Timeline of VFL/AFL Broadcast Rights

Timeline of AFL Broadcast Rights

• 1960 – the VFL rejects an offer of 14,000 pounds to broadcast the last quarter and replays
• 1971 – Ch2 and Ch7 pay $200,000 a year for 5 years ($1 million) to 1975 (replays)
•  1976 – Ch2 and Ch7 pay $600,000 a year for 5 years (3 million) to 1980 (replays)
•  1977 – Ch7 pays $200,000 to broadcast the night series 1977 – First live grand final broadcast, Ch7 pays $100,000 for that and again for the following grand final
• 1982 – Vic government bans the playing of VFL on Sunday
• 1985 – Ch7 pay 3.5 million for 1986 tv rights
• 1986 – Ch7 offer 2.7 million for 1987 season, offer rejected by the VFL
• 1986 – Broadcoms offer is accepted after exceeding the 1985 amount, rights onsold to ABC for 1.5 million
• 1986 – Ch7 rating plummet, offers broadcom 9 million to win rights back
• 1987 – Ch7 pays $6 million a year ($30 million) for 5 years from 1988 – 1992
• 1992 – Ch7 pays $17 million a year for 1993 – 1998 (100 million)
• 1998 – Ch7 Pays $40 million a year for rights to 2001
• 2001 – Fox, Ch9 and Ch10 pays $500 million for rights for 5 years from 2002-2006, Radio nets the AFl 2 million
• 2006 – Ch7, Ch10 and Foxtel bid $750 million for 5 years from 2007-2011, Radio nets the AFl 8 million
• 2011 – Ch7, Foxtel and Telstra bid 1.25 billion for 5 years to 2017. Radio fetches 23.2 million
• 2016 – Ch7. Foxtel and Telstra bid 2.5 billion for 6 years to 2022.
• 2020 – As a result of COVID the 2020-21-22 seasons are discounted for 7 and Fox. Exact amounts of these discounts are unknown.
• 2020 – Ch7, Foxtel and Telstra announce a $946m 2 year extension for 2023-24.
• 2022 – Ch7, Foxtel and Telstra announce a $4.5b, 7 year deal from 2025-2031 inclusive.

References

• A National Game
• The Economic Development of the VFL 1960-1984
• Sport Funding and Finance