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