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Time for football to negotiate a bumper broadcast deal

Roar Rookie
20th August, 2015
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David Gallop's legacy could rest on the value of the next football broadcast deal. AAP Image/Paul Miller
Roar Rookie
20th August, 2015
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1756 Reads

In Gill we trust. So tweeted the Adelaide Crow’s Patrick Dangerfield after AFL boss Gillon McLachlan secured a $2.5 billion media rights deal.

And well they might trust, for it sets the game up beautifully for future growth and success. The NRL have a similar story to tell.

The question for all football fans then is: will we be saying the same about David Gallop next year?

While it’s nice to daydream about what football could do with this kind of money, the reality lies far in the distance. Recently, a figure of around $80 million a year was bandied around for football’s next deal, roughly doubling the existing one.

On the surface that might look like a great result, but is it really?

For football, this extra money would be immeasurably useful in keeping A-League clubs in the black, improving youth development and growing women’s and grassroots football. It actually leaves the game further behind its rivals than before, despite Gallop constantly reminding us all that we’re shooting for top spot.

During his tenure, Gallop has been widely regarded by most football fans as a huge step up from his predecessors. He has given the game a badly needed voice, overseen the development of the Whole of Football Plan and seen a mighty Asian Cup triumph on home soil.

But after all of this positivity, the game would appear to be losing ground on its rivals – at least in a financial sense.

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It’s worth pointing out that the deal isn’t yet done. It’s not impossible that Gallop could pull a rabbit out of the hat. However, it’s more likely at this stage that the final result will be less than everyone is hoping for.

After speaking with a couple of people who know the sports media landscape intimately, recent events might see football lose out. Channel Nine are reportedly interested in one A-League game a week but will have to deal with Fox Sports – who are less than pleased with them over the way the NRL rights were negotiated.

What we don’t see is a party who are super keen for football, let alone two or three fighting to drive up the price. This does not bode well for football and may even put the comparatively meagre $80 million figure in doubt.

This then leads us back to Gallop. If indeed the above plays out and football does not get the deal it so craves, what impact will it have on Gallop’s football legacy?

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