Free-to-air TV rights on A-League agenda

It’s an interesting dilemma for FFA and until we see the packages and dollars it will be impossible to judge. It certainly looks like they may be considering some short term pain for long term gain with a commercial FTA. The cross promotion that a commercial FTA could provide would definitely be a benefit although I wouldn’t want them to get too much control. The business models are of course different with the FTA wanting viewers for advertising and the next program, while pay TV want content to attract new or maintain existing subscribers. I know that Foxtel and FoxSports are separate entities but the concept holds, hence the beIN Sports deal, and is what Optus are hoping for with the EPL. So pay TV can live with lower viewership if it helps subscriber numbers, I’m guessing this is why FoxSports will pay so much for AFL even though viewers are lower than NRL. As well as maximising the dollars the FFA also want to drive bums on seats and the interplay between the two will be interesting. I’m not particularly a fan of the idea of broadcasting all games; it seems to work for the AFL although Foxtel numbers are low in Melbourne, but it doesn’t seem to work for the NRL in Sydney where Foxtel numbers are high but match crowds generally low. There’s something to be said for limiting supply to boost demand. Although this might not be possible until there are more teams…………….. There’s a discussion to be had with the FTA over whether live coverage in a club’s home market should be blacked-out when the team is playing at home? Therefore you can only watch them by going to the game. As I understand it both the NFL and EPL have broadcast restrictions/black-outs with less than half EPL games broadcast in the UK and all Saturday afternoon games blacked-out. There are two things that I’d like to see from the FTA side: 1. A weekly highlights show on Sunday or Monday night that could also feature some W-League, NPL and NYL highlights – I grew up on “Match of the Day”! Make sure this is an intelligent analysis though. 2. A weekly magazine program to provide a bit of fun - but with more class than the NRL and AFL versions! Also, absolutely in favour of a digital pass whether for all games or just for your team’s. Some interesting discussions to be had, but you can’t please everybody all of the time.

Fuss Great read and this is when I look at some posters on this site that constantly say how they could run the league better and shake my head... This bit particularly pleased me i.e the people in the negotiation team and their advisor's... From the article... "Our objective . . . is to work with the broader market. We have a clear understanding of the changes that are happening in regards to free-to-air television, subscription television and the newer methods of distribution." In February, the FFA hired London-based strategic adviser Oliver & Ohlbaum to report on potential bidders for the rights, the different ways they could be packaged and their potential value. The FFA has had a board sub-committee of Lowy and FFA directors Kelly Bayer Rosmarin, Commonwealth Bank's Group executive of institutional banking and markets, and Crispin Murray, the head of BT Funds Management, working on the rights, and an advisory group including Melbourne City director Simon Pearce and Sydney FC chairman Scott Barlow. "We will approach it in a very businesslike fashion," Lowy said.

More insights in the Fin Review from FFA Chairman, Steven Lowy Source: http://www.afr.com/business/sport/ffa-chairman-steven-lowy-says-freetoair-coverage-a-must-for-aleague-20160428-gohdw4

RRRRR I see I need three words for yours too... Crisp, Incisive ...hhhmmmm nay Try ... Accuse, Criticise and Abuse suits most agendas of a certain code let me see taken seriously by being kind 10 million in a world population of I think today 7 427 348 846 http://countrymeters.info/en/World So 10, 000, 000 / 7 427 348 846 is 0.001 % interest on plant earth.

What Lowy's comments prove, beyond any argument really, is that the *primary* consideration for the FFA is Free To Air television. It's funny, some posters on this site have been declaring FTA is basically dead'n'buried as a medium, whilst at the same time claiming the digital future is already here. Well, the guy doing the negotiating says it's not. FTA TV is still, by far, the most effective way to showcase a sporting product. And sport is increasingly important to FTA as it fights a losing battle over other content like flim, drama, documentaries etc. The challenge for Lowy and Gallop isn't finding a willing buyer (it could easily sell to 7,9,10), it's finding a decent price that those networks are willing to pay for a sports product that comes with a low viewer base and very low base for advertising opportunities (which is obviously what commercial TV is all about).

Crisp. Incisive. Well executed. None of these words could be used to describe your response. The mental illness bit at the end was super classy, hilarious and clever, but probably would have stung a bit more if it hadn't been preceded by quite so much borderline incoherent rambling.

Actually feel sorry for the eggball fans who comment on the football tab.Bored with their own game after 5 out of 6 games were one sided this weekend.How ironic they call football the foreign game when they are trying to to play games around the world.I hear Hawaii is next after China.?

FJ Why restrict it to ham and eggs actually not bad if it was a code limited in appeal a few states in one country, maybe ham and eggs is OK. Perth Glory are entitled to a full menu of any food from anywhere in the world they can choose to dine on anything from 2010 countries. I like your idea but you let yourself down a tad, first in the menu as we discussed and second by reference to a very young childes book and again considering the relative merits of world placing tis far more a reference or references to other lessor sports or even insignificant codes trying to build themselves up like things like adding a Netball team or after over a 100 year history start a female side with different rules. Any way have a good day out BTW is is a weekly or monthly day release these days. and if you have problems with the keyboard I am sure your supervisor will be able to help. Have a nice take and don't forget to take your meds.

