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New Media Deal

Forum Phoenix

Well-Known Member
FFA's vision will be aligned with whoever's paying the bills.

Yeah, but it almost seems like it could it be a bit of a bizarro backwards world... FOX can afford to be focused on long term maximum growth and the good of the game as a whole thereby. But the FFA is focused short term on whatever will drive the viewing metrics so predominantly the governing body only cares about the most commercial highest rating aspects of the game, but the global media corp is concerned with grass roots and regional expansion... o_O

Strange days.
 

midfielder

Well-Known Member
Excellent write up on the financials in the Fin review
http://www.afr.com/business/sport/soccer-strikes-record-346m-tv-deal-20161220-gteq5r

Football Federation Australia has signed a record $346 million television broadcast deal with Fox Sports and Foxtel, but has so far failed to find a free-to-air partner for the A-League.

FFA chairman Steven Lowy and chief executive David Gallop announced the deal on Tuesday, revealing that the wholly owned News Corporation subsidiary Fox Sports would telecast the A-League, Socceroos and Matildas matches for six years from 2017 onwards.

The new deal is comprised of $310 million in cash and $36 million in contra payments. The FFA has, crucially, also negotiated to end the "last rights" clause that has previously enabled Fox Sports to match any other bid the governing body receives.

At about $58 million per year the deal is a record for the sport in Australia, but so far falls short of the $80 million annual figure FFA had previously said it was targeting for the rights, double the amount Fox Sports and SBS now pay in cash and contra.


The FFA will hope to bridge the gap by negotiating to sell one match per round to a free-to-air network, as well as digital, radio, digital and international broadcast rights. There is also a clause in the Fox Sports agreement for the pay-TV network to increase the FFA deal annually when the A-League expands to 12 teams, within about two years.

Mr Gallop said the big networks had all expressed interest in a Saturday-night match to be simulcast with Fox Sports and that "regular discussions had taken place with them in the past few months".

Digital rights
The FFA has retained some digital rights that it hopes to strike a deal with a company such as Telstra in the new year, and could also sell A-Leagues to several countries overseas.

One potential stumbling block to a quick deal being struck for the free-to-air match is Cricket Australia taking its rights to the market early next year. Network Ten is currently paying $20 million for the popular Big Bash League, which started on Tuesday evening, and is expecting intense competition from Seven West Media and Nine Entertainment Co. The latter pays $80 million annually for tests and limited-overs internationals.


Mr Lowy described the Fox Sports and Foxtel soccer deal as a "quantum leap" for the FFA, and that "there has not been a financial injection this big in the game's history".

As revealed by The Australian Financial Review in November, FFA and its advisers Adara Partners put the soccer rights out to the market in November with the hope of striking a quick deal before Christmas.

UBS bankers Matthew Grounds and Guy Fowler helped negotiate the deal via Adara, a corporate advisory firm that engages high-profile investment bankers to work on deals from which the fees for their services are ultimately donated to charity, as did Neilsen Sports Australia managing director Shane Mattiske. "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," said Mr Gallop.

"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."
 
Last edited:

Capn Gus Bloodbeard

Well-Known Member
Herald sun arguing that the true value of the TV deal only works out to be about 45mil per season, only marginally above the existing deal. We already know about the contra payments, but this one highlights other bonuses being part of the equation.

Also, ensuring that expansion teams are from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane is worth $5mil to the FFA. That seems highly problematic...

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/f...n/news-story/4db9af71d1f0578d9acdc0739c2e2d05

Australian soccer’s record TV deal isn’t actually worth $346 million
DAVID DAVUTOVIC AND MATT WINDLEY, Herald Sun
March 16, 2017 7:03pm

SOCCER’S record TV deal isn’t actually worth $346 million at all, with consultancy fees, contra and other performance-related bonuses eating away at the base value of the contract.

A Herald Sun investigation has found that the true cash value of the deal currently stands at less than $300m.

