Ten Network Holdings is hoping to break pay television's stranglehold on provincial rugby union, as it considers scrapping struggling shows such as So You Think You Can Dance to cut costs.

The free-to-air network is keen to secure major sports broadcast rights such as the AFL and Super Rugby to lift flagging ratings, but it must save money to bid for them.

It is understood Ten will likely axe reality show So You Think You Can Dance next year.

Ten executive chairman Hamish McLennan, who has said Ten has a ''merciless focus'' on costs, believes the broadcaster needs a winter sport to compete with rivals Nine Entertainment Co, which has the National Rugby League, and Seven West Media with the AFL.

''[Australian Rugby Union chief executive] Bill Pulver is doing a great job with rugby and we'd be interested in getting some Super Rugby onto free-to-air,'' Mr McLennan told Fairfax Media.