General
AFL
- Global pop star Katy Perry looks set to light up one of Australia’s most lavish sporting spectacles, with the beloved singer reportedly in advanced talks with the AFL to headline the code’s Grand Final carnival.
- The GWS Giants have backed Collingwood president Jeff Browne’s call for all 18 clubs to be involved in Opening Round as a showcase of the northern states. Browne is set to give the AFL an ultimatum at next week’s CEO’s conference in Perth saying the competition’s biggest club won’t be involved next year unless everyone else is because of the inequity it causes in the draw.
- Hot on the heels of Leichhardt Oval receiving a $40m facelift, Henson Park is now set to receive a $12.5m funding boost after an agreement between federal and state governments, Inner West Council and the AFL. Under the agreement, the AFL will contribute $4.5m to help modernise a venue that now hosts AFLW games for both the Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney.
Basketball
- Sports Entertainment Group owner Craig Hutchison has sold NBL club Perth Wildcats to tech entrepreneur Mark Arena for a cool $40 million. Arena, a lifelong Wildcats fan who is based in Perth, has signed a deal to buy a majority 52.5 per cent share of the club ahead of the next NBL season. As part of a staged acquisition, his stake will increase to 90 per cent by 2026 under a “put and call” option, with a plan to reach 100 per cent by 2028.
Cricket
- Cricket Australia remains adamant that November is still “the right window” for the Women’s Big Bash League despite the recent success of double-headers for rival T20 league The Hundred.
- Cricket Australia is satisfied the “ridiculous” Kardinia Park pitch debacle that resulted in the abandonment of a Big Bash League match last summer won’t be repeated, with the Geelong venue set to host another of the Melbourne Renegades’ home matches this season.
NRL
Broadcasting
- The breakfast radio wars have taken an intriguing twist with SEN duo of Andrew Voss and Greg Alexander toppling their Big Sports Breakfast counterparts by the smallest of margins for the first time in the most recent ratings survey.
- The NBA has agreed to terms on its new media deal, a record 11-year agreement worth $US76 billion that assures player salaries will continue rising for the foreseeable future and one that will change how some viewers access the game.
- Paramount bosses have earmarked close to A$3 billion in cost savings following this week’s announcement that Skydance Media will acquire Paramount’s owner, National Amusements, and merge Skydance with Paramount Global to form New Paramount.
