The FFA has pulled off a major coup with its new broadcasting deal, with a six-year, $346 million agreement which will see Fox Sports remain as the competition’s pay TV provider.
The deal, which has been touted as a “quantum leap” for football in Australia by FFA chairman Stephen Lowy, will see every A-League game broadcast on Fox Sports across Foxtel, Foxtel Go and Foxtel Play.
FFA Cup, Socceroos, Matildas and W-League matches will also all remain with the pay TV giant under the new agreement, which officially begins on July 1, 2017.
However, in a departure from the current deal, one A-League match per weekend will be shown for the first time in the competition’s history live on free-to-air TV on Saturday nights. However, the free-to-air details for 2017-2023 are yet to be confirmed, with the deal to be officially finalised in early 2017.
It is believed the free-to-air provider will not be confirmed until the rights for cricket’s Big Bash League are sold. Channels Seven, Nine and Ten are all reportedly keen on showing both the A-League and Big Bash, but have put securing the rights to the popular Twenty20 tournament as a higher priority than the football.
FFA chief executive David Gallop said all commercial free-to-air providers are interested in acquiring the A-League rights, and said there is the option for them to pick up a broadcast package which improves on the current one simulcast match per round arrangement.
While the $57.6 million-per-year deal is short of the $80 million mark targetted by former chairman Frank Lowy, it does eclipse previous estimates of the deal – which put the figure at around $50 million per season – and more than doubles the current arrangement in a like-for-like comparison.
The $346 million price tag will rise once the free-to-air, radio and international broadcast rights are announced.
Under the deal, $3 million per season will be put towards drawing marquee players, like Melbourne City’s recent signing Tim Cahill, to the A-League.
“We have seen the enormous impact that our current marketing and marquee player strategies are having,” Gallop said.
“This year TV audiences, crowds and club memberships are all up and it is our intention to re-double our efforts in these areas under the new deal.
“The new arrangements will benefit all areas of football in Australia, but in particular the A-League clubs and players who will receive additional funding as a result of today’s announcement.”
The broadcast deal does not cover matches in the final round of Socceroos World Cup qualifying, the Asian Cup and the Asian Champions League, as the rights are controlled by the Asian Football Confederation.
The radio and international rights are expected to be announced around the same time as the free-to-air agreement in 2017.
2017-2023 FFA broadcast deal
-$346 million deal over six years, starting July 1, 2017
-Figure is expected to rise as the free-to-air, international and radio broadcast rights are announced
-All A-League matches to be shown live on pay TV by Fox Sports
-One A-League match per week to be shown live on a yet-to-be-confirmed free-to-air channel
-Fox Sports to remain as the broadcaster of the FFA Cup
-Socceroos, Matildas and W-League games will continue to be shown by Fox Sports
-Does not include Asian Champions League, Asian Cup and final-round World Cup qualifiers
Nemesis
Guest
Have to factor in lots of things. I'm just putting data out there. IF you see an error in the data, please let me know.
clipper
Guest
You do have to factor in the inflationary growth of sports payments, especially in the last 10 years. There is no way you can compare what you get today with what they got in 2005.
clipper
Guest
Agree with punter on this one - those countries (and the USA) have rubbish FTA networks. Even though we criticise our networks here, we have one of the best FTA structures in the world - with ABC and SBS especially. This is why Fox has found it difficult with penetration and why it is using sports to try and increase it.
Lionheart
Guest
absolutely punter I hope you support Orica Scott (yep, our cyclists have another new name this year).
Lionheart
Guest
India, you can see the Indian Super League on Foxtel and China is undertaking a massive injection of funding for growth
Lionheart
Guest
it's an opinion website, not the prosecuter's page
Post_hoc
Guest
great summary
Sydneysider
Guest
Agreed Punter. I have no interest in AFL but I do watch all those other sports you mentioned.
Nemesis
Guest
The biggest businesses in the world started small. Maybe you're not old enough to understand. Use the internet to research the life history & evolution of Google. Apple. Microsoft. Twitter. Facebook. In sport, check out the TV rights evolution of AFL. 1988-1992: $6m/yr for 5 years (14-15 teams) 1993-1998: $17m/yr for 6 years (15-16 teams) 1999-2001: $40m/yr for 3 years (16 teams) 2002-2006: $100m/yr for 5 years (16 teams) The current FFA TV deal is $40m/yr with 10 teams The next FFA Tv deal is at least $65m/yr with 10 Aleague teams ($58m from FoxSports, $7m from the AFC for Australia's WCQ) The ALeague started in late 2005 and with 2 more teams we could be pushing close to the AFL's TV revenue that it received in 2005. And, if this eventuates, ALeague will be doing this with 12 teams compared to the AFL's 16 teams. From little things big things grow.
Sydneysider
Guest
"Couldn’t care less to be honest." "As a general rule you don’t see me around here much arguing the same thing every day." "I enjoy the business side of sport; including the A-League, despite it being a tu4d of a competition in my opinion." If you didn't care, you wouldn't be here. I know you're enjoying the outcome. It's ok, just be honest. I'm honest about not watching or caring for your preferred sport so I don't go on that tab.
Post_hoc
Guest
talk about boxing at shadows
Post_hoc
Guest
MF, Ray Gatt also tweeted several weeks ago that his sources were saying the deal to bring Keane to the Wanderers was done. I wouldn't put much stock in his sources. Nice guy, loves football but I don't think he has his finger on any pulses.
punter
Guest
Why, are you surprised that more then 1 person dislikes AFL, if so come to Sydney, you will find many indifferent to the game.
JAJI
Guest
You are struggling and making excuses with that comment. You people can't even conquer NSW
punter
Guest
Steve, no you are right 3 mil won't buy much of a player in football, but you'd get 3-4 top marquees in AFL.
punter
Guest
Steve, I follow an A-league team, a EPL team, I have a NRL team, have an NFL team, follow the Aussie playersin the NBA, love my golf, cricket (not T20) & cycling. I don't have an AFL side, just think the game is like a pack of seagulls fighting over a chip & is just not my cup of tea, as for their fans, well makes it even worse.
punter
Guest
You seem to believe you follow both sports, but only attack the silly comments by football fans & leave the silly comments by AFL fans alone.
Ahmed
Guest
Seems to me like your face book news feed is reflecting your true interests. Very smart algorithm behind those
steve
Guest
You're wrong mate. Fox Sports are the devil if you ask some here on this forum.
steve
Guest
Nemisis, I think you will find there are far more many people in this country that follow different sports and support different teams in different sports than there are who are focused wholly and solely on one A League team and have no interest elsewhere. I would suggest its fair to say that the second category of people are in the small minority. I myself support and EPL team, An AFL team, a RL team, I have a passing interest in an A League team, I have an NBL team, I have an NBA team, I have a NFL team. Some that I have supported since I was a kid. I follow cricket, tennis, motorsport. The A league isnt the be all and be all for most sports fans in this country.