Last week a football match took place in Gosford between an Australian A-League team and a Chinese Super League team. The Telegraph reported the match as follows.
“Gosford is now on the map in China, thanks to the AFC Champions League match between the Central Coast Mariners and Guangzhou Evergrande.
The Wednesday night game had a live TV audience of 50 million in China – more than double Australia’s population. Guangzhou, who won 2-1, are the Chinese equivalent of Manchester United.
This was reported towards the end of a rugby league writer’s attack on the AFL and the football number helped his case.
I understand 4.6 billion people live in Asia.
In India Football is number two to cricket and the Philippines baseball is number 1, basketball number 2, with football three.
In Korean and Japan football is growing in popularity.
I read somewhere if you add others watching then the figure was over 70 million Asia-wide, with 50 million in China alone.
Let’s just assume the AFL got 50 million people in China to watch a match between and Australia AFL side and a Chinese AFL side.
Would the it be reported in the press or would it be totally ignored?
At this point I wish not to blame or cast doubt on any AFL, NRL or rugby union writer. It is not their job to promote football.
However I can have a guess and say the same AFL, NRL, and rugby union writers would make sure those in the broader media understood the implications for Australian/Asian relationships if one of their teams was involved in such a game.
The Asian Games and the last Asian Football Cup received scant media in Australia. We read constantly about the problems in Asia in our media but it’s rare to read positive articles and outside business, boat people and terrorism.
Recently China became the nation that most of our tourists came from.
I wonder how many people on this site are aware that on the Central Coast a Chinese company paid Wyong Council close to forty million dollars for land to build a replica of the Hidden City.
The cost is estimated at $575 million to build and the company building it believe it will become Australia’s biggest tourist attraction.
I am truly amazed how a sporting event watched by 70 million across Asia, and 50 in China alone, is not headline news.
In perspective I think the AFL rates about 180, 000 for matches on Fox (let’s say 200,000). Nine matches per round, meaning around two million people.
The China watch alone for one match rated 25 rounds of the AFL Fox audience.
So where is the blame for this uneven coverage?
Maybe these figures are totally unimportant. Like the reported 600 million that watched the Australian V Japan match.
Look at the table below it shows the ratings for the each code.
Shows the code and the ratings for 2011 and 2012.
AFL … 113, 645, 255 and 123, 360, 475;
NRL … 113, 572, 436 and 113, 991, 113;
Union … 8, 833, 317 and 7, 844, 131.
This means that football is the most watched sport in the region. When we broaden our horizons and start caring about something other than what happens in our backyard?
Stu
Guest
The thing that bugs me about this is Naitanui was born in Australia. What a revelation he is - Australian-born kid plays Australian rules football. Ground breaking.
NUFCMVFC
Roar Guru
What is funny is that if an AFL game is played in the Middle East in front of nobody and no one local cares, it still gets heaps of press and the Victorian Premier turned up etc Merely playing to an Australian audience only Once again I think it is a matter of knowing what to make of the ACL at this stage Clubs aren't interested in it at the moment because it costs them money to compete, therefore as we can see with Charlesworth even it is treated as an irritant and the FFA are more interested in facilitating a competition for a domestic audience rather than setting up a comp which can produce teams that are competitive in Asia and I don't think this is really all that wrong at this stage If the AFC are able to put some real money up ala UCL for prgress and for winning it then people may change their minds. Though within that there is a danger the Australian clubs could be left behind.
NUFCMVFC
Roar Guru
Just quietly the ACL is actually an AFC comp, it isn't run by the FFA and the FFA not only shouldn't be obliged to promote/advertise it there is an argument they have no place in doing so Part of the issue is that people aren't used to it, don't entirely know what to make of it It's tricky even for football fans to have a gauge of their opponents and understand how big/small they are. This is perhaps the case across Asia let alone Australia The only way this is helped is by being able to watch the J-League etc and then go on from there And for Midfielder, if we have to be brutally honest it's hard to argue for/expect to get the media interested if the committed fans aren't, just have to look at CCM's attendances. Even MVFC's haven't been too crash hot in the past by our own standards. That is the element we do have control over Fans do turn up to A-League regular season so we have a point there re media coverage but I guess even football fans have to get used to the idea of turning up to midweek games (and not just watching the UCL/UEL on TV etc) Another issue is why are we whingeing about Australian media for, maybe we need to think about engaging Asian media more (eg ESPN Asia)
Stavros
Guest
Spot on Floyd. There is very little interest in the game from the general public. Where I work, we have an NRL and an AFL footy tipping competition. I don't think anyone would ever consider starting an A League one. Hardly anyone would know the teams, or care. As has been stated plenty of time before, soccer is popular to play for kids because its a simple game to play, and no matter how bad you are, you will still get a kick.
