It is essential that Football Federation Australia’s next media rights deal, which is in advanced negations, has a meaningful free-to air component.
Rumours of a five-year, $175 million-plus TV rights deal for Australian football has begun to do the rounds in the Australia media, and let’s hope it comes to fruition.
A partnership between Fox Sports and SBS seems the most logical outcome for the FFA, however some other late suitors may join the party.
While Fox Sports are most certainly going to hold on to the majority of the A-League fixtures, a credible free-to-air component must be included in this latest package.
Free-to-air (FTA) TV is the only way the game will progress into the mainstream media. Free-to-air exposure is the lifeblood of the AFL and NRL and the A-League must follow suit.
Football fans need to get their weekly A-League fix and a FTA component would be the only way to achieve this. FTA television exposes the game on levels previously unseen before, as casual and diehard fans alike will be able to bask in the beauty of our global game.
A weekly game and an extensive highlights package is the least I would hope for as an A-League tragic.
Grassroots football would benefit the most from a FTA component as nationwide exposure of our local heroes would beam across TV sets all across the nation.
Young, aspiring footballers watching their heroes such as Alessandro Del Piero, Emile Heskey, Brett Emerton and Archie Thompson would be exposed to their role models on a weekly basis. We need these shining lights on our screens, so that our next generation Socceroos have aspirations to attain to.
The recent big name signings of Del Piero and Heskey tell me that the clubs have a fair idea a sustainable media deal will arise. This sort of confidence shows that greener pastures are just on the horizon.
It was only a few months ago that the Western Sydney Wanderers were against a marquee player, now they are chasing several lucrative names. It seems the FFA will indeed deliver on its next deal, in turn encouraging other clubs to restore the pursuit of a marquee player.
Ben Buckley, whose tenure has been defined by numerous mistakes, has a chance to make the latest TV deal a parting gift to football fans. The man who generated copious amounts of money for the AFL from ruthless media bargaining must do the same for the FFA; it’s the least he could do for the fans.
David Gallop doesn’t deserve a train wreck; he deserves a platform where the game can take off from. Buckley, it’s time to deliver.
SBS has covered the game soundly over the decade, with intricate knowledge and a ‘fan-first’ mentality that will ensure that their coverage will work. An extensive highlights program and a minimum of one game a week would be indeed invaluable for the football fan. Fingers crossed this is the outcome which arises.
Fox Sports has covered the A-League brilliantly over the past few years, so a bigger budget and more innovations would bring the game to heights we are yet to experience.
Fox Sports has shown faith in the league’s inaugural days, so it deserves to be rewarded for its trust in the game. Let’s hope the FFA and Fox Sports agree to a package that pleases the fans like never before.
With a TV deal nearing its conclusion, Gallop, the new head of the FFA, can focus on memberships and bringing the clubs back to turning a profit. These are essential elements that along with the TV rights that will allow the game to never wilt and go from strength to strength.
The A-League is in a period of transition, which increasingly looks like one of rapid progress and positivity.
This is what we have been waiting for football fans. Remember, we are football.
Simon
Guest
so is the A-League going FTA on SBS if so cool as i am not paying for pay TV only for Sport Channel's
Duncan schouten
Guest
While I think a free to air component is essential as eighty five percent of tv audience watch free to air I would find it unlikely the stations apart from sbs would put in any sizeable bids as they have vested interests they want to protect Motorsports for Seven is a high rating sport for the summer and Tennis for channel Nine as well as the AFL, NRL and Cricket but not having pay tv I had it once and apart from the sport was so average would never get it again will mean I will get to all the Roar's home matches which is probably the main reason it is not on free to air which it isn't in England and they get sell out crowds every week in football and rugby but 175 million just means the A league will struggle along and be looking over it's shoulder each year not knowing whether it will be here next season or not .When you look at the massive amount of sport on free to air tv maybe we have been spoiled and just expect all sports to be provided free of charge which just may not be possible in the future
Jon
Guest
I'm in shock! Last year when it was suggested Fox did little to grow the sport in Australia and, due to the cost involved in maintaining a pay-TV contract, placed the game in an exclusive market, the responses were all about how good pay-TV is for football. Reading through these comments it is like I have stumbled across a new Web Site.
