Ten rebuffs SCA TV assets
Ten Network has ruled out a deal to acquire the TV assets from Southern Cross Media Group, which provides TV broadcasts to 30 regional areas mostly across the eastern seaboard.
The Australian reports that Ten's chairman David Gordon has ruled out any offer to buy Southern Cross TV stations.
Regional broadcasters are under increasing pressure from the streaming services offered by metropolitan networks and offshore players such as Netflix. WIN has taken Nine to court in a bid to geo-block Nine streaming into WIN broadcast areas.
WIN plans talks with Ten
WIN will commence talks over an affiliation agreement with Ten when the current content supply deal between Ten and Southern Cross Media expires, The Australian reports.
Ten's agreement with Southern Cross is due to expire at the end of June - the same time Nine's agreement with WIN expires.
WIN owner Bruce Gordon is the largest shareholder in both of the metropolitan networks.
Fifield hints at redundant rules
Although anti-siphoning rules will not be addressed in the current media reforms package, communications minister Mitch Fifield says online streaming has made the list less relevant.
The anti-siphoning list allows free-to-air broadcasters first refusal on major sports events and Fox Sports has argued the list needs to be reduced, particularly for international events.
The Australian reports that Fifield believes online streaming has made some aspects of the rules redundant.
FFA to open A-League talks in April
Football Federation of Australia will open talks over the broadcast rights for the A-League with Ten and Nine said to be among the interested parties.
The current $40 million per season four-year deal expires mid-2017, with Fox sports showing all live games and SBS showing one game per week on Friday night.
Ten has previously expressed an interest in the A-League and it is understood Nine could also sit down with football chiefs, who expect the value of rights could increase into the range of $60 million to $80 million per season.
Recently, Caltex signed a naming rights deal for the national men's team and it is hoped the Matildas recent success in qualifying for the Rio Olympic Games could attract more commercial interest in the women's game.
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