V8s tight lipped on future TV coverage

[adrenalinmatt1]

V8 Supercars officials are tight lipped on how the sport’s TV coverage could change as a result of the new AFL TV rights deal announced today.

The AFL confirmed on Thursday afternoon its TV deal for 2012–2016 with the Seven Network (free-to-air), Foxtel and Austar (subscription TV) and Telstra (online) winning the rights.

The AFL’s new deal is by far the biggest sports television rights deal in Australian history, with the five year arrangement worth $1.235 billion – $1.18 billion of which is cash, the remaining amount advertising contra.

“It’s not for us to comment on the television arrangements of another sport,” V8 Supercars CEO Martin Whitaker told Speedcafe.com.

“At this point it is far too early to say how the AFL’s new TV deal will impact V8 Supercars. The full machinations of that deal are yet to take shape.”

While Seven has taken direct ownership of four games each weekend, network boss David Leckie did not rule out on-selling at least one game per round to either the Nine or Ten networks. The previous deal was a joint-arrangement between Seven and Ten, who claimed two games each.

Seven’s AFL coverage, which will be spread across the primary Seven channel as well as 7mate, could mean less room for V8 Supercars in 2012, when the final year of the current V8 television contract coincides with the first year of the AFL’s new super-deal.

Then in 2013 it remains to be seen whether Seven will show interest in renewing its deal with V8 Supercars, or whether a rival network will bid for the rights.

Speedcafe.com understands that there is genuine interest in the next V8 Supercars television rights deal amongst the other networks.

If Seven is to on-sell one game, it will likely be either the Saturday or Sunday afternoon match, which would leave at least one afternoon a weekend open to V8 telecasts on Seven.

With anti-siphoning laws relaxed this year by the Federal Govermnent, any race other than the Bathurst 1000 could be moved to either of Seven’s digital channels, 7TWO or 7mate.

[bpratt]

I reckon with all the money spent on the AFL deal, you can pretty much guarantee  that there will be very little v8's on the main channel, and there will be some severe delays in the telecasts.

I think we might start to see telecasts the way those in SA and WA were getting them a few years ago, with 10pm and later telecasts on the Sunday night, if not later.


I can not see 7 after spending all that money on the rights, let anything get in the way of the AFL.

[chief350]

channel  was the death of touring cars in the late 80's. with a highlights type package coverage of races,which was slowly whittled down from 3 hrs to 1 hr of racing on the sunday only. usually from 12 til 1pm e.s.t.  one can only hope that history will not repeat itself.

Alto with the resurection of the catagory and the current fan base and the managment team behind it all i cant see the demise of live tv coverrage stopping any time soon.

just whatever happens dont let darryl eastlake comentate!!!

[Muzza]

just whatever happens dont let darryl eastlake comentate!!!

  Fark every little push and shove was the biggest crash he had ever seen, i have been waiting for them to wheel our Mike Raymond and the red jackets???

[POWERZONE]

You don't have much choice other than 7 really (or ABC)...

Ten was OK except at Bathurst where the coverage had to end at 5pm and every time 9 did the touring cars they kept crossing over to Tappy during the race for a whole bunch of horseshit 

The coverage we get from 7 is at least better than it was in the 80's...

[adrenalinmatt1]

You don't have much choice other than 7 really (or ABC)...

Ten was OK except at Bathurst where the coverage had to end at 5pm and every time 9 did the touring cars they kept crossing over to Tappy during the race for a whole bunch of horseshit 

The coverage we get from 7 is at least better than it was in the 80's...

I Am sure if that happen today, they would switch over to ONE HD Or hold of the news till 6pm.. As they sometimes do with AFL On Ten...

Also at least we will not have to put up with Matt White this weekend!   

[bpratt]

channel  was the death of touring cars in the late 80's. with a highlights type package coverage of races,which was slowly whittled down from 3 hrs to 1 hr of racing on the sunday only. usually from 12 til 1pm e.s.t.  one can only hope that history will not repeat itself.

Alto with the resurection of the catagory and the current fan base and the managment team behind it all i cant see the demise of live tv coverrage stopping any time soon.

just whatever happens dont let darryl eastlake comentate!!!

You're not wrong there, they kept on cutting down the telecast length to suit their own purposes, and some states had to wait up until well after the Sunday night movies for a 'sliced and diced' version of that weekends motorsport.

That certainly won't happen overnight, and it probably won't get down to that same level, particulary as ONE HD  have admitted hat their F1 coverage is one of the highest rating programs on its schedule !


If Eastlake comes back on the air to do the commentary, I will run not walk, away from it. I know they are all supposed to make the commentary interesting, but he just simply went over the top for such minor things, but I think we should be safe from that crap, as the bloke is around retirement age for that job.

[bpratt]

I Am sure if that happen today, they would switch over to ONE HD Or hold of the news till 6pm.. As they sometimes do with AFL On Ten...

Also at least we will not have to put up with Matt White this weekend!   

Yep, as they have done with other GP's, they simply move it across to to ONE HD at news time.


If only we could have Royal Weddings ever V8 race weekend, we'd be more than happy.