final after this year’s historic night decider, McLachlan said: “We are going through a thorough review of the Gabba night Grand Final. We are talking and liaising with our research department and speaking with our clubs and footy departments and players and everyone involved.

“We are aiming for that report to be finalised in March, which means the decision will probably be made in April.”

McLachlan said he had been a supporter of a day Grand Final but was “open” to a night match and would await the findings of the report.

“It was an incredible experience at the Gabba for those of us who were fortunate enough to be there, and so I think my decision will be better informed and my view of the commission’s decision will be better informed by a proper engagement process that we are going through with all industry figures and supporters,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to seeing where that goes.”

McLachlan said Foxtel would also telecast all AFLW games live during the home and away season.

Foxtel Group CEO Patrick Delany said: “This extension to our long-term relationship with the AFL confirms the Foxtel Group as the go-to destination for footy fans with every game of every round live and ad-free during play.”