It is a place for "egg ball fans", provided they contribute to the debate. In the two posts that you have "contributed", you haven't addressed the article at all. Instead you are following and trolling others, which is very childish.

And a jolly good morning to you, you intemperate bore; I see you are in fine form today. No doubt Midfielder, to his own extent, is capable of speaking for himself, but it's very sweet that you felt the need to defend him with such a plaintive appeal to the overarching authority of the moderators. What an upstanding member of this online community you are. A blow-hard, a bully, and now a bootlicker. You've really got this whole being a worthless human thing nailed, huh?

NY times perhaps ?.

Yes Fuss i agree, attempting to ridicule, annoy and create ill-will is just not your go and we all here at the roar applaud your stance on these juvenile tactics. It is also not a place for any Egg Ball fans.

As usual, an Egg Ball fan comes to a football discussion with the sole objective of trying to ridicule, annoy & create ill-will. This poster adds nothing to any football discussion & it's a shame The Roar moderators allow such juvenile behaviour to sully their website's image as a place for robust sporting interaction.

I think the next TV deal should fix the majority of the existing financial issues, regardless on wether we can get the so called magical figure of $80m PA or not. I think if we get better FTA exposure on either 7TWO, 7mate, GO or GEM, and we can get a decent increase on the last deal, then we're on a winner. Even if we could get a $60m combined deal with good FTA coverage, I think that's a step forward for the game. It's unfortunate for the multiple club owners that have already pumped their money in, lost a shitload and left the game as a result, but the league was eventually always gonna get to a stage where enough TV money starts coming in where owners won't be losing much money if any, some will even start making small profits every year, and the ownership/financial issues of some of the clubs in the past will become the exception not the rule. I believe we're almost at that point right now, the salary cap is about right, with small increases every year which are accounted for by TV money, and every year more and more clubs are becoming more prudent with their money, and their recruiting, running their clubs like football clubs and not like fish and chip shops like many have in the past. $60m per year would be enough for the FFA to spend $3m-$5m every year on advertising the league, while obviously covering all player salaries and having some money left over for either contingencies (clubs falling over/ownership issues) or to invest in football infrastructure which this country badly needs.

Totally agree, Mid. If we had some ham, we could have a big meal of ham an eggs. If we had any eggs, that is.

I am that glass half full guy to me if Perth Glory can recover their former status and SA going so well.. Add MV, SFS, WSW, Jetsa and we have six very strong sides with ... add if Brisbane, Nix, City and Mariners can lift and we have a very strong league...

MVFC's average home attendances will ALWAYS drop off significantly over the 2nd half of the A-League season. Why? Because, MVFC plays at least 4 matches at Etihad stadium during the 1st half of the A-League season and plays 0 (or 1 if it hosts 2 Melbourne Derbies) matches at Etihad during the 2nd half of the season. In general, the matches MVFC plays at Eithad during the 1st half of the season will be marquee matches that attract the biggest crowds in A-League: Melb Derby, SydFC, WSW, AUFC.. and NIX (on Cup Eve). If we're comparing YoY statistics in A-League we must be aware of such discrepancies that occur YoY to avoid being excited, or dejected, for no reason. So, MelbCity showed growth in home crowds this season, but we have to be aware they had 2 home Derbies. So, if MelbCity's home average crowds drop next season ... we must not think the sky is falling down. We should realise this is likely to occur & compare MelbCity crowds in 2016/17 with crowds in 2014/15.

Chopper - The figures you seek are easlily available.Between seasons start and finish there is usually a drop off in attendance figures but this year a few clubs have "bucked" that norm. After 2 games (to get an average) Roar and WSW have liifted their attendances marginally,ROAR by 260 per game and WSW by 140 per game.Melbourne City aided and abetted by 2 derby games actually lifted their average by 3,250 per game and Phoenix increased their average by 790 per game Glory too managed a lift of 1000 per game. Unforttunately that's where the good news ends for Victory's average (with only one derby) dropped by 9,200,Sydney FC were worse with a fall of 12,700 per game,Adelaide were on the improve but still dropped 3000 per game and Jets dropped 1600 per game. CCM only dropped by 900 per game . The leagues total attendance figure for 135 games dropped only by 200 per game so all in all it could be said to have been a "holding" year. The "importance " of getting certain teams to the finals series can be highlighted by the fact that last season a Melbourne derby in the first 4 matches sees a difference of nearly 47,000 in the four game attendance total. jb

Fuss Thats a big wow ... should be front page news.

Middy, Steven Lowy was a speaker at yesterday at MVFC's "Victory in Business" (VIB) Lunch, which is the biggest corporate event not held on a matchday for any sport in Australia. Over 1200 corporate guests were in attendance. In his opening speech, the MV Chairman, Anthony Di Pietro stressed how vital the Asian Champions League was for MVFC - on & off the park. MVFC's match at AAMI Park against Shanghai SIPG was watched by 23 million people in China. That's 1 match against a Chinese opponent. It's only going to get bigger as the CSL continues to attract bigger football stars. With major Chinese cities in a Time Zone only 2 hours behind AUS Eastern cities, if the ALeague is easily accessible to the world via online streaming it is obvious A-League matches will be watched by more people each week than NRL & AFL combined.