Ten hasn’t overpaid for the Melbourne Cup, says boss Paul Anderson
Ten boss Paul Anderson doesn’t believe the network has overpaid for the Melbourne Cup rights, saying the network sees the horse race and associated carnival as an opportunity to promote its future summer lineup as an alternative to Seven and Nine’s sports focus.
Anderson’s comments come after Ten revealed earlier this week it had won the rights to the Victoria Racing Club’s Melbourne Cup carnival from the Seven Network with a $100m bid.
Paul Anderson: CBS will be a ‘game changer’
Come on Aussie, or should I say Kiwi, come on!
What else is Ten’s CEO Paul Anderson going to say. The reality is Seven and Nine were never going to pour that much into broadcasting the Melbourne Cup, and indicated as much some time ago.
The VRC would have gladly handed over the rights for half the amount, as they would not have had a free to air Network to carry the event, if they didn’t find Ten.
Paul Anderson tries to justify losing the Big Bash by telling us that Ten wants to be the alternative Network by offering programming other than sport.
Really!
Do you think viewers are stupid.
If you weren’t aware, Seven and Nine have been broadcasting Tennis and Cricket over the summer schedule for an eternity and your Network has been running the Big Bash, so why are you now saying you want to offer an alternative. You obviously didn’t think sport would work over summer that’s why CBS personally intervened in the Big Bash negotiations and you offered $1B to continue showing sport.
Sour grapes?
The loss of the Big Bash is a slap in the face and I look forward to seeing the summer lineup of fresh programs. Let’s hope Gogglebox and Have You Been Paying Attention are not your only offerings.
I’ll stay tuned, as Im sure CBS will be doing!