- Seven West Media (SWM) has signed a new deal with the AFL for the 2020 to 2022 seasons, and extended its contract to include an additional two years
- The company is anticipating roughly $87 million in savings over the 2020 to 2022 contract period, mainly as a result of reductions to media rights and production savings
- 2020’s AFL season resumed on June 11, with Collingwood and Richmond opening round two at the MCG
- The remaining season will consist of 16 rounds with a four-week period of finals, culminating in a grand final on October 24
- Seven West Media is currently 9.68 per cent down on the market, with shares trading for 14 cents each
Seven West Media (SWM) has signed a new deal with the AFL for the 2020 to 2022 seasons, and extended its contract to include an additional two years.
Under the terms of the revised contract, the company is anticipating a saving of approximately $84 million, which is largely driven by reductions to media rights and production savings.
The AFL season was suspended on March 21 this year as the COVID-19 pandemic forced widespread shutdowns across the country. At the time, Gillon McLachlan, CEO of the AFL, said it was the most serious threat to the game in the last 100 years.
“It is unprecedented in its impact. It is unprecedented in the impact it is having on our game and the wider community, and as a community and as a code, we all need to take the unprecedented and required actions to get through this together,” Gillion added.
However, with previously imposed restrictions now becoming increasingly relaxed, the 2020 AFL season resumed on Thursday, June 11, in a round two clash between Collingwood and Richmond at the MCG.
This is the first of 16 rounds that will take place over the rest of the season, after which a four-week period of finals will take place, followed by a grand final on October 24.
According to new health and safety policies, all players and staff will be tested for COVID-19 twice a week, with players also subject to daily health checks by club doctors.
Commenting on the season resumption and the revised deal with the AFL, James Warburton, Managing Director of Seven West Media, said he is excited to bring the game back to fans.
“The AFL and Seven are a core part of each other’s DNA, and we are delighted to have not only reached a revised agreement for the current contract term, but to have extended our relationship for a further two seasons taking the agreement through until the end of 2024,” James stated.
“I’d like to thank AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan and the AFL Commission for their commitment which gives certainty to both parties over the next five years,” he concluded.
Seven West Media is currently 9.68 per cent down on the market, with shares trading for 14 cents each at 12:28 pm AEST.