FFA, ABC confirm free-to-air soccer deal

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FFA, ABC confirm free-to-air soccer deal

Post by Beaussie »

I guess they now get good nationwide reach via the ABC. Will the ratings improve?

Thoughts?
FFA, ABC confirm free-to-air soccer deal
By Michael Lynch
October 4, 2019

A-League, W-League, and Socceroos and Matildas matches will all be broadcast on free-to-air television via the ABC for the next two years as part of a joint deal with regular network Fox Sports.

This will be the first time that the A-League will be broadcast on the ABC but it is a return to familiar territory for the W-League as the ABC was the women's competition's inaugural broadcast partner from 2008 to 2017.

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The Matildas will be part of the ABC's free-to-air coverage of soccer. Credit: AAP

Talks between the national broadcaster and Football Federation Australia had accelerated once it became clear that the station thought to be the original front-runner, Ten, was no longer in the frame, and the new deal, widely telegraphed in the past month, was announced on Friday.

Originally it had looked as though a deal could be inked between Fox and Ten, but that foundered after the merger of Ten's US owners CBS with Viacom.

Under the new agreement, 29 live matches will be broadcast on ABC TV and iview at 5pm on Saturdays throughout the 2019-20 A-League season.

The final series next year will see delayed broadcasts of one elimination final, one semi-final and the grand final on the network.

Fourteen rounds of the W-League will be shown at 4pm on Sundays and the entire W-League 2020 finals series will also be broadcast live on the ABC.

The ABC will also broadcast every Socceroos match to which Fox Sports carries rights.

That will not include the World Cup should the Socceroos qualify for Qatar 2022, as SBS has those rights.

The upcoming Matildas friendlies against Chile in Sydney on November 9 and Adelaide on November 12 will be broadcast live by the ABC along with next year’s women's Asian qualifiers for the Tokyo Olympics.

Fox will continue to broadcast live all A-League, W-League, Socceroos and Matildas matches via Foxtel and Kayo Sports.

Paul Lederer, the chairman of APFCA - the association which represents the A-League clubs who have now wrestled control of the competition from FFA - said the deal was of vital significance.

"To have the Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League on a primary free-to-air network is an important evolution in the execution of our broadcast strategy and extends the power and impact of our Fox Sports partnership," he said in a statement.

"The ABC’s television, radio, digital and social platforms will allow the Australian professional game to access and engage even more fans through more touch points.

"Our commitment as clubs is to ensure that we deliver to all of our broadcast partners Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League seasons worthy of the opportunity that has been created."

FFA chairman Chris Nikou added: “The ABC has been long-term supporter of football on both television and radio, and we are delighted that our partnership will grow further over the next two years."

Judith Whelan, the ABC's director of regional and local, said the broadcaster was delighted to add the A-League to its portfolio.

''The ABC is committed to sport and we are very keep and happy to bring football back. It's the largest participation sport in Australia and it is a very diverse audience both in regional and metropolitan areas.''

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/ffa ... 52xli.html
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Re: FFA, ABC confirm free-to-air soccer deal

Post by Terry »

FTA will most certainly bring more ratings. The question is how many???????

What the Aleague needs is more marquee players of the calibre of Del Peiro , Heskey and Ono. So far they haven't got 'em so I can't see any big improvement.
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Re: FFA, ABC confirm free-to-air soccer deal

Post by notaleaguefan »

Will that be the year when the sleeping giant of Australian sport apparently takes over?

It’s been said for decades and we are still waiting :-k
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