The A-league has announced new six-year TV rights deal with Fox Sports worth $346 million. While certainly a step up from their last deal, there’s been mixed reviews from fans of football in Australia.
The new deal is worth $57.6 million a year but the entire deal is still worth less than one year of the current AFL and NRL rights deals.
There’s a sense of bitterness among some football fans about Fox Sports shelling out extra money to retain the A-League but won’t fight for the EPL rights that they had to concede to Optus.
Some straight up love it and some are too sceptical to care about what those people think.
We’ll kick off (Ha! Get it?) with the more cheery of opinions.
There are plenty who prefer to look on the positive side of a new million dollar deal that will certainly put more money, exposure and opportunity into not just the A-League, but football around the country.
Bringing the league into lounge rooms of fans around the country can only be a good thing for the growth of the competition and interest in the sport.
Fox Sports double their investment and a game still to be sold to FTA. Not bad #ALeague
— Stuart Fazakerley (@stuartfaz) December 20, 2016
Happy for @FOXSportsAUS to keep #ALeague. They actually care about sport. Don't prioritise commercial deals over fan experience
— Joe Curtis (@JoeCurtis91) December 20, 2016
NEW A-League deal is brilliant. Stays on the best coverage FoxSports and a Saturday night FTA match. Money ? #Aleague
— Tanner Coad ?? (@Tanner_Coad19) December 20, 2016
I don't get the whinging about the #ALeague #tvdeal what's the problem? More money and a Sat night FTA game on the way. Sooks the lot of you
— ChadT_82 (@ChadT_82) December 20, 2016
There are certainly doubts over the intention of the deal though and how the new found dosh will be dispersed.
Grassroots and club football is always a popular topic in terms of growth and expansion of football in a not so traditionally footballing nation.
That's great there's so much cash out of the deal. Now how does the FFA actually use it properly? #aleague
— deano (@deank88) December 20, 2016
Sounds like smaller clubs are getting screwed by the new #aleague deal. Hard to see how the league is going to grow with so many problems.
— Chris Spiranovic (@norlanian) December 20, 2016
Not sure on 6-year term for #aleague broadcast deal — any renegotiation clauses?
— James McGrath (@james_r_mcgrath) December 20, 2016
Then, of course, there is the EPL.
Fox Sports lost the rights to the English Premier League last year to Optus, turning a huge chunk of Foxtel’s audience away from the product.
While they did fight for to retain the rights, many remain with a bitter taste in their mouth about the whole situation.
Now with the new A-League deal being increased from the previous, fans are none too pleased that the sports broadcasting giant were willing to throw some extra money towards the A-League and not one of the biggest and most watched leagues in the world.
While it is an entirely different kettle of fish, that won’t stop the internet.
Fox sports spends $346 mill on A league but couldn't be bothered fighting for a league people care about?? Makes sense #ALeague #EPL
— Riley Sanders (@RileyG_94) December 20, 2016
Love the new #ALeague deal for @FOXSportsAUS. Nothing better than watching has been hacks collect a pension. Who wants to watch #EPL anyway?
— motters (@mottersjames) December 20, 2016
And of course there’s the impact of the much talked about expansion possibilities in the recent years.
How will the new rights deal affect the ability to expand? Or the deal itself? Will expansion still become a reailty now that the league is locked in for the next six years?
We’ll have to wait and see.
#aleague I'm going to assume promotion and relegation is not going to happen for at least the next six years. #verydisappointing
— Shane Jones (@southendaussies) December 20, 2016
Gallop says that broadcasters have a say in expansion but the ultimate decision rests with FFA. That's a relief. #aleague
— Neil Sherwin (@neilsherwin) December 20, 2016
Then there’s this guy who just wants to make football jokes.
This guy deserves a medal…
Disappointed the new TV deal isn’t a 4+3+3 deal with FFA required to meet targets to trigger the extensions. #ALeague
— Patrick Barnes (@patrick478) December 20, 2016
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
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