Ten To Bring 2015 Netball World Cup To Viewers In 2015

Network Ten is pleased to announce that it will bring the world’s best netballers into homes across Australia when it broadcasts the Netball World Cup (NWC2015) in Sydney in August 2015. 

In a win for netball fans around the country, Network Ten will broadcast all of the Australian 
Diamonds’ matches on TEN or ONE, with their pool match against the New Zealand Silver Ferns, their 
predicted semi-final clash and potential gold medal match to be shown live on TEN. 

The broadcast deal returns the sport to free-to-air television and reignites a long standing history of 
netball on Network Ten. 

Network Ten Head of Sport, David Barham, said: “We are delighted to have secured the Netball 
World Cup in 2015 to ensure that Australian fans can watch all the action on free-to-air television. 

“This deal further demonstrates Network Ten’s commitment to live sport. The Diamonds are the  defending World Champions and have had a fantastic year against some tough competition. The 
Netball World Cup will make for great television viewing.” 

NWC2015 Chief Executive, Marne Fechner, said the return to Network Ten represents a defining 
moment for the event: “We are thrilled to have the Netball World Cup SYDNEY 2015 broadcast on 
Network Ten. 

“This is a significant moment for this event and for our sport. Network Ten has a long history of 
broadcasting netball and we are excited to work with their expert team over the next eight months to 
build the profile of this once-in-a-generation event. 

“NWC2015 promises to be the most successful Netball World Cup in history, setting new benchmarks 
for international netball, and delivering a strong legacy for our sport.” 

NWC2015 has also announced the nations’ pool positions today with the full competition and 
broadcast schedule to be released in February 2015. 

Held every four years, the Netball World Cup is the pinnacle event for international netball. The 
event, which will see the world’s top 16 netball nations gather in Sydney, runs from August 7 to 16, 
2015. It is the 14th running of the Netball World Cup. 

KFC T20 BBL and WT20 Final Commentary and Schedule - 2014/15 Season

Round 1

Adelaide Strikers V Melbourne Stars @ Adelaide Oval 7.10pm ACST

Commentary team is Mel McLaughlin, Andy Maher, Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting  
Sideline Reporter is Roger Oldridge 

Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE 

Sydney / Melbourne / Brisbane @ 7.30pm LIVE on TEN

Adelaide @ 7pm LIVEon TEN

Perth @ 4.30pm LIVE on ONE and 8.30pm on TEN

Sydney 6ers V Melbourne Renegades @ SCG 7.40pm AEDT
Commentary team is Mel McLaughlin, Mark Howard, Mark Waugh, Damian Fleming and Andrew Flintoff
Sideline Reporter is Adam Hawse 
Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE
Sydney / Melbourne / Brisbane / Adelaide @ 7.30pm on TEN
Perth @ 4.30pm LIVE on ONE and 8.30pm on TEN

Melbourne Stars V Hobart Hurricanes @ MCG 7.10pm AEDT 
Commentary team is Mark Howard, Ricky Ponting and Damian Fleming
Sideline Reporter is Roger Oldridge 
Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE
Sydney / Melbourne @ 7pm LIVE on TEN
Adelaide @ 6.30pm LIVE on TEN
Brisbane @ 6pm LIVEon TEN
Perth @ 4pm LIVE on ONE and 8.30pm on TEN

Sydney Thunder V Brisbane Heat @ ANZ Stadium 7.10pm AEDT
Commentary team is Adam Gilchrist, Damian Fleming and Mark Waugh
Sideline Reporter is Roger Oldridge 
Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE
Sydney / Melbourne @ 7pm LIVE on TEN
Adelaide @ 6.30pm LIVE on TEN
Brisbane @ 6pm LIVEon TEN
Perth @ 4pm LIVE on ONE and 8.30pm on TEN

Round 2

Perth Scorchers V Adelaide Strikers @ WACA 4.10pm AWST

Commentary team is Adam Gilchrist, Andy Maher and Mark Waugh 

Sideline Reporter is Tim Gossage

Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE 

Sydney / Melbourne @ 7pm LIVE on TEN

Adelaide @ 6.30pm LIVE on TEN

Brisbane @ 6pm LIVE on TEN

Perth @ 4pm LIVE on ONE and 9.30pm on TEN

Hobart Hurricanes V Sydney 6ers @ Blundstone Arena 7.10pm AEDT

Commentary team is Mel McLaughlin, Mark Howard, Ricky Ponting , Mark Waugh and Sir Viv Richards

Sideline Reporter is Roger Oldridge 
Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE
Sydney / Melbourne @ 7pm LIVE on TEN
Adelaide @ 6.30pm LIVE on TEN
Brisbane @ 6pm LIVE on TEN
Perth @ 4pm LIVE on ONE and 8.30pm on TEN

Perth Scorchers V Melbourne Renegades @ WACA 4.10pm AWST
Commentary team is Adam Gilchrist, Andy Maher and Mark Waugh
Sideline Reporter is Tim Gossage
Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE
Sydney / Melbourne @ 7pm LIVE on TEN
Adelaide @ 6.30pm LIVE on TEN
Brisbane @ 6pm LIVE on TEN
Perth @ 4pm LIVE on ONE and 9pm on TEN

Sydney Thunder V Sydney 6ers @ Stadium Australia 7.10pm AEDT
Commentary team is Mel McLaughlin, Mark Howard, Ricky Ponting and Mark Waugh
Sideline Reporter is Adam Hawse
Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE
Sydney / Melbourne @ 7pm LIVE on TEN
Adelaide @ 6.30pm LIVE on TEN
Brisbane @ 6pm LIVE on TEN
Perth @ 4pm LIVE on ONE and 8.30pm on TEN

Round 3

Brisbane Heat V Melbourne Stars @ GABBA 6.10pm AQST

Commentary team is Adam Gilchrist, Andy Maher and Mark Waugh

Sideline Reporter is Roger Oldridge 

Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE

Sydney / Melbourne @ 7pm LIVE on TEN

Adelaide @ 6.30pm LIVE on TEN

Brisbane @ 6pm LIVE on TEN

Perth @ 4pm LIVE on ONE and 8.30pm on TEN

Sydney 6ers V Perth Scorchers @ SCG 7.10pm AEDT
Commentary team is Mel McLaughlin, Mark Howard, Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh and Andrew Flintoff
Sideline Reporter is Adam Hawse
Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE
Sydney / Melbourne @ 7pm LIVE on TEN
Adelaide @ 6.30pm LIVE on TEN
Brisbane @ 6pm LIVE on TEN
Perth @ 4pm LIVE on ONE and 8.30pm on TEN