Football Federation Australia was sketchy on the details upon its pre-Christmas announcement of the new six-year deal, as the $346m figure included advertising contra and was an absolute best-case scenario with bonuses factored in.

FFA also owes $500,000 of that figure to consultants whose brief was to bring as many bidding parties as it could to the table.

In the end, Fox Sports was the only bidder.


It is understood that $5m of the deal hinges on A-League expansion, with that money only forthcoming if new teams are added in Melbourne, Sydney and/or Brisbane.

A total of $10 million is allocated to marketing and $18 million to the marquee fund.

There is about $16.5 million in total hinging on “bonuses” — expansion included — while $36 million is contra, which brings its real value thus far to about $267 million.

There is also a $4m buyback option for Fox Sports if FFA can’t sell the Saturday night free-to-air rights by June 30, which jeopardises the potential for competitive tension for that arm of the deal as well.

If not taken up, the rights would then be Fox’s to onsell.

The revelations come as soccer heavyweights from across the country prepare to meet in Sydney today to discuss FFA’s voting congress, as a March 31 deadline from FIFA for FFA to reform its governance model nears.

media_cameraTim Cahill has been a winner for the FFA and A-League. Picture: Wayne Ludbey
Representatives from FFA, the nine state and territory federations, the A-League clubs and the players’ association will discuss potential reform models ahead of the Extraordinary General Meeting needed to ratify the changes to its membership.

FFA’s voting congress of 10 is the lowest in the world.

Currently the votes go to the nine state and territory federations, with one collective vote held by the A-League clubs.

Intense lobbying has taken place behind the scenes in the lead up to the meeting, with FFA trying to cling to its powerbase in the face of A-League clubs pushing for a greater voice and second tier clubs threatening to form a breakaway national second division.

75 per cent of the existing congress need to approve the new membership model for reforms to pass, with FFA understood to be pushing for an increase of just three.

The consultants for the TV deal — brought in at the 11th hour to “maximise competitive tension” according to a memo seen by the Herald Sun — were Adara Partners, which have close ties with FFA chairman Steven Lowy.

David Gonski, a panel member of Adara Partners, is a Westfield director and board director of the Lowy Institute for international policy.


David Davutovic and Tom Smithies discuss the inclusion of youngster Riley McGree in the Socceroos squad

  • March 14th 2017
  • 3 days ago
  • /video/video.news.com.au/Sport/
origin:video_integrator.t3MDNiYTE6YLowa2jYIjX-dmJ3cE-GZZ



THE BURNING ISSUES
Soccer stakeholders will converge on Sydney today for a high stakes meeting that could help shape the future of the game. Matt Windley and David Davutovic analyse the key issues facing the sport.

GOVERNANCE

Not the sexiest issue, but it’s the main agenda item today. With 10 votes, Football Federation Australia’s voting congress is the lowest in the world and FIFA says it must change by the end of this month. Currently the states and territories hold nine of the 10 votes, but A-League clubs — with just one vote between them — are the biggest agitators for a greater say in the running of the game.

EXPANSION

It’s the No.1 topic for fans. The A-League desperately needs to expand, but FFA has been asleep at the wheel.

INDEPENDENCE

The clubs want an independent A-League. If FFA can sell it off then that will free up funds and resources for national teams and grassroots.

B-LEAGUE

Frustrated second tier clubs across Australia have united. They want a greater voice and a national second division.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Australia is not producing the world-class players it was 20 years ago.

WOMEN

The W-League has been left behind by women’s AFL, Big Bash and the new national netball league.

media_cameraCan the W-League continue to grow in the wake of AFL Women’s emergence? Picture: AAP
FINANCIAL DISTRIBUTIONS

The clubs want more, claiming 35 per cent of A-League revenue has been redistributed elsewhere in the last two years.

TV RIGHTS

FFA still hasn’t signed a Free To Air partner for next season.

COST

The fees for kids to play at National Premier League clubs are exorbitant.

THE BOARD

Eight of the nine FFA board members are involved in either finance or law, yet head office says it is strapped for cash. How?

