Channel Nine will make a bold bid to broadcast one AFL game on Sunday afternoons, precipitating a retaliatory move by rival Seven for the highly prized State of Origin series.

The two networks are desperate to increase their ratings in their non-traditional sports states, with Nine's State of Origins guaranteed to deliver 12 million viewers nationally, principally in NSW and Queensland where Seven's AFL coverage, other than Swans matches, competes with the test pattern for viewer numbers.

Chasing the sun: Kurt Tippett of the Swans is challenged by the Gold Coast defence. Channel Nine want to televise Sunday afternoon matches. Credit:Getty Images

Should Nine acquire an AFL game for the popular Sunday afternoon slot and Seven buy Origin, Australia's two dominant free-to-air networks would have stakes in territory where they struggle for advertising dollars.

Nine's bid for an AFL Sunday afternoon game would not be at the expense of its coverage of an NRL match in the same time slot.