Melbourne Renegades V Sydney Thunder @ Etihad Stadium 7.10pm AEDT
Commentary team is Mark Howard, Ricky Ponting, Damian Fleming and Sir Viv Richards
Sideline Reporter is Roger Oldridge 
Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE
Sydney / Melbourne @ 7pm LIVE on TEN
Adelaide @ 6.30pm LIVE on TEN
Brisbane @ 6pm LIVE on TEN
Perth @ 4pm LIVE on ONE and 8.30pm on TEN

Adelaide Strikers V Hobart Hurricanes @ Adelaide Oval 6.40pm ACST
Commentary team is Mark Howard, Damian Fleming, Mark Waugh and Kevin Pietersen
Sideline Reporter is Nick Butler 
Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE
Sydney / Melbourne @ 7pm LIVE on TEN
Adelaide @ 6.30pm LIVE on TEN
Brisbane @ 6pm LIVE on TEN
Perth @ 4pm LIVE on ONE and 8.30pm on TEN

Round 4

Perth Scorchers V Sydney Thunder @ WACA 4.10pm AWST

Commentary team is Adam Gilchrist, Andy Maher and Damian Fleming

Sideline Reporter is Tim Gossage

Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE

Sydney / Melbourne @ 7pm LIVE on TEN

Adelaide @ 6.30pm LIVE on TEN

Brisbane @ 6pm LIVE on TEN

Perth @ 4pm LIVE on ONE and 9.50pm on TEN

Hobart Hurricanes V Brisbane Heat @ Blundstone Arena 7.10pm AEDT
Commentary team is Mel McLaughlin, Mark Howard, Ricky Ponting and Damian Fleming 
Sideline Reporter is Nick Butler
Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE
Sydney / Melbourne @ 7pm LIVE on TEN
Adelaide @ 6.30pm LIVE on TEN
Brisbane @ 6pm LIVE on TEN
Perth @ 4.30pm LIVE on ONE and 8.30pm on TEN

Melbourne Renegades V Melbourne Stars @ Etihad Stadium 7.10pm AEDT
Commentary team is Adam Gilchrist, Mark Howard and Ricky Ponting
Sideline Reporter is Roz Kelly
Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE
Sydney / Melbourne @ 7pm LIVE on TEN
Adelaide @ 6.30pm LIVE on TEN
Brisbane @ 6pm LIVE on TEN
Perth @ 4pm LIVE on ONE and 8.30pm on TEN

Brisbane Heat V Adelaide Strikers @ GABBA 6.10pm AQST 
Commentary team is Adam Gilchrist, Andy Maher, Mark Waugh and Andrew Flintoff
Sideline Reporter is Roz Kelly
Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE
Sydney / Melbourne @ 7pm LIVE on TEN
Adelaide @ 6.30pm LIVE on TEN
Brisbane @ 6pm LIVE on TEN
Perth @ 4pm LIVE on ONE and 8.30pm on TEN

Round 5

Melbourne Stars V Sydney 6ers @ MCG 7.10pm AEDT

Commentary team is Adam Gilchrist, Damian Fleming, Andy Maher and Andrew Flintoff

Sideline Reporter is Roz Kelly

Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE
Sydney / Melbourne / Adelaide / Brisbane @ 7pm on TEN

Perth @ 4pm LIVE on ONE and 8.30pm on TEN

Adelaide Strikers V Perth Scorchers @ Adelaide Oval 6.40pm ACST
Commentary team is Mel McLaughlin, Andy Maher, Damian Fleming and Mark Waugh
Sideline Reporter is Roz Kelly
Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE
Sydney / Melbourne / Brisbane @ 7pm on TEN
Adelaide @ 6.30pm LIVE on TEN
Perth @ 4pm LIVE on ONE and 8.30pm on TEN

Hobart Hurricanes V Melbourne Renegades @ Blundstone Arena 7.10pm AEDT
Commentary team is Mark Howard, Mark Waugh, Damian Fleming and Sir Viv Richards
Sideline Reporter is Roz Kelly
Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE
Sydney / Melbourne / Adelaide / Brisbane @ 7pm on TEN
Perth @ 4pm LIVE on ONE and 8.30pm on TEN

Perth Scorchers V Brisbane Heat @ WACA 4.10pm AWST
Commentary team is Mark Howard, Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting
Sideline Reporter is Tim Gossage 
Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE
Sydney / Melbourne / Adelaide / Brisbane @ 7pm on TEN
Perth @ 4pm LIVE on ONE and 8.30pm on TEN

Round 6

Sydney Thunder V Hobart Hurricanes @ Spotless Stadium 7.10pm AEDT

Commentary team is Mel McLaughlin, Mark Howard, Ricky Ponting and Mark Waugh

Sideline Reporter is Adam Hawse

Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE

Sydney / Melbourne / Adelaide / Brisbane @ 7pm on TEN

Perth @ 4pm LIVE on ONE and 8.30pm on TEN

Melbourne Stars V Melbourne Renegades @ MCG 7.10pm AEDT
Commentary team is Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting and Andy Maher
Sideline Reporter is Roz Kelly
Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE
Sydney / Melbourne @ 7pm LIVE on TEN
Adelaide @ 6.30pm LIVE on TEN
Brisbane @ 6pm LIVE on TEN
Perth @ 4pm LIVE on ONE and 8.30pm on TEN

Hobart Hurricanes V Perth Scorchers @ Blundestone Arena 1.45pm AEDT
Commentary team is Mark Howard, Mark Waugh and Damian Fleming
Sideline Reporter is Roger Oldridge
Broadcast Times - TEN
Sydney / Melbourne @ 1.30pm LIVE on TEN
Adelaide @ 1pm LIVE on TEN
Brisbane @ 12.30pm LIVE on TEN
Perth @ 10.30am LIVE on TEN

Brisbane Heat V Sydney 6ers @ GABBA 6.10pm AQST
Commentary team is Mel McLaughlin, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting, Andy Maher and Sir Viv Richards
Sideline Reporter is Roz Kelly
Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE
Sydney / Melbourne @ 7pm LIVE on TEN
Adelaide @ 6.30pm LIVE on TEN
Brisbane @ 6pm LIVE on TEN
Perth @ 4pm LIVE on ONE and 8.15pm on TEN

Round 7

Adelaide Strikers V Sydney Thuner @ Adelaide Oval 8.35pm ACST

Commentary team is Mark Howard, Adam Gilchrist and Mark Waugh

Sideline Reporter is Roz Kelly

Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE

Sydney / Melbourne / Adelaide / Brisbane @ 7.30pm LIVE on TEN

Perth @ 4.30pm LIVE on ONE and 8.30pm on TEN

Melbourne Renegades V Brisbane Heat @ Etihad Stadium 7.40pm AEDT
Commentary team is Mel McLaughlin, Mark Howard, Ricky Ponting, Damian Fleming and Kevin Pietersen 
Sideline Reporter is Roz Kelly
Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE
Sydney / Melbourne / Adelaide / Brisbane @ 7pm on TEN
Perth @ 4.30pm LIVE on ONE and 8.30pm on TEN