REFEREES

There are three fulltime referees but more needs to be done as the standard this season has been poor.

FIXTURING

International breaks and the dearth of midweek content in the summer holidays are just two issues here.

SALARY CAP

Socceroos legend Mark Bosnich has been the loudest voice calling for the cap to be scrapped.

MARKETING

As the A-League struggles for traction, who is most responsible for promoting it — FFA or the clubs?
 

Capn Gus Bloodbeard

Well-Known Member
$10mil for advertising doesn't seem like a big amount of money
Though $500k for a consultant to bring other people to the table and fail to do so is also a bit questionable.
 

dibo

Well-Known Member
$45m/season in cash is still a big rise.

Roy Masters wrote in December that "The previous FFA deal, often reported at $40 million a year, included a $7 million payment from SBS, $5 million from Asian rights and $3 million in contra."

So that's $40m - $7m - $5m - $3m = $25m cash (Masters says $26m, so there's some rounding error).

Masters writes about the deal being $57m, but this story above says $45m. Even if the lower figure is true, comparing apples and apples We're going from $25m to $45m for the A-League.

There's *at least* $4m for the Saturday night game from either Fox or FTA, so we're looking at comparing $32m for the old Fox + SBS deal to $49m+ per year.

Club grants clearly must rise, but MC ought to be demanding that there be a *big* component of the club grants quarantined from the salary cap to ensure that we can fund ongoing operations.

The operating model for the league has to change though. The FFA is serious about finding "league wide investment", likely in a similar model to how the MLS expanded in the 00s. To grow the league, they want to find someone who's willing to pour capital into the A-League as a whole, and take pressure off club owners who've had to do all the heavy lifting themselves until now.

The league is pretty small beans at the moment. Combined turnover of the clubs is probably less than $100m, annual losses would top $10m and the combined potential sale value of the clubs might top out at $75m.

They're all big numbers, but for a business like Westfield (for example) it's not that much - the Scentre group has assets of about $40b and they're spending $350m on updating *one* shopping centre in suburban Adelaide.

Buying a league for $100m and spending $10m a year on it would probably be less than their annual marketing budget...
 

Tevor

Well-Known Member
We all love the game and it's growing but as soon as the NRL & AFL start we are merely a filler at the end of the sports segment. FTA is the only way to grow the TV audience beyond us die hards. The other codes are very wary of us but we are merely cannon fodder to their war chests even when they are poorly run. Two more decades away from making a real impact but I will still 100% devote my money and time to the game I love and I will tell every knuckle dragger how football is so much better to watch and play at all levels. Baby steps.
 

sydmariner

Well-Known Member
FFA signs international media rights deal with IMG

football-federation-australia-ffa-has-signed-an-international-media-rights-deal-with-img_daz5fga2p482zlrxhdx1cge1.jpg

Football Federation Australia (FFA) has signed an international media rights deal with IMG.
Monday, 19 June 2017 -
Staff writer
Football Federation Australia (FFA) has signed an international media rights deal with IMG.
The multimillion dollar deal gives IMG the right to market the Hyundai A-League, Westfield W-League and Westfield FFA Cup, as well as selected Caltex Socceroos and Westfield Matildas matches, to broadcasters around the world for six years from the 2017/18 season.

The IMG agreement complements FFA’s new domestic broadcast arrangements made with FOX SPORTS, Foxtel and News Corp in December 2016. The final part of FFA’s broadcast rights, a commercial free to air deal the Ten Network, was recently announced.

David Gallop, CEO, FFA said: “Australian football has never been seen by more people around the world. This deal with IMG provides more funds to invest in the game and will help to enhance the reputation of the Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League, and our national teams around the world.”


more-australians-will-experience-the-hyundai-a-league-than-ever-before-with-network-ten_1adeoala9pva51kmgohc9i7uwq.jpg



Chris Guinness, Senior Vice President, IMG Media, Asia said: “Football in Australia is continuing to enjoy an upward curve in terms of quality and interest from around the world with many players from more established leagues now playing their trade in the A-League. We are delighted to have entered into this new partnership with the FFA, amidst very strong interest, and are looking forward to helping them grow media coverage and awareness of Australian football.”

