Australia
Australia’s free-to-air, subscription services clash over anti-siphoning reform
Australia’s free-to-air broadcasters and subscription-based platforms are at loggerheads over reforms to the country’s anti-siphoning legislation concerning digital sports rights, with a consultation process having now closed.
Matildas matches added to Australia’s ‘anti-siphoning’ list
The Australian government has added Fifa World Cup matches featuring the Australian women’s football team to the country’s current ‘anti-siphoning’ list, which dictates sporting events that should be show…
Nine front-runner for Melbourne Cup after Seven withdraws
Media group Nine Entertainment is the front-runner to secure domestic free-to-air media rights to the Melbourne Cup, Australia’s showpiece horse racing event, after its rival Seven West Media withdrew f…
Spain’s World Cup triumph is top-rated women’s match on record
Spain set records on and off the pitch as their victory in the Fifa Women's World Cup final became the most-watched women's football match of all time in the country
Australia set to tighten listed events laws but bulk rights untouched
The Fifa Women’s World Cup and Paralympic Games are among the properties set to be added to Australia’s list of protected sports events but the country’s government has stopped short of making wholesale chang…
BeIN expands Bundesliga rights with three-year APAC deal
Pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports has acquired rights to the Bundesliga in 10 territories across the Asia-Pacific region as part of a new deal with the German Football League (DFL) until 2025-26
Football Australia eyes record rights deal but no FTA guarantee despite Matildas’ success
Football Australia (FA) is readying tender documents for what it is confidently declaring will be a record multi-million dollar broadcast deal for its national teams
Huge Women’s World Cup ratings break Australian records
Australia’s defeat to England in the Fifa Women’s World Cup semi-final drew the country’s largest viewership for any type of TV programme since the current measurement system began.
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Fifa looks to leverage Australian ratings momentum with World Cup tenders
Fifa is looking to take advantage of football euphoria in Australia with the launch today (Monday) of separate invitations to tender for the media rights to the men's World Cup in 2026 and women's edition…
Women’s World Cup draws mammoth audience for Seven
Australia’s latest Fifa Women’s World Cup match was one of the most-watched sports broadcasts in the country this century, according to figures released by free-to-air broadcaster Seven.
Foxtel seizes exclusive distribution for UFC’s PPV events
Foxtel’s Main Event channel will become the exclusive home of all pay-per-view UFC events from the start of 2024, bolstering the media group’s position as Australia’s pre-eminent sports broadcaster.
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Ashes proves worth to Sky and Nine with record live audiences
The thrilling 2023 Ashes series have produced valuable returns for their national media rights-holders, drawing record audiences to Sky Sports in the UK and providing bumper ratings late into the night for Australia’s Nine Network.
Nine commits to blanket coverage of NRLW
Australian commercial free-to-air broadcaster Nine has ramped up its commitment to the National Women's Rugby League by announcing it will make all 48 games from the expanded 2023 season available live…
MLC secures five-year Willow deal, international distribution
Major League Cricket has announced a domestic media rights deal with subscription broadcaster Willow TV and a series of international media rights agreements ahead of its inaugural season
Seven to offer broad free-to-air coverage of Australian hockey
Hockey Australia, field hockey's domestic governing body, has struck an extensive media rights agreement with commercial broadcaster Seven Network
Wimbledon eyeing renewals in four key territories
Wimbledon is close to renewals in two vital territories – Australia and the Indian subcontinent – while discussions are also underway over renewals in France and Japan, two other major markets for the grand slam.
Ten rules itself out of the running to retain Melbourne Cup
Australian commercial broadcaster Network Ten has elected to withdraw from the process to potentially retain its free-to-air rights for domestic horse racing showpiece the Melbourne Cup, stating such a…
Sky Ashes audience breaks UK pay-TV record
The gripping first match of the 2023 Men’s Ashes series was the most-watched home Test in the UK since Sky took England’s home fixtures behind its paywall in 2006.