Sydney 6ers V Adelaide Strikers @ SCG 7.45pm AEDT
Commentary team is Mel McLaughlin, Andy Maher, Mark Waugh, Damian Fleming and David Lloyd
Sideline Reporter is Adam Hawse
Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE
Sydney / Melbourne / Brisbane @ 7.30pm on TEN
Adelaide @ 7.15pm LIVE on TEN
Perth @ 4.30pm LIVE on ONE and 8.30pm on TEN

Brisbane Heat V Hobart Hurricanes @ GABBA 6.40pm AQST
Commentary team is Mel McLaughlin, Mark Howard, Damian Fleming and Mark Waugh
Sideline Reporter is Roz Kelly
Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE
Sydney / Melbourne / Adelaide / Brisbane @ 7.30pm on TEN
Perth @ 4.30pm on ONE and 8.30pm on TEN

Round 8

Sydney Thunder V Melbourne Stars @ Spotless Stadium 7.10pm AEDT

Commentary team is Adam Gilchrist, Andy Maher, Mark Waugh and Andrew Flintoff

Sideline Reporter is Adam Hawse 

Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE

Sydney / Melbourne @ 7pm LIVE on TEN

Adelaide @ 6.30pm LIVE on TEN

Brisbane @ 6pm LIVE on TEN

Perth @ 4pm LIVE on ONE and 8.30pm on TEN

Melbourne Renegades V Adelaide Strikers @ Etihad Stadium 7.45pm AEDT

Commentary team is Mel McLaughlin, Mark Howard, Ricky Ponting, Damian Fleming and Sir Viv Richards 

Sideline Reporter is Roger Oldridge 

Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE

Sydney / Melbourne / Brisbane @ 7.30pm on TEN

Adelaide @ 7.15pm LIVE on TEN

Perth @ 4.30pm LIVE on ONE and 8.30pm on TEN

Melbourne Stars V Perth Scorchers @ MCG 7.40pm AEDT

Commentary team is Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting, Damian Fleming and David Hussey 

Sideline Reporter is Roger Oldridge 

Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE

Sydney / Melbourne / Adelaide / Brisbane @ 7.30pm on TEN

Perth @ 4.30pm LIVE on ONE 

Sydney 6ers V Sydney Thunder @ SCG 7.40pm AEDT

Commentary team is Mel McLaughlin, Mark Howard, Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh and Sir Viv Richards

Sideline Reporter is Adam Hawse 

Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE

Sydney / Melbourne / Adelaide / Brisbane @ 7.30pm on TEN

Perth @ 4.30pm LIVE on ONE

Big Finals

Adelaide Strikers V Sydney 6ers @ Adelaide Oval 6.40pm ACST

Commentary team is Mel McLaughlin, Mark Howard, Ricky Ponting and Mark Waugh

Sideline Reporter is Roz Kelly

Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE

Sydney / Melbourne @ 7pm LIVE on TEN

Adelaide @ 6.30pm LIVE on TEN

Brisbane @ 6pm LIVE on TEN

Perth @ 4pm LIVE on ONE and 8.30pm on TEN

Perth Scorchers V Melbourne Stars @ WACA 4.10pm AWST

Commentary team is Mark Howard, Adam Gilchrist and Damian Fleming

Sideline Reporter is Tim Gossage

Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE

Sydney / Melbourne @ 7pm LIVE on TEN

Adelaide @ 6.30pm LIVE on TEN

Brisbane @ 6pm LIVE on TEN

Perth @ 4pm LIVE on ONE and 8pm on TEN

Big Final

Perth Scorchers V Sydney 6ers @ Manuka Oval 7.45pm AEDT

Commentary team is Mel McLaughlin, Mark Howard, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh and Damian Fleming 

Sideline Reporter is Roz Kelly and Roger Oldridge 

Broadcast Times - TEN and ONE

Sydney / Melbourne @ 7.30pm LIVE on TEN

Adelaide @ 7.15pm LIVE on TEN

Brisbane @ 6.30pm LIVE on TEN

Perth @ 4.30pm LIVE on ONE and 8.30pm on TEN

NSW Land Lease Breakers V Commonwealth Bank VIC Spirit @ Manuka Oval 2.05pm AEDT

Commentary team is Andy Maher, Mel Jones and Lisa Sthalekar 

Sideline Reporter is Roger Oldridge 

Broadcast Times - ONE

Sydney / Melbourne @ 2pm LIVE

Adelaide @ 1.30pm LIVE

Brisbane @ 1pm LIVE

Perth @ 11am LIVE

Report: ARU is set to include Super Rugby games from 2016 on FTA

THE ARU is set to finalise their negotiations for the new broadcast agreement between FOX Sports and Network TEN.

FOX Sports will continue to show Super Rugby, but it's understood that the ARU is in negotiations with the TEN Network to include one live game of Super Rugby on Friday nights.

Super Rugby has been exclusive to Foxtel since day one in 1995, but however there is a view that the game needs to grow commercially and exposure.

In the past, FOX Sports has resisted to allow FTA broadcasters any live coverage, arguing it would reduce its own coverage.

In saying all this, Channel 10 has the live rights to Wallabies Tests so it makes sense for the ARU to extend that relationship even further, when TEN had picked up the rights to broadcast the Wallabies since Channel 9 had onsold the rights to TEN because they were pressured by both ARU and Foxtel. No other FTA broadcasters wanted Super Rugby.

There is speculation ARU chief executive Bill Pulver will achieve his target of $40 million for the broadcast rights, although some industry insiders believe the figure will be closer to $30m. 

Airdate: 2014 Tissot Australian MotoGP

The bikes are at Phillip Island this weekend for an action packed weekend at the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix which will be broadcast live and exclusively on TEN and SPEED.

Join TEN's Sport Greg Rust and Mark Howard with expert commentator, 500cc champion rider Daryl Beattie for a comprehensive coverage at the Island.

TEN will be bringing us full qualifying and full race coverage which means we will get to see Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP qualifying and the race.