The Hyundai A-League was established in 2004 as a successor to the National Soccer League (NSL) with competition commencing in August 2005. The league is contested by ten teams; nine based in Australia and one in New Zealand.

The Hyundai A-League season runs from October to May followed by a Finals Series involving the top six teams and culminating in the Grand Final. The winner of the Hyundai A-League Grand Final and the top team from the Hyundai A-League regular season (Premiers) received direct qualification to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL).

This article was originally published at: http://www.footballaustralia.com.au...ights-deal-with-img/n6yrc4o1u3yb1h8fl7399t7hh.
- See more at: http://www.theffacup.com.au/article...q6ahj9rbddn13bmc6w2df3yl#sthash.ndxyEOIZ.dpuf
Read more at http://www.theffacup.com.au/article...cq6ahj9rbddn13bmc6w2df3yl#jDBE26Zutv3cJ3gm.99
 

sydmariner

Well-Known Member
Football joins the live, fast and data-free sports family at Telstra
Telstra and Football Federation Australia (FFA) have announced a five-year digital rights and sponsorship agreement, with Telstra securing the live mobile rights for football until 2023.

Telstra has sub-licensed the digital rights from Fox Sports, as part of the 2016 rights deal between the FFA and Foxtel.

Under the deal, Telstra will create and launch the new “My Football Live App” with live matches available via the Telstra Live Pass for existing Telstra mobile customers. This live, fast and data-free inclusion is yet another tangible and valuable benefit to being a Telstra mobile customer.

The My Football Live App which will be the home of news, information and video for Australian Football on mobile devices and live streaming of the Hyundai A-League and select Westfield W-League, FFA Cup and National Team games.

Telstra will also become the exclusive telecommunications partner of the FFA under the deal, and a Technology Partner of all FFA properties including the Hyundai A-League, Caltex Socceroos and Westfield Matildas.

Joe Pollard, Telstra’s Group Executive of Media and Chief Marketing Officer, said Telstra was now providing a year-round live mobile sports offering across premier male and female competitions. The My Football Live App will be included in all Telstra mobile plans, providing another added benefit of being a Telstra mobile customer.

“We are the home of live Australian sport on-the-go, and on our brilliant network we are committed to making games available live, fast and data-free to as many Telstra customers as possible,” said Ms Pollard.

“We offer live streaming of every game of the AFL, AFLW, NRL and Netball seasons, on the leading mobile network in the country - and football is now joining the family. Adding the My Football Live App gives our customers a summer offering to complement the existing AFL, AFLW, NRL and Netball Live apps that are created by Telstra,” she added.

telstratwitter.png


David Gallop, FFA CEO, said more Australians than ever before would now have access to live football.

“Our media rights strategy was to deliver content to as many Australians as possible anywhere, anytime and this new partnership with Telstra delivers on that commitment, helping us offer many more people the chance to watch the Hyundai A-League, Westfield W-League, the FFA Cup and our national teams live,” said Mr Gallop.

“As we saw with Riley McGree’s scorpion kick, the Hyundai A-League can produce moments that generate millions of views globally.

“And with women’s football the fastest growing part of the game, fans will now have the new option of watching the Westfield Matildas and Westfield W-League on the move through Telstra.

“This is the first of a range of innovations FFA is working on for next season,” he added.

Telstra saw unprecedented demand by sports-mad fans live streaming their favourite sporting games in 2017, with the audience subscribing to Telstra’s sporting apps increasing throughout the year, to over 1.5 million.

“We are enhancing the sports experience and shaping the way Australians are consuming sport. Customers now expect always-on ease of access and deeper engagement with the game through their mobile devices, and we’re seeing strong continued growth of live streaming in 2018,” said Ms Pollard.