Wat Le Fark
Roar Rookie
Truly amazing Floyd. Would you believe I've met two Australians who aren't even remotely interested in AFL.
Titus
Guest
And I am yet to meet a GWS fan in a city of 5 million. Maybe the AFL should reconsider expansion.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Allegedly, AFL is the No.1 sport in "the Australian sporting landscape". Yet, AFL has to bribe kids to play their sport & give out free-tickets to get people to attend the sport. Football - the game that allegedly no one cares about in Australia - doesn't bribe kids to play .. travel through any suburb of any city in Australia on a Saturday afternoon & you'll see kids, adults - male & female - playing the Beautiful Game. No bribes needed, the kids actually want to play our Game. Floyd Calhoun, your workplace sounds incredibly boring.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
I work at a business in Newcastle NSW with 63 employees. One is an avid Jets fan, three others are interested, and nobody else seems remotely interested in 'Football'. That includes two Englishmen who frankly, couldn't care less. Obviously, there are other workplaces with different stats, but all you soccer zealots need to be reminded of how things are in the Australian sporting landscape before you continue your crusade.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
I'm not sure that the MSM can go on ignoring the A-League for much longer really mmmmmm like NEXT Season (2013-2014)-the season stretches now to May -making a big dent in the AFL and NRL seasons , taking the lion's share of the Super Rugby season and totally obliterating 'the Crikkit'-who knows what new marquee signings are just waiting to burst on the scene in June/July ? Crowds are set to grow exponentionally ,and if we qualify for the World Cup so much more ? So let's take a big gulp of P.G.Wodehouse's 'Buck-Up-O' and 'buck-up' ...."once more into the breach rode the 600".... :-)
Jukes
Guest
Lets just hope they dont go anywhere near the A-league in 4 years time.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Channel 7 are paying $2 million for matches involving A-League All Stars & MVFC. And, to really make me laugh ... these are PRACTICE MATCHES! The game means nothing to players, coaches or fans. They're just matches to raise cash. So, thank you Channel 7 & thank you to all the "day trippers" for providing the FFA & MVFC with extra dosh. I cannot imagine Channel 7 paying $2 million for practice matches involving any of the allegedly "major sports in Australia". I've lived in Australia for 40 years & this type of financial investment in football is unprecedented. Imagine if MVFC v ManUtd was played at the FIFA Club World Cup in the future ... it's often held in Japan, which is prime time for AUS east coast ... I wonder, what price would the commercial TV stations pay?
Australian Rules
Guest
I'm not at all surprised that Ch.7 are paying for Man Utd - biggest club in the world...no brainer. It's just funny that you spend so much time carping about how god-awful the commercial networks are...but pop the champagne when one comes knocking. Your hypocrisy is funny. As for your "I wouldn't pay one cent to watch"...yep, more of the same.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Why is it a bad thing? We're constantly told "SOCKA isn't mainstream". But, we now have 2 commercial FTA Tv stations bidding for 2 practice matches involving A-League players ... and, Ch7 pays $2 million to the FFA for matches I wouldn't pay 1 cent to watch! :-) I'd hate to have any meaningful football - particularly A-League, or the National Teams - on Channel 7, 9 or 10. But, a couple of practice matches ... and they give us $2 million - sure, give all the practice matches to Channel 7! PS: David Gallop will be on Sunrise tomorrow morning, as the Seven Network starts trumpeting about real football.
Midfielder
Guest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlP9KGjqXf4
Midfielder
Guest
Remember... http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR69s1_c9KyjHs7_kDwliEvZBh9vAm7kCffED1h8OQCCHPYf4bB
Midfielder
Guest
Maybe this one tho http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSqSsp-lNv8
Midfielder
Guest
Fuss Maybe the best come back of all time.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx0Ru_1zPVk
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Yes, seems Channel 7 have outbid Channel 10 & have paid close to $2 million for these two matches involving A-League teams. Remember, it's A-League off-season & these are practice matches! Interesting times in AUS sport. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/football/a-league-friendlies-involving-manchester-united-and-liverpool-to-be-shown-by-channel-7/story-fni2fopz-1226649383004
Australian Rules
Guest
Isn't that a bad thing?
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
BREAKING: Channel Seven has won broadcast rights to: a) Manchester United v A-League All-Stars and b) Liverpool v @gomvfc matches Looks like mainstream media is finally awake to Football in AUS ...