Saturday: October 18: Qualifying
1pm - 5pm (Melbourne, Sydney)
12.30pm - 4.30pm (Adelaide)
12pm - 4pm (Brisbane)
10am - 2pm (Perth)

Sunday: October 19: Race
11.30am - 5pm (Melbourne, Sydney)
11am - 4.30pm (Adelaide)
10.30am - 4pm (Brisbane)
8.30am - 2pm (Perth)

Don't forget to tune in to The Thursday Night Sports Show tonight hosted by funnyman, Sam Mac and TEN's Sport Mel McLaughlin who will be joined by TEN's Sport Mark Howard and Matt White and former Formula 1 great Mark Webber who will be hosting's Ten's coverage of Formula 1, V8s and RPM

Fox and Ten clinch $200m TV Deal to air Rugby Union

Fox Sports Australia and Ten Network Holdings have secured the rights to screen rugby union for another five years in a deal worth $175 million to $200 million, representing a significant uplift for the struggling code. 

However, the big rise will not come from Australian TV rights but instead from the ARU's share of a large increase in international rights.

ARU chief executive Bill Pulver also failed  in his efforts to spark a bidding war between the free-to-air networks for the Super Rugby competition, which has been broadcast by Fox Sports since its inception in 1996. No networks have expressed interest in Pulver's proposal for one match per round to be simulcast on free-to-air.

But the new deal, which will begin in 2016, will represent a substantial increase on the current contract in which the ARU receives about $25 million cash and contra annually.

It also shows the value of live sports to broadcasters and will come just before the AFL goes to market seeking a massive 10-year that could net it up to $3 billion. A deal for rugby union is likely to be finalised by about the end of October, with Fox Sports maintaining its Australian rights and on-selling Wallabies national team matches to Ten for about $4 million annually.

Rivals Seven West Media and Nine Entertainment, which have both ­previously held telecast rights to Wallabies' matches, have shown little interest in doing so again.

It is understood Fox Sports will pay about the same annual price it is ­currently paying in Australia, about $15 million in cash plus several million dollars in contra, or at best a small increase. It will maintain its agreement with Ten for Wallabies matches.

Bill Pulver confident free-to-air TV freefall won’t impact on rugby’snext broadcast deal

THE Wallabies lost 75 per cent of their audience on free-to-air television inside a month but ARU boss Bill Pulver is confident the nosedive won’t have “any negative impact” on rugby’s next broadcast deal.

Negotiations are underway but the hopes of expanding FTA coverage — with potential Super Rugby exposure — may have taken a hit in recent weeks, however, when initially strong ratings for the Wallabies on Channel Ten fell off a broadcasting cliff. It is due to NRL, AFL finals and also it is not a Bledisloe Cup match. 

Channel 7 have thought to have some interest, but Ten remains the front runner to secure the rights to the Wallabies matches and even possibly Super Rugby. 

Ten declined to comment on the Wallabies recent figures but the past month shows both the up and downsides of broadcasting rugby to a floating audience (if Fox Sports subscribers are considered rusted-on fans). Namely, there exists both a huge latent market for big games and a very-rapid switch off factor.

Despite the recent nosedive, however, figures show the Wallabies’ FTA ratings are generally respectable, and against trend lines of rival codes, actually bigger than recent seasons.

“The thing you have got to remember is free-to-air networks are now attracted to smaller and smaller audiences because there are so many channels out there and so much content out there, and it’s all happening in an environment where you have this continued fragmentation of media, an acceptable audience ten years ago is very different to what it is today,” Pulver said.

Ten and Seven are believed to be looking at rugby as content for digital channels. Live sport is seen as valuable due to it being one thing that can’t be recorded, and Pulver said even niche audiences could be priced well.

The success of the Waratahs is well-timed for the hopes of fans wanting Super Rugby on FTA, but it could depend on whether a package-deal can be worked out with Fox Sports, who have historically paid a premium for exclusivity. The FFA struck such a deal with Fox Sports to screen one A-League game per week on SBS, with the help of the federal government.

It’s far from a fait accompli, however. Pulver said Super Rugby on FTA was desired “in an ideal world” but stressed the first objective was maximising the “revenue outcome”.

Ten Announces New Live Sports Show

Network TEN has announced the launch of The Thursday Night Sport Show, a new panel style program that will premiere Thursday, October 2, at 9.30pm AEST, live on ONE. 

Hosted by TEN Sport’s Mel McLaughlin with regular panelists Mark Howard and funny man Sam Mac, The Thursday Night Sport Show is your "one-stop-shop for all things sport" as we head into the most busiest time of the year on the local and international sporting calendars.

It will be intriguing as to how this goes after Mel was criticized for her 'wooden' hosting style during the Commonwealth Games. The panel will feature Ten regulars including Mark Webber, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Damien Fleming, Mark Waugh and more.

Network Ten Head of Sport, David Barham, said: “The Thursday Night Sport Show is a fantastic concept that will no doubt attract sports lovers young and old and become essential Thursday night viewing.

“Mel and Sam are sports mad and to give them their own show flanked by some of the biggest names in international sport is a recipe for entertainment.”

The show is funded by betting agency Ladbrokes, with horse racing expert, media personality and sports lover Andy Maher who will be providing odds for key sporting events and races throughout the show.

Tune in for news and views on the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, NRL Grand Final, the Hyundai A-League, Formula One, V8 Supercars, the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, Major League Baseball, NFL, NBA, the English Premier League, Rugby Union, Cricket and much, much more

2014 ARIA Music Awards return to TEN

2014 ARIA awards to be broadcast on channel TEN!

Network Ten is pleased to announce it will broadcast the 2014 ARIA Awards on TEN later this year!  

This year’s ARIA Awards will showcase the best local musicians and bands, in addition to headline overseas acts.

Australian artists are currently riding a wave of international success, with Sia, Iggy Azalea and 5 Seconds of Summer topping albums and singles charts around the world. Australian artists are also dominating local charts, with home-grown acts sitting atop the ARIA singles chart for 13 of 32 weeks this year.

Network Ten Chief Programming Officer, Beverley McGarvey, said: “We are thrilled to welcome the ARIA Awards back to TEN.

“Australians have had incredible success on the world music stage this year and we cannot think of a better time to join with ARIA in celebrating that success. We are looking forward to bringing this exciting event to all Australians, exclusively on TEN.”

Denis Handlin AM, ARIA Chairman and Chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment Australia and New Zealand and President, Asia, said: “We are delighted to bring the ARIAs back to TEN. The network has hosted many of the ARIA Awards’ most memorable moments and we look forward to working together to produce a great event.”

ARIA Chief Executive Dan Rosen, said: “ARIA is excited to partner with Channel Ten. Together we will create great event TV, with the ARIA stage set to showcase our incredible Australian artists who are topping charts here and around the world with special international guests. 