FFA_Testra_Facebook_1200x628_4.png


Telstra’s expert sports product team are currently working with the FFA to design and build the My Football Live App and will launch this with regularly updated Caltex Socceroos editorial content and player profiles, in time for the Socceroos journey to Russia in June.

Live streaming in the app will commence for key games in the FFA Cup and every game of the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 season.

The My Football Live App will include live streaming and full match replays of all Hyundai A-League games which will be made available as a live, fast and data-free inclusion for Telstra mobile customers. In addition to Hyundai A-League games, the app will offer customers and Live Pass holders select FFA Cup, Westfield W-League, Caltex Socceroos and Westfield Matildas games, including Caltex Socceroos home friendlies and early round Asian Cup and 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification games.

FFA’s Head of Commercial, Digital and Marketing, Luke Bould, said: “We are delighted that Telstra is continuing its long association with football in Australia, joining many other leading brands as supporters of the game across all levels from our national teams to community football.”

The App will be free to download, with live matches being unlocked via the Telstra Live Pass. This live, fast and data free inclusion will be available to all Telstra mobile customers. Non-Telstra customers can purchase a $99.99 annual Live Pass, $16.99 monthly Live Pass, $4.99 weekly Live Pass.
 

Pirate Pete

Well-Known Member
Football joins the live, fast and data-free sports family at Telstra
Telstra and Football Federation Australia (FFA) have announced a five-year digital rights and sponsorship agreement, with Telstra securing the live mobile rights for football until 2023.

Telstra has sub-licensed the digital rights from Fox Sports, as part of the 2016 rights deal between the FFA and Foxtel.

Under the deal, Telstra will create and launch the new “My Football Live App” with live matches available via the Telstra Live Pass for existing Telstra mobile customers. This live, fast and data-free inclusion is yet another tangible and valuable benefit to being a Telstra mobile customer.

The My Football Live App which will be the home of news, information and video for Australian Football on mobile devices and live streaming of the Hyundai A-League and select Westfield W-League, FFA Cup and National Team games.

Telstra will also become the exclusive telecommunications partner of the FFA under the deal, and a Technology Partner of all FFA properties including the Hyundai A-League, Caltex Socceroos and Westfield Matildas.

Joe Pollard, Telstra’s Group Executive of Media and Chief Marketing Officer, said Telstra was now providing a year-round live mobile sports offering across premier male and female competitions. The My Football Live App will be included in all Telstra mobile plans, providing another added benefit of being a Telstra mobile customer.

“We are the home of live Australian sport on-the-go, and on our brilliant network we are committed to making games available live, fast and data-free to as many Telstra customers as possible,” said Ms Pollard.

“We offer live streaming of every game of the AFL, AFLW, NRL and Netball seasons, on the leading mobile network in the country - and football is now joining the family. Adding the My Football Live App gives our customers a summer offering to complement the existing AFL, AFLW, NRL and Netball Live apps that are created by Telstra,” she added.

telstratwitter.png


David Gallop, FFA CEO, said more Australians than ever before would now have access to live football.

“Our media rights strategy was to deliver content to as many Australians as possible anywhere, anytime and this new partnership with Telstra delivers on that commitment, helping us offer many more people the chance to watch the Hyundai A-League, Westfield W-League, the FFA Cup and our national teams live,” said Mr Gallop.

“As we saw with Riley McGree’s scorpion kick, the Hyundai A-League can produce moments that generate millions of views globally.

“And with women’s football the fastest growing part of the game, fans will now have the new option of watching the Westfield Matildas and Westfield W-League on the move through Telstra.

“This is the first of a range of innovations FFA is working on for next season,” he added.

Telstra saw unprecedented demand by sports-mad fans live streaming their favourite sporting games in 2017, with the audience subscribing to Telstra’s sporting apps increasing throughout the year, to over 1.5 million.

