The AFL has announced what it calls a landmark agreement to broadcast matches live into China. AFL chief Andrew Demetriou was joined by Victorian Premier John Brumby on Wednesday as he made the announcement at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium.
The Shanghai Media Group will televise one AFL match every week live into China on International Channel Shanghai.
The agreement will include the 2010 finals series and the Shanghai Showdown between Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions in Shanghai on October 17.
It will extend into the 2011 AFL Premiership season to include one AFL match each week.
“The AFL is very excited to showcase Australian football to one of the world’s biggest markets as we continue to develop the code on the international stage,” Demetriou said.
The AFL has also launched a development program in Shanghai schools to teach young children the basics of the game and recently launched a Mandarin language website, www.51afl.com.au.
Brumby boasted the agreement was a tremendous coup.
“(It’s an) opportunity for Victoria and will further strengthen links with our major trading partner and our friends in China,” he said.
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Footy Legend said | August 26th 2010 @ 7:22am | Report comment
Great news for the game
Mister Football said | August 26th 2010 @ 7:50am | Report comment
A big market, not yet fully occupied by sport, growing middle classes, capable of producing athletes suited to playing Australian Football, it’s worth a shot.
Beast-A-Tron said | August 27th 2010 @ 3:08pm | Report comment
“…growing middle classes…”
I just want to highlight that one point. You may not realise it Mister Football, but that is an INCREDIBLY relevant point to make about the direction of cultural cycles.
Today, the American middle class is being decimated, soon to be near-extinct (the rest of Western Europe & the UK ain’t fairing better either). The Chinese on the other hand are seeing the exact opposite. Such is the consequence of fiat currencies.
Paul Keating appears to have had remarkable foresight: the 21st century belongs to the East.
Joel said | August 26th 2010 @ 8:05am | Report comment
Good on the AFL, no doubt this will raise the hackles of some people which have an almost phobic fear of the AFL doing anything to raise its profile internationally. They’d much prefer nobody else in the world even knew of the existence of the AFL. It’s as if they’re worried it might catch on.
Norm said | August 26th 2010 @ 5:26pm | Report comment
-”It’s as if they’re worried it might catch on.”…Joel AFL struggles to catch on in NSW & Qld.
beaver fever said | August 26th 2010 @ 6:01pm | Report comment
HMMM, Norm……phobic fear, you can bank on it.
Norm said | August 26th 2010 @ 9:59pm | Report comment
Hey don’t take my word for it beaver brain look at what Brumby said “…an opportunity for Victoria”. He didn’t say ” an opportunity for Australia”.
Joel said | August 27th 2010 @ 8:53am | Report comment
Maybe that’s because he’s the premier of Victoria and not the Prime Minister of Australia?
Norm said | August 27th 2010 @ 1:20pm | Report comment
and maybe because its Victoria’s game & not Australia’s.
beaver fever said | August 27th 2010 @ 5:04pm | Report comment
Hmm, Norm, …………….. phobic comment, you can bank on it.
Mister Football said | August 27th 2010 @ 5:06pm | Report comment
I’m pretty sure the Chinese will understand it as the Australian game (which it is).
Norm said | August 27th 2010 @ 5:19pm | Report comment
You are seriously lacking in originality.
Norm said | August 27th 2010 @ 5:22pm | Report comment
Whatever Mr Foney.
Joel said | August 27th 2010 @ 5:24pm | Report comment
Wait, I think I know how this goes…
are not
are too
are not
are too
are not
are too
…
Beast-A-Tron said | August 27th 2010 @ 5:29pm | Report comment
“Whatever Mr Foney.”
Classy.
Norm said | August 27th 2010 @ 5:31pm | Report comment
Yeah I thought so.
Beast-A-Tron said | August 27th 2010 @ 5:32pm | Report comment
Did you think of it all by yourself?
You deserve a pat on the back!
Norm said | August 27th 2010 @ 5:33pm | Report comment
If you say so.
Beast-A-Tron said | August 27th 2010 @ 5:35pm | Report comment
Um… you realise I’m being facetious?
Or are you just embarrassed?
Norm said | August 27th 2010 @ 5:39pm | Report comment
_”Um… you realise I’m being facetious?”…OMG REALLY!!!
Beast-A-Tron said | August 27th 2010 @ 5:43pm | Report comment
Option 2 then, fair enough.
Forgetmenot said | August 26th 2010 @ 8:29am | Report comment
Great news.
Ill be letting all my Chinese friends know about it. It can only grow from here.
Redb said | August 26th 2010 @ 8:57am | Report comment
Worth a shot for sure.
Victer said | August 26th 2010 @ 10:21am | Report comment
I’m still yet to be convinced that the chinese like full contact sports, in Hong Kong rugby was quite popular though. Basketball and football are the main sports in mainland china of course with tennis being high on the list. I was there recently and there wasn’t much evidence of anything else. In terms of player development I would of thought pouring more resources in to places such as Africa would prove more fruitful, as they have the natural build for AFL.
beaver fever said | August 26th 2010 @ 10:30am | Report comment
I think the northern Chinese ……. generally enjoy more physical sports, it’s possible the AFL may get some viewers but i would not hope for a lot more, badminton and table tennis are more their go, i think the space issue is a problem.
Art Sapphire said | August 26th 2010 @ 10:35am | Report comment
Its primarily an English language channel for expats – this is from their website.
“International Channel Shanghai (ICS web site: http://www.icshanghai.com) was launched on January 1st 2008 and now broadcasts to 4.4 million families throughout Shanghai. Utilizing IPTV and SMGBB (http://www.smgbb.cn), ICS also reaches audiences across China on digital TV and the Internet. The channel broadcasts 24 hours everyday, which includes 6.5 hours of original programming. The majority of programs are in English, with some also in Japanese, all accompanied by Chinese subtitles. ICS is a comprehensive international channel providing news, entertainment, education, fashion, award-winning TV shows, and movies. Meanwhile, ICS programs are also aired on CNN, NHK, and CCTV-9.”
Westcoast929406 said | August 26th 2010 @ 5:06pm | Report comment
The AFL should ride in on the back of the new Cricket developments in China and negotiate shared ground use if possible in the future.
The Indiain Cricket authoritories have allocated large amounts of cricket equipt to Chinese Cricket.
Previous press releases from the AFL indicated a potential audience of 100 miilion for the TV deal- How that matches up with the ICS network and its affilates remains to be seen.
The new website mentioned above is a bit different to the usual footy set up. It combines footy news, history and development with social articles discussing food, travel etc.
The webmaster is updating the site frequently which has attracted so far about 600 followers.
If using FFOX download IM Translater from the FF site and then click highlight on the articles theN right click IM T and
the Mandarin is auto translated into rough english.
Mister Football said | August 26th 2010 @ 8:35pm | Report comment
Those interested in the internationalisation of Australian Football may also wish to view these stories (sourced from WFN):
An interview with Carlton’s Irish rookie, Zac Tuohy, currently playing with their VFL club, Northern Bullants:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCUGafnYwt0
Collingwood has just signed up two more Irish rookies, aged 17:
http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/2010082500211217#comments
Rubbish said | August 26th 2010 @ 11:28pm | Report comment
Sell it to the Chinese as ‘Aerial Ping Pong’.