V8 Supercars gain championship status at Albert Park for 2015

The V8 Supercars are set to gain championship status after late last year when Ten had gotten the rights to the V8s and they are the official broadcaster of F1 in Australia. The V8 officials stepped up after the Napthine Government announced that they had extended the F1 in Melbourne. The V8 officials are anticipating of a longer arrangement but has to wait until the F1 deal has settled on an agreement.

Next years Melbourne Grand Prix March 12-15, is the last year of Ten's F1 deal. 

After eight years of V8 Supercars on 7, the V8s are switching to Fox/Ten deal on a $241m deal for 6 years starting next year.

It has been understood that FOM have already started negotiating with rights holder Ten on a possible extension to their contract, which has been believed that they want a V8-style combined deal with Fox Sports similar to BBC and SKY F1 in the UK. 

But on the other hand Seven and Nine have expressed not much interest at all with Dan Ricciardo emerging as a world title contender. 

Australian Grand Prix Co-operation says that it is a "work in progress" in regards to the formula one TV deal. 

James Warburton will announce the 2015 calendar around Sandown with him working very hard with Ten and Fox over the next 6 years as he wants to make it the best Motorsport in the country 

Matt White Joins TEN's team for Glasgow Commentary Team / XX Commonwealth Games Commentary Announced

TEN is pleased to announce that one of Australia’s most respected news and sport presenters, Matt White, is joining the commentary team for its live, exclusive and free coverage of the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, this month. Alongside Olympic champions Steve Hooker and Leisel Jones, Matt will host TEN’s morning edition of Glasgow Live to bring viewers extensive coverage of the Games, backed by a stellar team of hosts and expert commentators.

Matt White said: “I am extremely excited to be starting work at TEN this week and to be heading over to Glasgow for the XX Commonwealth Games later this month is the icing on the cake. “To be hosting alongside two of Australia’s greatest Olympians in Steve Hooker and Leisel Jones is an honour in itself, not to mention working with Ian Thorpe and the entire team of hosts and expert commentators.

 “Australia has countless gold medal chances in Glasgow including household names such as Sally Pearson, Anna Meares and James Magnussen up against some of the world’s best athletes,” he said.

TEN's Head of Sport, David Barham, said: “TEN Sport is delighted to have Matt back as part of our team. He is one of the best sports broadcasters in this country and will be a great addition to all of our sporting properties.

 “The Glasgow Games are on track to be one of the most memorable Commonwealth Games ever and we are thrilled to have Mel McLaughlin and Matt White led the presenting team with Ian Thorpe, Leisel Jones and Steve Hooker.

 “Their combined wealth of knowledge and experience will no doubt prove an invincible team in the Glasgow studio,” he said.

With just less than two weeks to go until the Opening Ceremony on July 24 (Australian time),TEN is planning to bring viewers extensive coverage of every day of the competition in Scotland, 24 hours a day on TEN, ONE and tenplay. Glasgow Live will kick off the evening’s prime time coverage from 6.00pm AEST each evening on ONE, hosted by TEN Sport’s Greg Rust live from the Commentator’s Lounge.

Joined by a team of experts including Nicole Livingstone, Melinda Gainsford-Taylor, Liz Ellis, Sharelle McMahon and Rob de Castella, Greg will bring viewers an abundance of live sporting action including swimming, athletics, hockey, triathlon, netball and more. From 9.30pm AEST, Mel McLaughlin and Ian Thorpe take over the reins of Glasgow Live on TEN from TEN’s studio in the heart of the Glasgow competition precinct. Mel McLaughlin and Ian Thorpe will preview upcoming events and competitors, as well as feature live sport, expert analysis, celebrity guests and all the news from Scotland.

With the live action and gold medal moments continuing right through the night and into the  morning, Matt White, Steve Hooker and Leisel Jones will host the broadcast from 3.00am AEST through to 8.30am AEST on TEN. The morning edition of Glasgow Live will include swimming and athletics finals, live medal ceremonies, studio guests and more. Throughout each day, ONE will encore all highlights, action and medal ceremonies from overnight in Glasgow. 

2014 Commonwealth Games, Glasgow.

Live, Exclusive and Free on TEN, ONE and tenplay.

July 24 to August 4, 2014 (AWST).

Glasgow Live with Greg Rust

4pm AWST – 7.30pm AWST on ONE

Glasgow Live with Mel McLaughlin and Ian Thorpe

7.30pm AWST – 1am AWST on TEN

Glasgow Live with Matt White, Steve Hooker and Leisel Jones 

1am AWST – 6.30am AWST on TEN

Hamish McLennan says the network is in the mix for AFL and otherpremium sports rights

TEN is plotting a daring return to AFL broadcasting after chief Hamish McLennan vowed the network would fight hard to secure more premium sports rights.

Mr McLennan said that Ten would push for a carve-up of AFL rights with rival Seven when new footy boss Gillon McLachlan opens negotiations shortly. The AFL is understood to be asking for $1.5 billion for its next five-year deal from 2017-21, after the latest deal with Seven garnered a record $1.258 billion price tag.

Mr McLennan pointed to the success of last year’s Cricket Australia deal — in which Ten broadcast the domestic Twenty20 tournament while Nine retained the longer forms of the game — as a model that showed sports codes could increase audience and revenue.

“With the success of Big Bash and the Sochi Olympics it has shown that live sport drives premium advertising dollars and strong ratings,’’ he said. “We are very interested in getting more. We find the idea of getting some games from the AFL highly appealing.”

It is believed a carve-up with another free-to-air network is more likely than a deal with pay-TV broadcaster Foxtel.

“I think Cricket Australia were the absolute winners out of the competitive tension between Nine and Ten — it would be the same thing with the AFL,” Mr McLennan said. “With cricket, two broadcasters competing against each other brought new ideas, new marketing and a broader audience base. And each brought new viewers to cricket.’’

A return to the nation’s highest rating winter sport would bring an end to a five year hiatus after Ten dropped its AFL rights in 2011, after starting coverage in 2002. Mr McLennan said shared deals were beneficial to the AFL.

“We shared the AFL with Seven in the past. I think it would be fair to assume the AFL would reach a broader audience, and therefore make more dollars.”

Ten surprised the market last June when it agreed to pay $100 million for rights to the Big Bash competition over five years, while Nine paid $450 million for the Test and one-day series. Despite being the largest deal signed for cricket broadcast rights, it proved a ratings winner for Ten, under siege after falls in advertising revenue and viewership. The package delivered Ten its best start to a year since 2009, averaging 935,000 viewers for the network and its regional partners.

Mr McLennan played down talk he would be chasing rugby union’s Super Rugby, suggesting it was still too much of a niche offering. Matches featuring the Wallabies — Australia’s rugby union representatives — were a different prospect.

