I wish upon a Packer

[silvertail]

Citigroup Venture Capital (CVC) bought Channel 9 from Packer. Packer then buys into Channel 10. He then offers and succeeds to get Murdoch to buy half of these shares.

That much is on public record. The rest is purely speculation.

Looks to me like Packer was trying to continue to share rugby league with Murdoch - 50/50 share in the game, just like our daddies at the end of the war.

But what went wrong? Why did Packer recently sell out of Channel 10? Could it be because Murdoch could not guarantee equal ownership?

I don't think that Packer is stupid and I think that there were good reasons why OneTel failed.

This won't happen, but I do wish upon a scorned Packer to correct the outcome of the Super League War.

First strike: Buy back Channel 9 from CVC.

Second strike: Buy all league rights for 2b over 5 years. Foxtel miss out on league and all games are played live on dedicated 9HD channel.

Wishful thinking, I know, but it would be the end of News Ltd running our game.

 

[Matabele]

James Packer is squandering too much money on casinos to be able to pull that off.

 

[Masked Eagle]

Why would you want to get rid of Foxtel? Subscription TV is now where the big money is coming from. Foxtel make up a bigger % of AFL TV income than ch7.

Also you say you don't think Packer is stupid, but then you mention OneTel in the same sentence!

I really don't think we want to have News Ltd out of the game entirely. Having the biggest media group on your side isn't a bad thing. We just need to get the balance right which is hopefully what the IC will do.

 

[Chip and Chase]

Wouldn't he have to run it past L Ron Hubbard first ?

 

[Masked Eagle]

James Packer is squandering too much money on casinos to be able to pull that off.

Actually last I heard was that his big casino in Macau has actually started to make some serious money after a very difficult start.

 

[silvertail]

Packer continues to build a bigger and bigger global gambling empire and is prepared to take some hits along the way.

 

[Jatz Crackers]

Packers intro and then split from Murdoch at Ten signals he isnt in a position to do anything like buying back 9. Bring Kerry back.

 

[Chip and Chase]

I'd rather he followed his Dad's lead and landed us a modern day Miles and Lewis signing....except he could one up old Kerry by actually closing the deal.

 

[silvertail]

Funny how Telstra, PBL and News Ltd got into bed to own league.

Funny how OneTel died and then Telstra fed off it's carcass.

I have Foxtel as well and I would gladly get rid of FoxSports if all games were on 9HD. May even get rid of Foxtel altogether if new FTA channels provide better content. Apart from league, Foxtel is crap and we will all be ordering or getting movies from other sources soon.

Yes, I know it's a fantasy - shows how much I hate News Ltd.

 

[ManlyBacker]

Funny how Telstra, PBL and News Ltd got into bed to own league.

Funny how OneTel died and then Telstra fed off it's carcass.

OneTel was a big mistake but you can be sure they didn't screw up deliberately to make Telstra stronger. They were young and got it badly wrong - that's all.

I would like to see a link of where Packer has quit 10. As far as I know he has only left the 10 Board and that was to stop some of the hurt from the Warburton poaching. I still see it as a joint venture between Packer and Murdoch to weaken OneHD and give more bargaining or discounting clout to Foxtel. Lachlan owns shares as a family member in News but that is it. He will only get a profit from his investment in 10 by cutting the costs and the channel making dollars. I hope I am wrong and it is a deliberate move by OneHD to gain some RL games.

 

[Cameron]

i wish ten had the 1.25 bil to buy the whole lot and put it on one hd and ten. It would make them the number one network, they already have made large inroads with the popularity of the reality shows.

 

[Jatz Crackers]

I would like to see a link of where Packer has quit 10. As far as I know he has only left the 10 Board and that was to stop some of the hurt from the Warburton poaching.

There isnt a link because Packer didnt quit his investment, just the board. (quite right MB)

I see that as a problematic issue for Packer. He obviously had designs on where 10 should be headed and he now has lost direct control, leaving Lachlan to influence outcomes.

I dont believe the Warburton thing was the catalyst, I suspect Packers depararture denotes that all isnt rosey between him & LM over this.