Ten Sport

Ten Sport

Division of:	Network Ten
Major Broadcasting Contracts:	Big Bash League Formula One Moto GP Supercars Championship Bledisloe Cup Wallabies Internationals
Parent:	Ten Network Holdings
Website:	tenplay.com.au/sport

Ten Sport (stylised as TEN Sport, known as Ten's World of Sport from 1992 until 1996) is the brand that all sporting events broadcast on Network Ten are broadcast under, including the former sport event team; the Logie Award winning AFL commentary team hosted by Stephen Quartermain.

History

In 1978, Network Ten used to air the Melbourne Cup but lost the rights in Early 2002 to the Seven Network after 24 years.

Ten used to air the National Rugby League (NRL) (then New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL)) in 1983 till 1991, but the Nine Network took over the rights.

In 1992, Network Ten also used to air the National Basketball League (NBL) during the middle of the basketball boom in Australia in the mid-90s, but after delegating games to extremely late night time slots the network eventually ended its broadcasting. In March 2010 however, it was announced that Network Ten and digital channel One would show NBL games for the next 5 years. Starting with 2 games per week, and raising to 5 per week in the 2014/15 season. It was also revealed that they would show Boomers and Opals games.

On 25 January 2001, Ten acquired partial broadcast rights for Saturday afternoon and Saturday night games in the Australian Football League, the elite Australian rules football competition, displacing the Seven Network which had held the rights for more than 40 years. The deal also assigned the exclusive rights for finals broadcasting to Network Ten. Ten subsequently placed a successful bid to jointly broadcast the game from 2007 to 2011, jointly with Seven. Ten ended broadcasting the AFL after the conclusion of the 2011 season, with its final broadcast the 2011 AFL Grand Final.

In 2003, Network Ten started broadcasting the Formula One World Championship after Channel Nine dropped the rights in 2002 after more than twenty years of coverage.

In 2007 they also started showing coverage of the qualification on tape delay early on Sunday mornings in most states. In 2008, Ten introduced live coverage of race day on its HD channel, Ten HD. All races from the 2008 French Grand Prix onwards have been shown live on what is now channel One. As a result, standard definition coverage has enjoyed less focus and now airs at a later time.

Network Ten broadcast the AFL and the 2007 Rugby World Cup in the 1080i High Definition format.^[1] As of 2008, AFL matches have been shown in prime time in all capital cities except Sydney, which receives the telecast usually after 10:30pm unless the Sydney Swans are playing. Previously, all AFL matches were replayed into the Brisbane and Sydney markets, usually after 10:30pm unless the Brisbane Lions or Sydney Swans were playing. In 2007, all of the finals Network Ten were assigned to were shown live into both markets although neither the Lions or Swans were participating, thus putting it head to head with the NRL finals which were aired on the Nine Network. Before 2005, all finals were delayed into both markets unless their teams were playing.

Network Ten used to air WWF Raw, WWF Superstars and WWF Pay Per Views on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights between 1995 and 1999, but this ended when Foxtel bought the rights to air the shows. Originally WWF programming was aired on a week delay when broadcasting of the programming started in 1995. Until 1998, WWF Superstars was changed to a 6-month delay due to financial reasons with the exception of WWF RAW and WWF Pay per views.

Network Ten broadcasts major sporting events including; the Formula 1, AFL Premiership Season and Finals (In conjunction with the Seven Network and Foxtel), Moto GP World Championship, NASCAR (TEN HD from 2008), and the Red Bull Air Race World Series. Ten also holds the rights to the 2007 Rugby World Cup and the US Masters golf tournament.

As well as this, Network Ten, in joint partnership with subscription television provider Foxtel, had broadcast rights for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.^[2]

First time realising the need to broadcast cricket in Australia to increase viewership, Network Ten bought the broadcast rights to the Indian Premier League (IPL) Cricket, which started on 18 April 2008. The network broadcast the event annually for the next 5 years although there is some doubt that the Australian contracted national players will be available for the tournament.^[3]

Ten Sport won a Logie Award for "Most Popular Sport Program" at the 2012 TV Week Logie Awards. It was accepted by Stephen Quartermain and Mark Howard for Network Ten's Telecast of the 2011 Grand Final.

In November 2014 Network Ten signed Australia's Mixed Martial Arts event series BRACE to a multi event contract for live broadcasts on the TENplay digital platform www.tenplay.com.au/sport/brace

Events

Ten Sport holds broadcast rights to the following events:

Current

Past

Programs

Ten Sport has presented the following recurring programmes:

Staff and commentators

Australian Football League

Ten Sport previously broadcast Australian Rules Football (2002–2011). The Ten Sport AFL commentary team, won the 2012 Silver Logie Award for "Most Outstanding Sport Program", for its telecast of the 2011 AFL Grand Final hosted by Stephen Quartermain.

