CHANNELS NINE and 10 remain in the hunt to screen AFL football, with Seven Network boss David Leckie revealing negotiations may be held with Seven's competitors to show some matches under the new broadcast rights agreement.

The Seven Network currently owns all four free-to-air games (Friday night, Saturday afternoon, Saturday night, Sunday afternoon) made available in the five-year deal announced on Thursday.

The deal begins next year and runs until 2016.

When asked if his network was considering on-selling matches, Leckie said: "We may. We're allowed to. We've got a sub-licensing agreement, but that's something down the track.

"We still have a relationship with Channel 10 and we've had a very good four-and-a-half years with them and that may continue. We've just got to work that out."

It is believed to be more likely that if Seven chooses to do a deal it will be with Channel 10, but Leckie admits there is a chance one or more games might be sold to his network's arch-rival Channel Nine.

"There is, but we do have a relationship with Channel 10 so we'll see how that goes," he said.

In an interview on afl.com.au, AFL chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan said that he understood any discussions would be held first with Network 10 and that the AFL would not necessarily be involved in any sub-licensing agreement.

The NAB Cup looks set to stay, with Foxtel purchasing exclusive rights to all matches except the final, which it will simulcast with Channel Seven.

"It doesn't guarantee it [the continuation of the pre-season competition] but we're confident about the pre-season competition," AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou said.

"We were very pleased with the round-robin format in the first round this year. We had our best ratings and best crowds for a long time.

"We believe in the pre-season competition. You've got to play something before the season to provide the players with the right preparation."

And while Leckie pushed for a night grand final in September each year, the League will not entertain such a possibility.

"I'd love to [have a night Grand Final]," he said, "but I've been bashed over the head."

The new TV rights deal is a major boost for the AFL as it embarks on the second leg of its expansion program, with Greater Western Sydney to enter the League next year.

"This is a significant step for AFL fans in NSW and the ACT," GWS chief executive Dale Holmes said.

"The GWS Giants congratulate the AFL on the successful negotiation of these rights, increasing the amount of AFL games broadcast in NSW and the ACT significantly over the next five years."

The deal has also guaranteed the survival of all current clubs - at least for the term of the agreement.

"We've provided assurances to the broadcasters that there'll be nine games every week, for at least 22 rounds, for the next five years," Demetriou said.

"In order to do that you need 18 teams, so I just want to look down the barrel and assure all our clubs and their supporters that the 18 teams we've currently got are the 18 teams that will be there."

However, Demetriou could not guarantee that all Melbourne-based clubs will remain in that city.

"There's no-one coming knocking on our door saying they want to leave and we're not forcing any clubs out," he said.

"This outcome financially is not the panacea for financial success for all clubs. They still have to work hard, and it is hard out there for clubs, and the gap has got bigger in some areas.

"We've got some very creative ideas about how they can grow their revenue, and of course this will help, but it's not going to be the be all and end all."