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.”
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.
Phutbol
Guest
Get Foxtel or go watch it at a pub. Not that hard really. I don't want to re-hash the whole argument again but if Fox wasn't creating this 'ridiculous' situation (exclusive live TV rights), there would be no A-League (as we currently know it), likely no FFA, and definitely no AFC Asian Cup in Australia in January 2015. Fox's (and their subscribers) millions is what's enabled all of it so before you get too upset have a think about that, and then thank your lucky stars Fox is providing their user pays service, because all of us that pay for it are subsidising your ABC delayed telecast.
Phil
Guest
The tournament is in January so the kids will be on holidays.
ciudadmarron
Guest
Does this mean we'll have Wilko for commentary?
Justin Mahon
Roar Rookie
Got to agree - reluctantly.
mattq
Guest
I really don't think it matters - "The Commonwealth of Australia, a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy, was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, which became the six states."
Hosseini7
Guest
Guys, on some news sites they say both the Socceroos Group stage matches and the finals will be both delayed and others it says just the group stage matches are delayed but the finals are live? I am a bit confused? Ashamed I don't get to watch the live matches from other counties such as my native Iran. This is ridiculous first of all, this is once in a lifetime major sporting event happening in Australia since the Olympic and Commonwealth games, and they can't show all the matches of this tournament live which are all happening in this country on free-to-air television for the Australian people to see, things happening in their country which they can't watch. I just don't understand this. I believe SBS should have got Asian Cup broadcasts, they have really good presenters, high quality and especially there World Cup coverage was so good and the best I have ever seen.
Freddie
Guest
Screws SBS? What is this divine right that it must be given football rights? The game is a business, SBS were outbid, end of. Some people here seem to think that because SBS were the first ones to broadcast the sport in Australia, they should be given free reign for the next 100 years. Plus, their coverage belongs in the last century.
whiskeymac
Guest
Save money and set up a new department. Brilliant. Sir Humphrey has taught you well .
whiskeymac
Guest
No one screws Sbs like football... ? It's topsy turvy world. Where's ch7 when you need them.
whiskeymac
Guest
A pink top on a pig would make him look topless.... Truly disgraceful. It's an outrage
Johnny g
Guest
U mean the commonwealth government .federal govt is usa
Leonardo
Roar Guru
Will be paid for by the increase in GST. :)
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Yeah we shouldn't ever accept statistics from one of the world's leading statisticians. Far better to accept shonky data from a self-interest organisation like OzTAM. I'll repeat ... ... If AUS makes the Final of the Asian Cup, I expect the LIVE broadcast on ABC TV at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, 31 January 2015 to be watched by more people than any other TV broadcast in the history of television in Australia.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Peppa Pig washed Daddy Pigs white football jersey with her red dress and now is in disgrace. Lucky she doesn't live in Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom. Nanny Plum would turn Peppa into a frog in an instant with such cheek.
ciudadmarron
Guest
Yes but they like muddy puddles which would surely be in greater abundance at the bottom. :lol: Sorry everyone I've been reading too many guardian articles.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
The FIFA world cup was live on SBS, and now FFA and FOX screws SBS and Australian Football fans yet again, with a 2 hr FTA delayed replay on the ABC...
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Yes, very true, Paul. But, if we can capture the "old-timers" market, that in itself would provide significant numbers. My dad & his friends all in their late 70s - early 80s age group are as keen football fans as myself. None of them subscribes to Foxtel. They're from a generation that is used to waiting for viewing sport, so 2 hours is as good as live!
Paul
Guest
That's fine for old-timers like you and me but today's youth just don't have that level of self-discipline. Then there's the issue of people calling you to celebrate the result.
Steve
Guest
Not even close. I'm sure you will pull some vs Roy Morgan stats to prove otherwise though.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Surely property investment at the top of a hill is more fruitful than that at the bottom? I'm not sure what sort of view she gets from up there but the weather always seems quite nice around where she lives.