Foxtel and Austar to show all AFL games; launch dedicated AFL channel
Foxtel and Austar have announced that they are to broadcast all AFL games, free of advertising, and are to launch a dedicated Fox Sports AFL channel.
The announcement:
FOXTEL and AUSTAR will televise every AFL game live, nationally and commercial free, siren to siren, under a historic new agreement announced today that will revolutionise sports broadcasting in Australia.
FOXTEL will partner with AUSTAR, FOX SPORTS and Telstra to deliver Australian viewers and AFL fans alike a long list of stunning broadcasting firsts which they will love, including:
- Most comprehensive live coverage ever – for the first time, Australian AFL fans will be able to watch every single AFL Home & Away game and FOXTEL Cup game live, in High Definition, and uninterrupted siren to siren on FOXTEL and AUSTAR.
- Guaranteed live Finals coverage nationally – for the first time on Australian television, FOXTEL and AUSTAR subscribers will be able to watch the entire Finals Series (not including the Grand Final) live, in HD and uninterrupted siren to siren.
- Guaranteed Live Pre-Season Competition – for the first time ever, FOXTEL and AUSTAR subscribers will be able to watch the entire Pre-Season Competition, including the Grand Final, live in HD and uninterrupted siren to siren. All Pre-Season matches other than the Grand Final will only be available on television on FOXTEL and AUSTAR.
- Live games delivered via mobile/broadband – for the first time ever, all AFL games will be delivered live over Telstra Next G® mobiles. Additionally, one match per round will be available via the internet to Telstra T-Box customers. Additional matches will be available to Telstra T-Box customers and Microsoft Xbox LIVE customers who subscribe to the FOXTEL channels.
- FOX SPORTS AFL – FOXTEL, AUSTAR and FOX SPORTS will bring back to our screens a dedicated AFL channel to celebrate and engage subscribers for each AFL season – all in stunning High Definition (and available to sports tier subscribers).
- Brownlow on FOXTEL and AUSTAR live – for the first time in broadcasting history, both FOXTEL and AUSTAR will carry the Brownlow Medal ceremony live and in full, right across the country.
- Historical and memorable matches “from the vault” – FOXTEL and AUSTAR will have full access to all matches and events to which the AFL has rights from its rich history stored in their archive vault.
- Even more resources for grass roots competitions – the deal is the richest in Australian sports history and will ensure that the AFL can continue to support: players, world class facilities, its grass roots competitions and the AFL’s expansion to Western Sydney and the Gold Coast. This expansion will increase the weekly competition to 9 games per round – with all 9 matches being shown live on FOXTEL and AUSTAR nationally.
FOXTEL, AUSTAR and FOX SPORTS will schedule their games on the new dedicated AFL channel (the FOX SPORTS AFL channel) as well as scheduling some games on FOX SPORTS 1, whenever there is a game overlap or conflict, to ensure every game is broadcast live and the viewer is in charge. FOX SPORTS AFL will broadcast the widest-ever range of AFL games live, in High Definition, including historical and memorable matches from the AFL’s archive vault as well as continuing to broadcast the much loved and watched magazine shows On The Couch, After the Bounce, AFL Winners, AFL 360, AFL Insider, AFL Teams and AFL Winners Presents – The Greatest.
“This is a great day for Australian sports fans who love the AFL because for the first time they will be able to see every game of the AFL live, get real choice over which network to watch their team on, and they’ll have the option of watching AFL games on their mobiles, personal computer, Microsoft Xbox 360 or Telstra T-box,” said Kim Williams CEO FOXTEL.
“It’s an agreement for the 21st Century which takes all the truly amazing possibilities of digital technology to put the viewer firmly in control of their television viewing and to deliver to them live sports coverage like never before and over a device of their choice” Mr Williams added.
AUSTAR CEO John Porter said, “We are truly excited at the opportunity to deliver our subscribers the depth of coverage that AFL deserves, every match live and uninterrupted, in beautiful High Definition. We look forward to working with our partners at FOXTEL and FOX SPORTS to raise the bar even further, and ensure that our sport offering is a must have for anyone with even a casual interest in AFL.”
FOX SPORTS CEO David Malone said, “FOX SPORTS is delighted to announce its most extensive AFL offering ever, including the addition of a new channel dedicated solely to the AFL. The new channel will enable us to broadcast every AFL game live, nationally and uninterrupted in glorious High Definition, while providing AFL fans with a one-stop destination for AFL coverage including classic matches from the archives and the game’s leading opinion and analysis through our seven dedicated weekly AFL magazine programs. FOX SPORTS will produce unsurpassed live AFL coverage, strengthening our commitment to the code and reinforcing our position as Australia’s Sports Leader.”
The agreement will ensure the AFL has an even stronger funding base to continue to support the players, world class sporting venues and grass roots competitions – which make such a huge contribution to local communities and the health of Australia’s young people.
The agreement complies with current anti-siphoning provisions in the Broadcasting Services Act and is also consistent with the Government’s stated new anti-siphoning policy which the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy announced in November 2010. Under this policy the Minister specified that the Government will delist 4 weekly AFL games.
