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ABC to broadcast Socceroos' Asian Cup fixtures

Robbie Kruse. (Photo: AFP)
27th October, 2014
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The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) have announced they will join major partner Fox Sports in covering the 2015 Asian Cup, with a deal reached over the weekend ensuring all Socceroos matches are broadcast free-to-air across Australia.

However, Fox Sports have only loosened their grip on the broadcast rights, with all the ABC broadcast matches set to be delayed by two hours.

The competition kicks off on January 9, 2015, with Australia facing Kuwait in their opening Group A match at AAMI Park in Melbourne.

The Socceroos other group opponents are Oman (January 13) and Korea Republic (January 17).

In addition to the three guaranteed Socceroo fixtures, the ABC will also broadcast the quarter finals, semi-finals and any knock-out matches involving Australia on delay.

On top of that, ABC 1 will screen a nightly highlights show at 10pm throughout the duration of the tournament.

Chief executive of the FFA, David Gallop, was delighted to reach an arrangement that put Socceroo games in front of all Australian football fans.

“The FFA has strong relationships with a number of broadcasters and in this case the ABC was uniquely positioned, across TV, radio and online to join with us and Fox Sports in bringing the AFC Asian Cup to as many Australians as possible.”

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Football’s traditional free-to-air home, SBS, was offered the opportunity to bid for the Asian Cup and it is believed they submitted a greater offer than the ABC.

However, the FFA saw the competition as a unique opportunity to test the waters with a new broadcast partner.

The competition’s organising committee chief executive, Michael Brown, was also thrilled by the announcement, especially in regards to the level of reach it would provide.

“This agreement will create an even bigger audience for a once-in-a-generation event that will put Australia firmly in the Asian and indeed global spotlight,” he said.

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