Football Federation Australia, football’s governing body in Australia, has agreed domestic rights deals with pay-television broadcasters Fox Sports Australia and Foxtel, and public-service broadcaster SBS, covering the four years from 2013-14 to 2016-17, worth a combined A$160 million (€131.3 million/$166.8 million).
The deal includes A$148 million in cash and A$12 million in marketing support. FFA’s current domestic rights deal, with Fox for the 2006-07 to 2012-13 seasons, is worth A$17 million per season.
Fox Sports has acquired exclusive live rights for all Australian national team matches until June 30, 2017, and will continue as the primary broadcaster of Australia’s top club league, the A-League, providing live coverage of all regular season and finals matches. The deal extends the Fox-FFA relationship to 12 consecutive years.
SBS will provide free-to-air coverage on a one-hour delay of all Australia’s Fifa World Cup qualification matches until 2017. SBS has provided free-to-air coverage of the last two 2014 Fifa World Cup Asian qualification matches – against Jordan on September 11, 2012 and Iraq on October 16, 2012 – under interim agreements.
SBS will also provide live free-to-air coverage of the Friday night A-League regular season match and free-to-air coverage of all finals matches on a one-hour delay.
Foxtel’s role in the agreement will see it provide sponsorship and promotional support during the duration of the contract.
“Today, the new broadcast arrangements will give FFA an unprecedented opportunity to implement its strategic plans for Australian football,” FFA chairman Frank Lowy said. “There’s never been any doubt that the game has a bright future in this nation, but today the football family can take comfort from the huge vote of confidence from our broadcast partners. Fox Sports, Foxtel and SBS are broadcasters who know football and care about the game. They will all be important partners in the exciting growth in the years ahead.”