“It comes down to the price — we might try to carve the Wallabies off (from the high-rating Australian National Rugby Union rights package), it just depends.”

Ten would also like to broadcast some National Rugby League games as well.

“The NRL and AFL are more mainstream which appeals to us,” Mr McLennan said. "Whilst I live union as a game it doesn't have the broad-based appel that AFL and NRL have. Nine Network and Foxtel last year paid more than $1 billion in the latest five-year NRL broadcasting agreement.

Some analysts argue that deal, teamed with its outlay on cricket, effectively ruled Nine out of AFL rights discussions, leaving Ten in a prime position to slug it out with Seven.

Mr McLennan made criticisms of Tennis Australia last year when it failed to put Australian Open rights out to an open market for a bidding war. “I think they did themselves out of money,’’ he adds but despite the boost to ratings from the Big Bash and Sochi Olympics over summer, Ten ratings plummeted in March and April as a result of TBL and SYTYCDA failing to perform for most of its season.

Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2014 - ONE and TEN

2014 COMMONWEALTH GAMES - COUNTDOWN (ONE)

Ep 1 and 2                                                                                                                 Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane: 2pm-3pm (06 July)

Adelaide:                                2pm-3pm (06 July)

Perth:                                     2pm-3pm (06 July)
Ep 3 and 4
Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane: 2pm-3pm (13 July)
Adelaide:                                2pm-3pm (13 July)
Perth:                                     2pm-3pm (13 July)
Ep 5 and 6
Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane: 2pm-3pm (20 July)
Adelaide:                                2pm-3pm (20 July)
Perth:                                     2pm-3pm (20 July)

Opening Ceremony LIVE (TEN)

Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane: 5.30am-8.45am 

Adelaide:                                 5.30am-8.45am

Perth:                                      5.30am-8.45am

Day 1 LIVE (ONE/TEN)

Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane: 6pm-9.30pm (ONE) 9.30pm-8.30am (TEN)

Adelaide:                               5.30pm-9.30pm (ONE) 9.30pm-8am (TEN)

Perth:                                      4pm-9.30pm (ONE) 9.30pm-6.30am (TEN)

Day 2 LIVE (ONE/TEN)

Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane: 6pm-8.30pm/8.30pm-8.30am

Adelaide:                               5.30pm-8.30pm/8.30pm-8am

Perth:                                      4pm-8.30pm/8.30pm-6.30am

Day 3 LIVE (ONE/TEN)

Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane: 6pm-8.30pm/8.30pm-8.30am

Adelaide:                                  5.30pm-8.30pm/8.30pm-8am

Perth:                                        4pm-7.30pm/7.30pm-6.30am

Day 4 LIVE (ONE/TEN)

Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane: 6pm-9.55pm/10pm-8.30am

Adelaide:                                5.30pm-9.25pm/10pm-8am

Perth:                                     4pm-7.55pm/10pm-6.30am

Day 5 LIVE (ONE/TEN)

Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane: 6pm-10pm/10pm-8.30am

Adelaide:                               5.30pm-10pm/10pm-8am

Perth:                                    4pm-10pm/10pm-6.30am

Day 6 LIVE (ONE/TEN)

Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane: 6pm-9.30pm/9.30pm-8.30am

Adelaide:                               5.30pm-9.30pm/9.30pm-8am

Perth:                                   4pm-9.30pm/9.30pm-6.30am

THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTY: IS IT THE FUTURE OF TV?

Thursday night football could spark a massive fight for TV rights. 

In particular the AFL bosses will be keen to see some big figures as the Thursday night slot is set to be its jewel in the crown for the next TV rights deals which starts in 2017.

The grand plan is to have a second free-to-air network — Channel 9 or 10 — get involved with the Thursday night slot the perfect carrot and the vehicle to split up the rights.

With Monday night football sent to its death bed, Thursday will get plenty more opportunities next year — this is the fifth Thursday night game this season with one more to come on July 31 Fremantle v Carlton.

The bonus for Channel 9 is that Thursday night AFL doesn’t interfere with its rugby league commitments while Channel 10 is the wildcard given they’ve shown they want to get hold of more sport on the back of the success of the Big Bash.

They just missed on snaring the NRL and the worry for the AFL is they may turn their attention to the A-League whose rights are up from 2016.

Imagine if Channel 10 took over soccer and had it on free-to-air, prime time on Friday night’s up against the AFL.

That’s a scenario that the AFL doesn’t want to encounter which is why the negotiations, which will likely start at the end of the year, will be intriguing.

Australian Gymnastics Championships to be broadcast on ONE

Gymnastics Australia and Network Ten have reached agreement for several of the premium sessions at the 2014 Australian Gymnastics Championships to be broadcast on ONE.

The free-to-air channel will screen two one-hour specials showcasing highlights from the all-around and individual apparatus finals in men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics. The 2014 Australian Gymnastics Championships are being staged at Hisense Arena in Melbourne from 21 May to 1 June.

ONE will screen the programs on the weekend before Network Ten commences its 2014 Commonwealth Games coverage. They will go to air on Saturday 19 July and Sunday 20 July at 3pm. The coverage is likely to feature a number of Victorian Men's and Women's gymnasts who are all in contention for Commonwealth Games selection. Men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics are two of the three gymnastics disciplines featured at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Network Ten is Australia's official broadcaster of the Commonwealth Games and will provide extensive coverage of every day of competition across TEN and ONE from 24 July.

“We are thrilled that Network Ten has agreed to broadcast the all-around and apparatus finals of the 2014 Australian Gymnastics Championships on ONE,” said Gymnastics Australia chief executive officer Mark Rendell.

“We are particularly pleased to be able to showcase the country’s elite gymnasts immediately prior to the Commonwealth Games where we hope they will again feature prominently in the medal count.”

While national titles will be the focus for most, athletes will also by vying for selection to the 2014 Australian Commonwealth Games Team. The event serves as the selection trial for artistic and rhythmic gymnastics. Competition will be particularly fierce in women’s and men’s artistic gymnastics with athletes competing for just five places on the Commonwealth Games team. In rhythmic gymnastics, competitors will be vying for only three Commonwealth Games places. The event will also be used to select Oceania representatives in men’s artistic, women’s artistic and trampoline gymnastics for the 2014 Youth Olympic Games being held in Nanjing, China.

Roz Kelly signs to TEN

First Ten stole Mel McLaughlin from Fox Sports, now TEN has stole yet another best Aussie female sports presenter in the business from (former) 9.

