Football will continue its free-to-air expansion after the FFA announced this morning that the A-League All Stars’ clash with Manchester United and Melbourne Victory’s game against Liverpool in July will both be broadcast on Channel Seven.
The matches, which will be played on July 20 and July 24 respectively, have attracted a massive level of demand through ticket sales, with both matches being sold out.
The Australian reported that Kerry Stokes’ Seven West Media paid close to $1 million for the domestic rights, outbidding interest from Channel Ten after A-League broadcaster Fox Sports opted to pass on bidding for the rights to the two-game package.
David Gallop, who announced the deal on Channel Seven’s Sunrise program this morning, said the deal was another sign of football moving into the mainstream.
“These are huge events on the sporting calendar and we’re delighted Seven will be our partner in bringing top-class football action to all Australians on free to air television,” said Gallop.
“Manchester United and Liverpool have millions of followers in Australia, but just as many fans will get behind the All Stars and Victory as they showcase the A-League on the world stage.”
While the deal should provide the FFA with the exposure that they’re looking for, football fans with memories that stretch back to NSL days might not be as enthusiastic about the deal.
In 1998 Channel Seven signed a ten-year contract with Soccer Australia to broadcast the NSL on its new pay-TV sports channel, C7, before relegating the coverage to highlights packages shown during late-night, midweek timeslots at one point and eventually dropped the NSL altogether within four years.
There’s no risk of a similiar move occurring for the two upcoming friendlies, but that’s not to say that football will be taking precedence on the channel.
For the A-League All Stars match against Manchester United, to be played on Saturday 20 July, already Channel Seven have indicated that the game will be played on auxiliary channel 7Mate, with AFL to be broadcast on the main channel.
Regardless of past history, the move can only be seen as a positive for Gallop and the FFA, who continue with their clever strategy of keeping the A-League relevant during the off-season, with the A-League draw announced only two days ago.
Paddy79
Guest
Ch7 should be ashamed of themselves for not playing the match live in Western Australia. The biggest club in the world comes here and fans can't even watch them live. Mind you you were able the watch it live in Croatia though! What a bloody disgrace!
Ange
Guest
Please please please do not embaress Australia by putting people who know nothing about the game to host, making idiotic comments asking childish questions. Find people who will help Australia and the world enjoy watching the games "Professionals" in hosting football the world game not AFL. I know you will put someone not suited on please prepare this person properly. Please do not treat it like all other times channel 7 has had the code of soccer televised poor and unwilling to bring great entertainment to the people. And please do not call it soccer on the night or say something stupid like "football otherwise known as soccer " I don't want to but I cringe when I hear ch7 will televise the games
Kasey
Guest
Easy: they'll win the Ericsson Cup in a canter. Daylight 2nd , then perhaps Carlton SC in 3rd....if they can avoid injuries.
Damiano
Guest
Thst's right Martyn, the NSL is sooo 3rd rate. So how do you think the Brisbane Bears will go this season?
Kasey
Guest
NSL? fuss's comment the other day about your IQ being a part of your username is incredibly apt isn't it? Is 9.30am too early to expect proper effort from the moderators?
Kasey
Guest
I'm still holding that grudge over 7's treatment of the NSL. If it isn't on Foxtel I'll find a stream and watch online. Hard to imagine a team branded the Foxtel All-stars won't be on Foxtel though.
Kasey
Guest
What about the thought that Ben Buckley was just no good at his job? Conspiracy or c*ck up? In football I’ll blame 'C*ck up' 9 times out of 10:( Thank God we seem to have a competent leader in David Gallop finally.
Jukes
Guest
I will be in the stands cheering for the A-leaguers. Still have no idea how we scored tickets. Not having an EPL team to follow helps. Maybe I need to follow newly promoted crystal palace with the Aussie connection of Popovic and Jedinak.
Ralph Nadeer
Roar Rookie
Its great that this is getting FTA coverage, but Ch 7 hasn't endeared itself to football fans, especially is western Sydney with their coverage of NSL in the past and beat up stories about WSW "hooligans". But this is very positive for the FFA and football to have sold out friendly games with 80K and 90K tickets sold and live FTA TV coverage.
Stevo
Guest
This thread still going!!! LOL! I'm pretty sure that Lowy and Gallop thought they'd get rose petals thrown at them by football fans for pulling off this FTA deal. Instead they get lambasted for taking the filthy lucre from Ch7. Oh we'll, it'll satisfy the Euro snobs and EPL fans. Couldn't give a rats behind myself I'm just hanging out to hear who the Red&White marquee player will be for the coming season. Come on JA, don't keep us in suspenders mate!
Ian
Guest
I'd say there will be many people watching the A-League all stars. Myself included. Now go back to your hybrid fixture against Ireland and the St KIlda v Swans game in Wellington and tell us the world gives a hoot about AFL in any way whatsoever.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Ballymore No, I won't be going to the match but I'm very happy to see that the "event-watching public" have sold out both matches & Ch7 is paying the FFA $2m for the broadcast rights. Plus, it gives the A-League lots of publicity - both locally & abroad - during the off-season. Having said that, I'll be keen to watch the game on TV & will be cheering for our A-League lads against my EPL team, ManUnited.
Ballymore
Guest
Fuss, Are you going to the MV v L'Pool friendly? I must admit I'd have very little interest if Brisbane were playing.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Yes, fair call. It also is a game to appeal to the casual sports fan who wishes to see Manu U live. I am sure the hardened AFL supporters won't care one way or the other and will watch their teams in action; just as the hardened football fans will watch their game of choice even if the AFL Grand Final was on.
Sneaky Backheel
Guest
Look up Pazza Inter Amala
Stavros
Guest
I'm sure the fans of whatever AFL clubs are playing, will be watching the footy. You still trying to make out that people will be watching to see the A League team? How delusional. Replace Man Ud with Stoke, and then we will see how big of a marquee the A League All Stars are.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
I'm with you, Jukes. If MVFC is playing a competitive A-League match, I don't care if Barcelona v ManUtd played a UCL Finale ... my No.1 priority would be MVFC. I'm surprised to hear AFL fans will choose to watch an A-League practice match in preference to an AFL competitive match. After all, Australia's AFL competition is the biggest & most prestigious AFL competition in the world!
Jukes
Guest
I never realised my innocent question would stir such debate. The only reason I asked the question was that I was genuinely unsure. I was sure it would generate big numbers, was I sure it would generate big numbers in Victoria, that I wasnt. I honestly thought the AFL would still outrate the fixture in Victoria. Come to think of it, there aren't many sporting teams that would get me to watch their fixture while WSW is playing. Maybe the Chicago bulls if they were in Australia, if only to see the score.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Yay, it's tin foil hat time down at The Roar!
Kasey
Guest
Surely one of the AFL-apologists will point out that we are just paranoid over in Soccer-land.