The commentary team remained relatively unchanged over its 10-year telecast journey, notable mentions:

• Gerard Whateley was a boundary rider during their first year of broadcasting, 2002.
• Veteran VFL player and Western Bulldogs coach Terry Wallace was an expert commentator from 2002-2004. He expert commentated (as a guest) during the 2005 AFL Grand Final.
• Christi Malthouse (daughter of AFL coaching legend Mick Malthouse) was a key part of the team from 2002-2008. Christi stepped down from the role at the end of 2008 (nearly half way through the second broadcast rights deal) for unexplained reasons. She remained with Network Ten until 2010 as a fill-in sport presenter on Melbourne's Ten News At Five with Mal Walden & Helen Kapalos.
• Luke Darcy joined the team in 2007 (after guest roles in 2006, following a severe injury).
• Corey Wingard (a senior sport reporter from Ten News At Five in Adelaide), joined the team as a Boundary Rider for Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide home matches and Grand Finals.
• Mark Howard & Kelli Underwood joined the team from 2009, replacing Christi.

Kelli joined the network in 2006 as a sport reporter for Ten News At Five in Melbourne and eventually Sports Tonight. Mark also joined in 2006, as a pit reporter for the networks V8 Supercars coverage and later 9am with David & Kim.

• Matthew Lloyd joined as an expert commentator in 2010 (after guest roles in 2009).
• Andrew Maher (The Fifth Quarter and Before the Game: Host, on an annual rotating basis & Boundary Rider: Melbourne Matches). Original member from 2002.
• Matthew Lloyd (Expert Commentator & The Fifth Quarter: Co-Host, occasional basis)
• Robert Walls (Expert Commentator). Original member from 2002.
• Mark Howard (Boundary Rider: Melbourne Matches).
• Stephen Quartermain (Chief Caller & Host). Original member from 2002.
• Anthony Hudson (Host & Commentator). Original member from 2002.
• Michael Christian (Commentator & The Fifth Quarter: Host, on an annual rotating basis). Original member from 2002.
• Tim Lane (Host & Commentator). Commentated from 2003 onwards.
• Luke Darcy (Expert Commentator & The Fifth Quarter: Co-Host, occasional basis).
• Malcolm Blight (Expert Commentator & The Fifth Quarter: Co-Host, occasional basis). Original member from 2002.
• Kelli Underwood (Commentator; Boundary Rider: Melbourne Matches).
• Neil Cordy (Boundary Rider: Sydney Matches). Original member from 2002.
• Tim Gossage (Boundary Rider: Perth Matches). Original member from 2002.
• Bill McDonald (Boundary Rider: Queensland Matches). Original member from 2002.

NOTE: Matches played in Tasmania, Canberra, Darwin or on the Gold Coast had either Mark Howard or Kelli Underwood as the Boundary Rider. Christi Malthouse previously usually filled this role,

Commonwealth Games

2014

From Glasgow Studio

• Mel McLaughlin (Late Evening Host)
• Matthew White (Early Morning Host)
• Ian Thorpe (Late Evening Co-Host)
• Steve Hooker (Early Morning Co-Host)
• Leisel Jones (Early Morning Co-Host)
• Mark Howard (Triathlon commentator/Overnight host (when swimming finished)/hockey finals host on ONE/poolside interviews/reporter)
• Tim Gossage (reporter)

From Melbourne (Commentators Lounge)

• Greg Rust (Early Evening Host on One)
• Gordon Bray (Opening/Closing Ceremonies, Hockey & Rugby 7s commentator)
• Nicole Livingstone (Swimming commentator)
• Liz Ellis (Netball commentator)

2010

Various Ten programs including Toasted TV, Totally Wild, Puzzle Play, Huey's Kitchen, Neighbours, The 7PM Project, and Sports Tonight goes on hiatus during Ten's broadcast of the Commonwealth Games.

• Brad McEwan (Good Morning Delhi co-host)
• Kathryn Robinson (Good Morning Delhi co-host)
• Stephen Quartermain (Afternoon Host)
• Bill Woods (Evening Host)
• Tim Lane (Athletics commentators)
• Andrew Maher
• Anthony Hudson (Swimming/Diving commentator)
• Nicole Livingstone (Swimming commentator)
• Mark Howard (Poolside interviews/reporter)
• Dean Pullar (Diving commentator)
• Michael Turtur
• Liz Ellis (Netball commentators)
• Luke Darcy

Motorsport

Supercars Championship

• Matthew White (Host, 2015-)
• Mark Larkham (Expert Analysis, 2015-)
• Rick Kelly (Expert Analysis, 2015-)
• Mark Howard (Pit Reporter, 2015-)
• Grant Denyer (Reporter, 2015-)
• Kate Peck (Reporter, 2015-)