Former Channel 9 presenter Roz Kelly has moved to South Africa with partner Morne Morkel who is a former cricketer for South Africa

She begins on TEN in July joining the Glasgow Commonwealth Games commentary team

Network TEN and Foxtel extend MotoGP TV deal

It has been announced that TEN and Fox Sports will continue broadcasting MotoGP till the end of 2016 on a two year deal with promoters Dorna Sports.

The agreement will see the premier class still remain on FTA in Australia on TEN.

Network TEN will televise all races live on One / Ten and tenplay.

Ten and Fox will produce additional feature coverage at the Australian Grand Prix over the next two years.

“We’re delighted that Australian audiences will be able to enjoy more extensive coverage of MotoGP over the next three years with Ten and Fox, via pay and free-to-air TV and online said Manel Arroyo, Dorna Managing Director

“Australia has a thriving motorcycle community with very loyal MotoGP fans and we always enjoy our visit to Phillip Island, one of the most beautiful tracks on the calendar.“There will be more coverage of the action on track for our fans as we have two broadcast partners now who are supporting MotoGP and they will work with us to continue to grow our sport in Australia.”

Network Ten Head of Sport, David Barham, commented: “We are delighted to extend our broadcast deal with Dorna Sports to ensure that Australian motorsport fans can watch all MotoGP races live, free and in High Definition. This deal further demonstrates Network Ten’s commitment to premium motorsport.”

FOX SPORTS CEO, Patrick Delany, said: “Fans have already had a taste of our MotoGP coverage with the first two rounds complete for the 2014 season, but this is just the beginning of what will be a transformational three-year period for the sport on FOX SPORTS. Not only will fans see every race from every Grands Prix including all championship races, support categories, practice, and qualifying events LIVE with no interruptions during the action, we will fire up the red button and second-screen features to deliver an experience like no other.”

Ten set to be a player in AFL broadcast rights (The Border Mail)

Hamish McLennan has confirmed the former AFL broadcaster shapes as a player in the next rights deal. Ten shared free-to-air rights with Nine and Foxtel between 2002 and 2006 and with Seven between 2007 and 2011, but opted to pull out of the latest deal, with Ten interested more in securing the NRL rights.

Ten’s interest in the next round of AFL rights could help bump up the price.

"Yes, we’re keen. All depends on what is on offer," McLennan said.

Ten televised two Saturday matches through the home-and-away season and had been involved in finals and grand final. Asked what slots Ten would be interested in, McLennan said: "Depends on price etc, but maybe Saturday again and what is on offer."

McLennan understands the importance of live sport to his hopes of resurrecting Ten’s stocks, with cricket’s Twenty20 Big Bash League and the Sochi Winter Olympics providing strong ratings, and a temporary lift in share price. Ten is aware it needs a major winter sport to compete with Seven and Nine, the latter with the rights to the NRL.

The current five-year, $1.25 billion deal with Channel Seven, Foxtel and Telstra expires after the 2016 season. Discussions on a new deal are expected to intensify later this year. AFL general manager of broadcasting Simon Lethlean has said the league’s preference would be to secure a deal by late next year.

Leading media analyst Roger Colman, an experienced research analyst with CCZ Stratton Equities, has not ruled out a new broadcasting deal reaching $2 billion but said it was more likely to fall short.

"That is why night grand finals and these big games have to be big, because we have to have something to go to the TV rights holders and say, 'This is why you have to pay $140 million next year, not $125 million'.

"And, if you have a look at last year, the last one, I reckon we left probably $20 million on the table. So, we don’t want to be doing that a second time."

Williams’ recent addition to the AFL commission has been viewed as the AFL improving its knowledge of the media landscape.

Former Nine boss Jeff Browne, a long time friend and associate of McGuire’s, has long been mentioned also as a possible commissioner.

"I was on the last selection panel and Jeff’s name was mentioned there. It wasn’t a situation that he was able to put his name in the frame for because of his business and personal situation at the time," McGuire said.

"But Jeff is a bloke who has tremendous credentials to fill the job. Why wouldn’t you get someone who has been involved in every major television decision for rights, probably going back to the mid ’80s. He wrote the AFL rules, he knew what the AFL rules were about."

Ten lures Matt white from Seven as a Motorsport Presenter (Mumbrella)

Network Ten has lured one of Australia’s up and coming news and sports presenters Matt White back from rival Seven for an unspecified role to start in early July.

The third free-to-air network has brought back White, who spent eleven years with them before moving to Seven for the last decade, where he has presented the Olympic Games, Australian Open and the Melbourne Cup.

It is likely White will front the coverage of the V8 Supercars franchise which Ten has reclaimed the rights for from next year from Seven. He has previously presented the racing franchise on Ten and Seven.

However, he could also be in line for another role with the network, as it looks to make its struggling morning breakfast show Wake Up more news-oriented. His arrival comes just two months after Seven’s former news director Peter Meakin joined Ten to overhaul its news programming.

Ten CEO Hamish McLennan said: “Matt is one of the great all-rounders in Australian television. He is polished, classy, articulate and the ultimate professional in a wide range of roles – from news and public affairs to sport and special events. I am delighted that he has decided to join us.

“Matt will add his special touch to our coverage of the V8 Supercars and motor sport in general. We are also developing another show to take advantage of his considerable talents and will announce the details closer to his start date.”

In an email to staff today Seven’s netwrk director of news Rob Raschke paid tribute to White’s time at the network, saying: ”

During this time Matt has distinguished himself as a trusted journalist, presenter and sports commentator for his expert coverage of the biggest news stories and sporting events both at home and abroad.

“His contribution to the Seven Network’s coverage of Olympic Games, V8 Supercars, The Australian Open and Melbourne Cup has been outstanding.

“I am sure you will all join with me in thanking Matt for his professionalism and dedication over the years, and wishing him and his family the very best for the future.”

Ten is expected to announce its commentary team for the V8s later in the year.

Glasgow 2014: 100 Days To Go (Media Spy)

With just 100 days to go until the Opening Ceremony of the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, Network Ten is proud to announce it will give viewers extensive coverage of every day of the competition, 24 hours a day across TEN and ONE. More than 260 hours of action, excitement and drama from the Glasgow Games will go to air, presented by a stellar team of hosts and commentators.

As the only television broadcaster for the XX Commonwealth Games in Australia, Network Ten will deliver first-class coverage from Glasgow live into lounge rooms around the country from July 24, 2014. In addition to 24-hour coverage on TEN and ONE each day, eight dedicated digital channels will also be available on www.tenplay.com.au, enabling viewers to watch their favourite events and athletes from anywhere, at any time.