“We are enhancing the sports experience and shaping the way Australians are consuming sport. Customers now expect always-on ease of access and deeper engagement with the game through their mobile devices, and we’re seeing strong continued growth of live streaming in 2018,” said Ms Pollard.

FFA_Testra_Facebook_1200x628_4.png


Telstra’s expert sports product team are currently working with the FFA to design and build the My Football Live App and will launch this with regularly updated Caltex Socceroos editorial content and player profiles, in time for the Socceroos journey to Russia in June.

Live streaming in the app will commence for key games in the FFA Cup and every game of the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 season.

The My Football Live App will include live streaming and full match replays of all Hyundai A-League games which will be made available as a live, fast and data-free inclusion for Telstra mobile customers. In addition to Hyundai A-League games, the app will offer customers and Live Pass holders select FFA Cup, Westfield W-League, Caltex Socceroos and Westfield Matildas games, including Caltex Socceroos home friendlies and early round Asian Cup and 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification games.

FFA’s Head of Commercial, Digital and Marketing, Luke Bould, said: “We are delighted that Telstra is continuing its long association with football in Australia, joining many other leading brands as supporters of the game across all levels from our national teams to community football.”

The App will be free to download, with live matches being unlocked via the Telstra Live Pass. This live, fast and data free inclusion will be available to all Telstra mobile customers. Non-Telstra customers can purchase a $99.99 annual Live Pass, $16.99 monthly Live Pass, $4.99 weekly Live Pass.
I was reading about this on another forum earlier. The problem being discussed is the fact that the NRL and AFL apps only allow viewing on small screens. 7 inch has been talked about.
It was mentioned there are ways around this. I'll have to look into I think.
I might have a look at Telstra mobile plans. It might be cheaper to pay the $100 bucks a year and stick with my present mobile plan though.

Edit..... I've just had a look at the mobile plans. Bloody hell do people pay all that?????

Stream AFL, AFLW, NRL and Netball live, fast and data-free this 2018 season. Excludes NRL Grand Final, State of Origin series and some Diamonds games. AFL/AFLW/NRL live games are limited to a 7” viewing size.
 

Big Al

Well-Known Member
I was reading about this on another forum earlier. The problem being discussed is the fact that the NRL and AFL apps only allow viewing on small screens. 7 inch has been talked about.
It was mentioned there are ways around this. I'll have to look into I think.
I might have a look at Telstra mobile plans. It might be cheaper to pay the $100 bucks a year and stick with my present mobile plan though.

Edit..... I've just had a look at the mobile plans. Bloody hell do people pay all that?????

Stream AFL, AFLW, NRL and Netball live, fast and data-free this 2018 season. Excludes NRL Grand Final, State of Origin series and some Diamonds games. AFL/AFLW/NRL live games are limited to a 7” viewing size.
Apple tv you can mirror image onto the big screen but Telstra are expensive as you note.
 

sydmariner

Well-Known Member
ESPN+ Acquires Broadcast Rights to Hyundai A-League in the United States


Today’s announcement coincides with ESPN+ announcing that they have also reached similar agreements with the Chinese Super League and the Dutch Eredivisie.

FFA’s Chief Commercial Officer, Luke Bould, was excited that ESPN+ will stream the Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League in the United States.

“FFA is delighted to have reached agreement for the Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League to be available live and exclusive to American fans on ESPN+ for the next three seasons” said Bould.

“There is no greater name in the entertainment world than The Walt Disney Company and to be one first football leagues featured on their world leading new ESPN+ platform is a great coup. The US is an important market for us, particularly in women’s football. With so many Westfield Matildas playing there in the Westfield W-League off-season, there is a significant following which will only grow through this agreement,” concluded Bould.

Greg O’Rourke, FFA’s Head of Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League, was equally pleased by the new agreement with ESPN+.

“This broadcast agreement will help expand the Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League brands in one of the largest sports entertainment markets in the world,” said O’Rourke.

“In a week which saw Melbourne Victory secure the signature of Japanese Football legend Keisuke Honda, interest in our leagues only continues to grow around the world,” concluded O’Rourke.