Formula 1

• Matthew White (Host and Australian GP Main Commentator, 2015-)
• Mark Webber (Australian GP Expert Analysis, 2014-)
• Alan Jones (Expert Analysis, 2013–)
• Tom Clarkson (Ground correspondent and Highlights Host)
• James Allen (Ground correspondent and Highlights Host)
• Mark Howard (Australia GP Pit Reporter, 2009-)
• Richard Craill (Australian GP Support categories commentator 2012-Present)

Moto GP

• Daryl Beattie (Expert Analysis, 2003–)
• Mark Howard (Host, 2015-)

RPM

• Matthew White (Host, 2015-)
• Alan Jones (F1, 2015-)
• Daryl Beattie (Moto GP, 2015-)
• Mark Larkham (V8, 2015-)

Past

• Bill Woods (RPM/V8/F1/Moto GP Host/Commentator, 1997–2006)
• Barry Sheene (RPM/Moto GP Commentator, 1997–2002)
• Neil Crompton (RPM/F1/V8 Commentator, 1997–2006)
• Leigh Diffey (V8 Host/Commentator, 2005–2006)
• Grant Denyer (V8 Pit Reporter, 1998–2003)
• Greg Rust (V8 Pit Reporter, 1998–2006, RPM/F1/Moto GP Host, 2007–2014)
• Craig Baird (RPM/F1/Moto GP Expert Analysis, 2010–2012)
• Cameron McConville (RPM/F1 Expert Analysis, 2007–2009)
• Mel McLaughlin (Australian GP Host, 2014-2016)

Rugby Union

Current

• Matt White (Host, 2014-2016)
• Gordon Bray (Commentator, 2013–2016)
• Matt Burke (Commentator, 2013–2016)
• Nathan Sharpe (Sideline Commentator, 2015-2016)
• Scott Mackinnon (Host/Reporter, 2013–2016)

Former

• Stirling Mortlock (Sideline Commentator, 2013-2014)
• Stephen Moore (Expert Analysis, 2014)

2007 Rugby World Cup

• Bill Woods (Host)
• Ben Darwin
• Ben Tune

National Basketball League

• Stephen Quartermain (Host/Commentator, Melbourne only, 1992–1997)
• Steve Carfino (Host/Commentator, 1992–1995, 2010–2014)
• Bill Woods (Host/Commentator, 1992–1997, 2014–2015)
• Andrew Gaze (Commentator, Melbourne only, 2010–2015)
• Brett Maher (Commentator, Adelaide only, 2010–2015)
• Tony Ronaldson (Commentator, Perth only, 2010–2015)
• Tim Gossage (Host/Commentator, Perth Only, 1992–1997, 2014)
• Shane Heal (Commentator, Sydney only, 2010–2014)

Big Bash League

• Mel McLaughlin (Host, 2013-2016)
• Mark Howard (Host/Commentator, 2013-present)
• Adam Gilchrist (Host/Commentator, 2013-present)
• Andrew Maher (Host/Commentator, 2013-present)
• Ricky Ponting (Commentator, 2013-present)
• Damien Fleming (Commentator, 2013-present)
• Mark Waugh (Commentator, 2013-present)
• Kevin Pietersen (Commentator, 2014-present)
• Andrew Flintoff (Commentator, 2014-present)
• Tim Gossage (Reporter, 2013-present)
• Roger Oldridge (Reporter, 2013-present)
• Adam Hawse (Reporter, 2013-present)
• Mel Jones (Reporter, 2015-present)
• Lisa Sthalekar (Reporter, 2015-present)
• Viv Richards (Commentator, 2013-2015)
• Roz Kelly (Reporter, 2013-2015, Host 2016-present)

Women's Big Bash League

• Mel McLaughlin (Host, 2015-2016)
• Andrew Maher (Host/Commentator, 2015-present)
• Mel Jones (Commentator, 2015-present)
• Lisa Sthalekar (Commentator, 2015-present)
• Belinda Clark (Guest Commentator, 2015-present)
• Melinda Farrell (Guest Commentator, 2015-present)

Swimming

• Lachy Reid (Host/Commentator 2013-2015)
• Nicole Livingstone (Commentator, 2009–2015)
• Mark Howard (Poolside interviews, 2009–2014)
• Tim Gossage (Poolside interviews, 2015)
• Mel McLaughlin (Host, 2014–2015)
• Anthony Hudson (Host/Commentator, 2009–2011)
• Stephen Quartermain (Host/Commentator, 2012)
• Leisel Jones (Co-Host, 2014)

Logo history

• 

  2008 – 2013

• 

  22 June 2013 – present

See also

• ABC Sport
• Seven Sport
• Nine's Wide World of Sports
• SBS Sport
• List of Australian television series
• List of longest running Australian television series
• Sports broadcasting contracts in Australia

References