On Friday, June 19, Foxtel announced that they would be renewing the A-League’s broadcasting deal until the end of the 2020-21 season.
The A-League then announced a move to winter, which will see the next season of the A-League run from December 2020 to July 2021.
However, while Foxtel agreed to a new deal with the A-League and W-League, the FFA Cup has announced that they will no longer be shown on Fox Sports’ screens. In a public announcement across social media, they announced: “FFA will consider innovative new broadcast arrangements for the only truly national cup competition in Australian sport”.
But where will we see the FFA Cup on our screens next season?
An article by Dominic Bossi in the Sydney Morning Herald stated that the FFA will “assume ownership of FFA Cup broadcast rights as well as reams of archival footage”.
This arrangement could allow FFA TV to come into place, with the FFA Cup and old A-League and W-League footage being shown.
FFA TV would be a lucrative new broadcasting arrangement, and maybe the next step for Australian football, but would people use it without the A-League and W-League?
Another idea would be for the FFA to stream the FFA Cup on social media or YouTube. This would be similar to what Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and others have implemented for their National Premier Leagues.
The FFA could have a version of FFA TV, but on social media and YouTube, and possibly on MyFootball.
The movement of the A-League may also have an impact on the placement of the FFA Cup.
(Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)
The FFA Cup used to be able to act as a form of the pre-season for the A-League, where every round except for the grand final was played before the A-League.
In 2019, the round of 32 for the FFA Cup started on July 24. With the next A-League season’s grand final to be played at the end of July 2021, it is unlikely that clubs will be willing to play the round of 32 just before the season ends.
Furthermore, revised player contracts will most likely allow A-League players to finish their contracts straight after finals.
This would mean that players’ contracts would either have to extend until after the FFA Cup or that the clubs would just have to play with thinner squads during the knockout stages while they’re recruiting.
This could cause the FFA Cup to move starting dates, something that would heavily impact lower league clubs.
A total of 736 clubs participated in the 2019 FFA Cup qualifying rounds, running from February 9 to June 25. This is more than a five-month span in which teams are playing on and off.
These clubs, while not considered the most important in the football landscape, need to be cared for and need to agree should we move the FFA Cup, as they are the clubs who the FFA Cup means the most to, as outlined by FFA’s tagline: the magic of the cup.
Another important factor that could play into the change of the competition is the Asian Champions League. The FFA Cup will be looking not to clash with the ACL, although it would be unlikely considering the Champions League would be played out over the first few months of the A-League 2020-21 season.
Should the A-League remain in winter over the next few seasons, the FFA Cup has to be moved, and should be broadcasted across social media for the short term.
Social media is a quick solution for the broadcasting rights. The Football Federation Australia would then be able to reassess after the end of the A-League’s contract with Foxtel, while a move will simply be convenient towards the A-League clubs.
The change in the FFA Cup’s broadcasting and the move of the A-League has posed many questions over the competition.
But there remains one driving question: what’s next for the FFA Cup?
Micko
Roar Rookie
I think we're being incredibly reasonable. Supporting an NZ team has infected your brain. You claim not to be a kiwi, but you've certainly got the arrogant, entitled attitude of one!
lesterlike
Roar Rookie
Well then Blood dragon/Magma/Chieftua, feel free to go there and spam r/aleague with yet another 50 posts of whinging about what people here have said.
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
humans literally start out as parasites so for a human to critise someone of being a parasite and implying there not makes them a massive hypocrite, the roar is essentially filled with people like you and lester that not even reddit would find acceptable
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
merythr town is the other one your thinking of, the new saints in shropshire who play in the welsh league and win it every year
At work
Roar Rookie
They could charge a subscription fee for as little as $2 per month to cover Cup matches, and gain access to the entire back catalogue, nobody would blink at that. That could be enough to cover costs of covering the FFA Cup.
Jack George
Roar Guru
True. Another option would be playing archived games throughout the year, and maybe winning the rights to mini matches?
Micko
Roar Rookie
The problem with NZ is EXACTLY the attitude you're displaying now. They need to parasite off Australia for pro sports opportunities, yet instead of being grateful for the opportunities, they complain and moan whenever they don't get their own way! :angry:
Micko
Roar Rookie
And to elaborate further, the Welsh FA has it’s own cups too. These are naturally contested by Welsh clubs aligned with the Welsh FA. I actually think there are a couple of English clubs that belong to the Welsh FA! :shocked: And in reality, there’s only a handful of Welsh clubs that are part of the English system: Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham, Newport and maybe one or two others.
Micko
Roar Rookie
They don't have to tell them anything! Either they accept the conditions the FFA impose on them or not. The Welsh clubs you mention are actually members of the English FA and NOT the Welsh FA! I saw a video on YouTube about a year ago about a Welsh club that left the English FA and reverted back to the Welsh FA. Not to mention the fact that England & Wales geographically are hardly far apart or large in size.
At work
Roar Rookie
Probably not, maybe the login would be a national 'football family' or similar which gains free access but allows FFA to have everyone's details for future marketing, etc.
At work
Roar Rookie
I find Wellington's involvement in the FFA Cup really strange. I like the club, but in this comp it doesn't feel right.
At work
Roar Rookie
Ignore my other question as I see you've answered it somewhat here. I agree, but I'd bring the A League teams into the round of 64 and obviously remove the rigged draw. Although I prefer the lower ranked club have hosting rights.
At work
Roar Rookie
Ignore this post
Jack George
Roar Guru
The FFA TV app would be a very interesting concept, but would people pay $3 per month when the FFA cup isn't on? I would just pay for the FFA cup games while they're on and then cancel my subscription until the next FFA Cup.
At work
Roar Rookie
I'd be happy for a more simple coverage, being 2-3 cameras and a local association commentator. Throw in some ads to make a little money on the side and put it on the newly created FFA TV app, where it costs $3 per month.
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
what is your problem with NZ?
Jack George
Roar Guru
This shows that there are still fans who appeal to the FFA cup. Nostalgic NSL fans should the the target audience, but how do we market it?
lesterlike
Roar Rookie
as phoenix chairman rob morrision "pointed out there just isnt the money for pro sports leagues in a small isolated country" Again im yet to learn why that is our problem.
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
i'm actually an aussie just fyi but i support the nix as the club i oringally supported gold coast united lost its lisence, in an ideal i would love a pro league and a cup competition in NZ and to do our own thing but as phoenix chairman rob morrision pointed out there just isnt the money for pro sports leagues in a small isolated country not even for rugby the national sport, a cup competition wherever thats a new competition or reformatting the current is a much more achiable long term goal is still quite difficult especially with only 1 pro team and 9 semi-pro teams but as your are well know for being anti kiwi i'm guessing your not entirely happy that the australia/new zealand bid won the hosting rights for the 2023 world cup
lesterlike
Roar Rookie
And as usual, Kiwis whinging and moaning that they can't get their way in an Australian competition that they get a free ride in but baulk at any suggestion of putting in any work or investment into their own competitions that they could just run their own benefit instead.