“This agreement further boosts the position of ESPN+ as the leading new platform for live soccer matches in the U.S.,” said Burke Magnus, Executive Vice President, Programming and Scheduling, ESPN. “These leagues join a lineup of hundreds of top-division live matches from Europe and North America, along with a strong lineup of original and studio soccer programming.”

Earlier this week, ESPN+ announced a new multi-year agreement with Serie A TIM that includes more than 340 Italian soccer matches per year. ESPN+ is already home to MLS LIVE – a collection of more than 250 Major League Soccer out-of-market matches, as well as local market media home for the Chicago Fire. The service will carry over 100 live matches from the UEFA Nations League (UNL), a new tournament among the 55-member nations from the Union of European Football Associations played on FIFA international match days beginning in September 2018. In addition, ESPN+ subscribers can watch hundreds of English Football League (EFL), the United Soccer League (USL) matches, and more.

ESPN+ is also the exclusive platform for ESPN FC, ESPN’s daily global soccer news, information and analysis program. Dan Thomas hosts alongside a roster of pundits featuring former international players Kasey Keller (USA) Craig Burley (Scotland), Shaka Hislop (Trinidad and Tobago), Stewart Robson (England), Alejandro Moreno (Venezuela), Steve Nicol (Scotland), and more.
 

Scotty

Well-Known Member
ESPN+ Acquires Broadcast Rights to Hyundai A-League in the United States


Today’s announcement coincides with ESPN+ announcing that they have also reached similar agreements with the Chinese Super League and the Dutch Eredivisie.

FFA’s Chief Commercial Officer, Luke Bould, was excited that ESPN+ will stream the Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League in the United States.

“FFA is delighted to have reached agreement for the Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League to be available live and exclusive to American fans on ESPN+ for the next three seasons” said Bould.

“There is no greater name in the entertainment world than The Walt Disney Company and to be one first football leagues featured on their world leading new ESPN+ platform is a great coup. The US is an important market for us, particularly in women’s football. With so many Westfield Matildas playing there in the Westfield W-League off-season, there is a significant following which will only grow through this agreement,” concluded Bould.

Greg O’Rourke, FFA’s Head of Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League, was equally pleased by the new agreement with ESPN+.

“This broadcast agreement will help expand the Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League brands in one of the largest sports entertainment markets in the world,” said O’Rourke.

“In a week which saw Melbourne Victory secure the signature of Japanese Football legend Keisuke Honda, interest in our leagues only continues to grow around the world,” concluded O’Rourke.

“This agreement further boosts the position of ESPN+ as the leading new platform for live soccer matches in the U.S.,” said Burke Magnus, Executive Vice President, Programming and Scheduling, ESPN. “These leagues join a lineup of hundreds of top-division live matches from Europe and North America, along with a strong lineup of original and studio soccer programming.”

Earlier this week, ESPN+ announced a new multi-year agreement with Serie A TIM that includes more than 340 Italian soccer matches per year. ESPN+ is already home to MLS LIVE – a collection of more than 250 Major League Soccer out-of-market matches, as well as local market media home for the Chicago Fire. The service will carry over 100 live matches from the UEFA Nations League (UNL), a new tournament among the 55-member nations from the Union of European Football Associations played on FIFA international match days beginning in September 2018. In addition, ESPN+ subscribers can watch hundreds of English Football League (EFL), the United Soccer League (USL) matches, and more.

ESPN+ is also the exclusive platform for ESPN FC, ESPN’s daily global soccer news, information and analysis program. Dan Thomas hosts alongside a roster of pundits featuring former international players Kasey Keller (USA) Craig Burley (Scotland), Shaka Hislop (Trinidad and Tobago), Stewart Robson (England), Alejandro Moreno (Venezuela), Steve Nicol (Scotland), and more.
This also means that it could be possible to watch the A-league without signing up for Foxtel. ESPN+ is about $5 US a month. You'd need a VPN, but it could work.
 

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