AFL signs expansive broadcast deal with ESPN
03 April 2012 | Posted in Broadcast, Australian rules football, North America, Caribbean, Europe, Middle East | By Michael Long
Global cable television network ESPN has signed a three-year deal for the exclusive television rights to the Australian Football League (AFL) in the UK, Ireland, Canada, Sub-Saharan Africa and co-exclusive rights in Israel and the Caribbean.
The agreement, financial details of which were not released, sees ESPN's various regional channels covering at least one live match per week from the league's 23-round regular season, as well as the AFL's Finals Series and Grand Final.
Additionally, ESPN will air a weekly highlights show across all of the territories included in the deal.
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"We're delighted to continue our collaboration with the AFL and bring the thrilling sport of Aussie rules to millions," said ESPN International vice president of programming Mike Walters. "Broadcasting Australian rules football demonstrates the range and depth of content we strive to offer ESPN viewers and is a great addition to our live sport line-up in each of these territories."
AFL chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan added, "The AFL is delighted to announce a new three-year agreement with ESPN. The AFL and ESPN have built a wonderful partnership over the last three years and we are thrilled to have our code broadcast on such an esteemed network throughout many territories worldwide. I wish to thank ESPN for their ongoing commitment to AFL internationally."
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PRESS RELEASE
Posted by admin on April 2, 2012
ESPN RENEWS RIGHTS TO BROADCAST AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE WITH THREE-YEAR DEAL
PRINT VERSIONFILED IN: AFL, Canada, ESPN Caribbean, Football, Ireland, Israel, Sub-Saharan Africa, UK
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2 April 2012
ESPN RENEWS RIGHTS TO BROADCAST AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
WITH THREE-YEAR DEAL
- Multi-territory coverage of “Aussie Rules” football
- Live game coverage, plus weekly highlights on television
- Live matches from the Regular season, Finals Series and Grand Final on ESPN in the UK, Ireland, Caribbean, Sub- Saharan Africa, Canada and Israel
ESPN has announced a new deal with the Australian Football League (AFL) to bring viewers exclusive live television coverage of the AFL Premiership in the UK and Republic of Ireland, Canada, and sub-saharan Africa. Additionally, it has secured co-exclusive live television rights in the Caribbean and Israel.
The deal will run for the next three seasons, including the current season. ESPN will bring viewers in these territories extensive coverage of the league, which attracts the highest in-stadia attendances of all sports leagues in Australia and has the third highest average attendance of any sports league in the world.
At least one live match per week will be aired on ESPN channels throughout the season across all these territories. The 23-round regular season is played between March and August, followed by the Finals Series, where the top teams play off for the right to make the Grand Final. The live TV telecast of the Grand Final itself will also be exclusively on ESPN channels. In addition, fans will be able to keep up to date with all the action during each round with a dedicated weekly TV highlights show.
The 2012 AFL season follows on from a 2011 season that saw Geelong lift the Premiership Cup after a 38-point victory over Collingwood at the MCG in Melbourne. The league welcomes a new team this year, Greater Western Sydney.
Mike Walters, vice president, programming, ESPN International, said: “We’re delighted to continue our collaboration with the AFL and bring the thrilling sport of Aussie Rules to millions. Broadcasting Australian Rules Football demonstrates the range and depth of content we strive to offer ESPN viewers and is a great addition to our live sport line-up in each of these territories.”
Gillon McLachlan, AFL Chief Operating Officer, stated: “The AFL is delighted to announce a new three-year agreement with ESPN. The AFL and ESPN have built a wonderful partnership over the last three years and we are thrilled to have our code broadcast on such an esteemed network throughout many territories worldwide. I wish to thank ESPN for their ongoing commitment to AFL internationally.”
About ESPN
Based in Bristol, Conn., ESPN, Inc. is the world’s leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company featuring a portfolio of over 50 multimedia sports assets. ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., which is an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The Hearst Corporation holds a 20 percent interest in ESPN.
ESPN International has grown to include ownership — in whole or in part — of over 47 television networks outside of the United States, as well as a variety of brand extension businesses, which allow ESPN to reach fans in 200 countries and territories.
http://espnmediazone.com/caribbean/pres ... year-deal/
AFL sells Kiwi TV rights; adds new broadcast partner
08 March 2013 | Posted in Broadcast, Australian rules football, Oceania | By Ian McPherson
Sky Television and Sommet Sports have acquired the broadcast rights in New Zealand to the 2013 Toyota Australian Football League (AFL) Premiership.
The agreement will see Sommet Sports, a newly launched free-to-air sports channel in New Zealand, broadcast all nine AFL games each week – six live and three delayed matches – while Sky NZ will broadcast one delayed match each week.
In addition, both networks will provide live coverage of the Anzac Day match between St Kilda and Sydney Swans at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington and the AFL Grand Final. A weekly Premiership highlights show will also be available on both networks. No financial terms were announced.
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The deal follows Sky NZ’s broadcast deal yesterday with the National Rugby League (NRL) in Australia, on the eve of the league’s opening match.
AFL general manager, broadcasting, scheduling and legal affairs Simon Lethlean said: “For the first time every match from round four onwards will be broadcast into New Zealand. We are pleased to have the support of Sommet Sports and Sky NZ in a season where we will play the first ever AFL Premiership season match outside of Australia at Westpac Stadium, Wellington on Anzac Day.”
Sommet Sports spokesman Andrew Reeves added: “We are delighted to be able to broadcast the AFL into New Zealand. Kiwis will now be able to watch the games for free live every week and will find out what a great game it is!”
Sommet Sports’ coverage is scheduled to start on Thursday 18th April, one week before to the Anzac Day Wellington match.
http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/AFL_ ... _broadcast_
AFL announces US$23.3 million worth of radio deals
18 November 2011 | Posted in Broadcast, Australian rules football, Oceania | By Michael Long
The Australian Football League (AFL) has announced a series of radio broadcast deals that amount to AU$23.2 million (US$23.3 million) worth of revenue over a five-year period.
According to the league, the new agreements will see more matches broadcast around Australia than ever before, while the total annual value of the new deals in 2012 (AU$4.3 million) represents a 29 per cent increase compared to 2011.
The announcement comes just seven months after the AFL signed a AU$1.25 billion TV and online deal with Channel 7, Foxtel and Telstra.
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In the city of Melbourne, where nine of the league's 18 teams reside, radio stations Triple M and 3AW will maintain their premium packages, broadcasting a minimum of four matches per week in the primetime slots of Friday night, Saturday afternoon, Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.
Additionally, Triple M and 3AW will have firs pick of Saturday's matches with the choice of whether to broadcast and additional two games on Saturday evening.
Meanwhile, ABC Radio and SEN will cover at least six matches per game round while FIVEaa and 6PR will retain their broadcast rights in Adelaide and Perth respectively.
According to an official statement released by the AFL, 'The ABC will broadcast a minimum of three matches per round into Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sydney, while 2UE will also cover some matches in Sydney, and 4BC some matches in Brisbane.
The arrangement means every match featuring a club from Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales will be broadcast into their respective states.
Regional radio partners are K-Rock (Geelong), Gold FM (Gold Coast), Crocmedia, Southern Cross Austereo and the National Indigenous Radio Service (NIRS).'
Regarding the new agreements, AFL chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan, said, "Despite a challenging economic climate, our radio partners are eager to be part of football and it speaks volumes about our clubs, players, supporters and the overall strength of the game that they have committed for another five years. Fans are the biggest winners from these agreements with access to more matches on radio than ever before, wherever they may be listening across Australia."
http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/AFL_ ... dio_deals/
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