Hosted from Glasgow by TEN’s Mel McLaughlin and Brad McEwan, the expert commentary team features an all-star line-up of former Olympians including Nicole Livingstone, Rob DeCastella, David Culbert, Melinda Gainsford-Taylor and more. Two of Australia’s most decorated netballers – Liz Ellis and Sharelle McMahon – will bring fans all the action from the SECC Precinct while former Wallaby and TEN Eyewitness News Presenter, Matt Burke, will be joined by TEN’s Gordon Bray for the Rugby Sevens from Ibrox Stadium. The expert commentary team also features a host of experienced specialists including TEN’s Greg Rust, Mark Howard and Lachy Reid, and experienced sports broadcasters Peter Donegan and Ian Cohen, with more to be announced soon.

Network Ten Head of Sport, David Barham, said: “The Glasgow Games are on track to be one of the most memorable Commonwealth Games ever and Network Ten is delighted to bring all the action to Australians with some of the country’s most successful athletes.

“The combination of TEN, ONE and tenplay, as well as our experienced presenters and commentators, will ensure that Network Ten’s coverage of this international sporting event is comprehensive, compelling and engaging.”

Network TEN looks at securing Super Rugby (The Roar)

 Network Ten have their sights set on acquiring the rights to broadcast Super Rugby – a move that would see them put the sport back on free-to-air television.

In a bid to boost ratings, Ten have expressed an interest in expanding their rugby coverage. Currently the network has the rights to some international matches, but the addition of Super Rugby would be a big step forward.

The interest in a flagship winter sport has been spurred by the ratings success Ten experienced with the Big Bash League over the summer, during which matches averaged 638,000 viewers.

The network will be hoping to compete with the likes of Seven (AFL) and Nine (NRL), who currently dominate the winter sports market.

Ten executive chairman Hamish McLennan has stated, “Rugby needs to broaden and get into the mainstream to build its fan base.”

Super Rugby fans would agree that free-to-air coverage would be a big boost for the profile of the competition, which struggles to find the attention rival codes receive.

The accessibility of Super Rugby has been a hotly debated topic for some time, with many of the view that the competition must make the move to free-to-air.

A move to Network Ten would see Super Rugby broadcast on free-to-air in Australia for the first time since it was created in 1996.

Whisper: Ten Network

On 2UE this morning, they said that there will be big changes in media regulations, in particular with one FTA network as it has been the most talked about network in rival channel (Seven West Media).

 It has been said that Foxtel will take over the Ten Network, and Ten will be relaunched as FOX News, similar to the channel in the US. 

This would allow Foxtel to have stronger packaging around news and sport. Hamish McLennan (Chief Executive of TEN) will replace Julian Clarke of News Corp.

They recently signed a deal to broadcast the KFC T20 BBL and V8s effectively from 2014 and 2015 till 2018 and 2020 respectively. 

But it remains to be seen as to what will be in the schedule if it does become a reality and what happens to ONE, ELEVEN, TVSN and SpreeTV.

Decrease coverage of MotoGP on TEN for 2014 World Championship (Source: Speedcafe)

Network Ten will retain full coverage of the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix later this year in the wake of a last minute deal for all MotoGP categories to be shown on Fox Sports.

Under new arrangements struck shortly before the season opened at Qatar, Fox announced it would broadcast all Moto2, Moto3 and MotoGP practice, qualifying and races live in 2014.

It leaves Ten with live coverage of just MotoGP however the Network confirmed it will show full qualifying and races of the three categories at Phillip Island.

Details of the split arrangement which has given the bulk of MotoGP coverage to the subscription channel were not finalised until the 11th hour.

New arrangements regarding the sub licensing of the motorcycle classes for 2014 coverage were struck even though Network Ten is in the final year of its contract with MotoGP management.

“Every MotoGP race in 2014 will continue to be broadcast live, free and in High Definition on ONE,” a Network Ten spokesperson said.

“The Australian round of the MotoGP Championship, including Moto3, Moto2, qualifying and the race, held at Phillip Island, will still be broadcast on TEN.

“In addition, ONE will feature a pre-race and post-race MotoGP show.

“Hosted by Greg Rust and expert commentator Daryl Beattie, the pre-race show which will provide a detailed review and expert analysis from the qualifying race as well as a comprehensive preview of the race.

“A thorough post-race review and analysis will also be provided at the end of all 18 races, which cover 13 countries and four continents.

“Every MotoGP race, including the pre-race and post-race shows, will continue to be available via live streaming at www.tenplay.com.au.”

With the support events moving across to Fox for all non-Australian events, Network Ten could only run highlights in the lead up to its live MotoGP coverage in the early hours of the morning.

Network Ten takes over the V8 Supercars broadcast rights contract from next year under a fresh six-year shared deal between the free-to-air broadcaster and Fox and Fox Sports.

That deal means only Adelaide, Townsville, Sandown, Bathurst, Gold Coast and Sydney V8 events will be shown on free-to-air with one-hour highlights shows of the remaining events to be screened on One HD at 8.30pm (11.30pm on Ten) on the nights of those other race meetings.

NBL releases 2014 semi final dates (Source: NBL)

The National Basketball League grand finalists for 2014 will be decided in a fresh new format over six days in four cities.

Two semi-final series will be played simultaneously, with all games to be televised on free-to-air by the NBL’s broadcast partner Network TEN.

In a major boost for fans, the first two games of each semi-final series will be broadcast live nationally into all markets. Game 2 will be played as a live double-header nationally on TEN and ONE.

The first semi-final series will commence on Thursday, March 27 with the Adelaide 36ers hosting the Melbourne Tigers. The second semi-final series will begin the following evening in Perth with the Wildcats taking on either Sydney or Wollongong.

NBL Chief Executive Fraser Neill said fans would be the big winners from the revitalised finals format.

“Scheduling a finals series across four cities while still having the uncertainty of exactly who will be playing isn’t easy. But whether you’re at one of the venues watching courtside, in your lounge room or using the live streaming service you will have access to the NBL finals this year,” Mr Neill said.

The semi-final schedule is:

Group B

Date	Game	Teams	Venue	Tip-off Time (Local)
March 27, 2014	Game 1	Adelaide v Melbourne	Adelaide Arena	7:00pm
March 30, 2014	Game 2	Melbourne v Adelaide	Hisense Arena	1:00pm
April 1, 2014	Game 3	Adelaide v Melbourne	Adelaide Arena	7:00pm

Group A

Date	Game	Teams	Venue	Tip-off Time (Local)
March 28, 2014	Game 1	Perth v Wollongong	Perth Arena	6:30pm
March 30, 2014	Game 2	Wollongong  v Perth	WEC	3:00pm