The league has formally issued Channels 7 and 10 with their contractual rights to bid first for coverage of Australian Rules Football.
The Seven-Ten alliance, formed in March, is expected to reject the offer, freeing Channel 9 to officially enter the rights auction, reports Australia's Herald Sun.
Nine has maintained throughout the past three months it intends to retain AFL content through a partnership with Foxtel.
As part of the terms forwarded to the Seven-Ten consortium on Wednesday, it is understood the AFL has requested more than A$140 million a year - cash - for the next rights, which are expected to cover the 2007 to 2011 seasons.
The deals now involving the News Limited-controlled broadcasters Nine, Ten and Foxtel reap about A$100 million annually, of which about A$20 million is contra.
Meanwhile, Channel 7 head Kerry Stokes is suing several parties, including the AFL, Seven, Nine and News Limited, as part of a A$1billion claim of collusion relating to the demise of pay-TV station C7.