Bee Bee
Guest
One game a week on FTA would not hurt anyone in the slightest. It benefits all. Including Foxtel. Maybe they should give away a game to FTA for next to nothing. Long term interests of this sport demand more community exposure.
Neil
Guest
The facts are - free to air television wants the game for next to nothing, that would lead to the collapse of the A League. Without Fox there is no A League. I go without in others areas to have Foxtel and also go to as many matches as possible. Those who say FFA should ignore the dollars don't live in the real world. Though it would be good to have football on free to air we have to be practical.
Mantis
Roar Guru
FTA has to be involved in the next tv rights deal. Foxtel has done a good job from what I see (which is rarely, mostly at the pub) and have heard from other people. SBS would no doubt do a good job, and having a sunday arvo game and a highlights package would be awesome, something similar to Match of the Day in England. Fingers crossed it can happen
mahony
Guest
palmface
mahony
Guest
Its not about finding a new $50m - they will sell advertising and they are rumoured to be dumping the UCL also....
Bee Bee
Guest
What makes dollars. More interest. What makes interest. People talking about the game, seeing the game, being interested in the game. FTA is a big factor in creating general community interest. Whatever the $$ they get for this deal, their next will be much bigger if they can get on FTA. THINK BIG PICTURE FFA. Please look beyond this TV figure. There is much more to consider than the dollar amount.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Minus from me. The key to a legacy wont be a dollar amount, or even a dollar amount distributed to clubs. It will be if the league, and the code, is in a better shape than when he found it. Its been a rough couple of years for the HAL, with instability causing two clubs to fold and a third to walk right up to the brink. Personally, I think a second Sydney team is a great idea for any code, and WSW should have a decent chance of becoming stable and successful. But, to me, it's going to come down to if the league can help the clubs get their structures right, and be insulated from the ups and downs of the commercial world as it fills and empties the pockets of club patrons. If the period of the next TV contract sees no clubs folding, its a win. If, regardless of the dollar amounts, clubs fold, then it's a loss.
Big Bob
Guest
+3Million other Australian football supporters
Geordie
Guest
Blokes are creatures of habit - the NRL/AFL seasons are over - they notice there is still Friday Night "Footy" on each week - they will watch it to keep up that routine of putting the feet up, having a few beers and ignoring the Mrs.
Griffo
Roar Guru
+1
Armado
Guest
If SBS can afford that I would be staggered. Their yearly budget including radio would not get to anything like that.
Armado
Guest
Spot on, used to follow the NSL closely because of SBS, now I just get a bit of Victory news here and there from the web and highlights on the news.
Phil
Guest
If all we can get is $175 million, then soccer has failed in this country. To have any credibilty we need to crack the $300 million mark and some form of free to air coverage. If Ben Buckley can achieve this, then he will have left a legacy.
Armado
Guest
Am fed up, really I have had a gutfull with these administrators like Buckley, Demetriou, you name them claiming they made AFL popular and what not. They used to always get over 100,000 to each grand final. For 100 damn years. It is not an overnight success. Making something from the ground up is talent. Who can claim that. Maybe that Zuckerberg bloke of Facebook or Dick Smith. The others are nobodies I am afraid. Put the game on FTA too. I will never get Fuxtel, never ever. I will go along to the stadium occasionally. But it is just too pricey for what you get. Even an hour's highlights package like Match of the Day on the BBC is enough for me.
pete4
Guest
stam - No one is saying an FTA component is not desirable however that said I think 5 year $250M deal was a very acheivable figure. Many fans steered clear of criticizing Ben Buckley directly for all that's gone on because his mandate when he was brought in by the FFA on $1M+ annual salary was the TV deal.
stam
Roar Rookie
Would you take this deal that's on the table now or a foxtel exclusive deal that's an extra $10mil a year? I know I'd be jumping on the deal that's on offer now.
pete4
Guest
I agree $175m would be an underwhelming way for Ben Buckley to sign off