Fox Sports closes on A League extension as free-to-air negotiations take longer
Free-to-air broadcast rights to Australia’s A League soccer look set to be a consolation prize for a losing bidder in the battle for the Big Bash cricket.
Meanwhile, Fox Sports looks set to have locked down the pay TV rights to the A League at a price of $50m per year, according to reports in News Corp newspapers today. News Corp also owns Fox Sports.
New Fox Sports/A-League deal imminent https://t.co/Ni3slatAyR
— David Davutovic (@davutovic) December 17, 2016
According to the report from Herald Sun chief soccer writer David Davutovic, the Fox Sports deal will be announced this coming week, with the deal worth a total of $55m a year to take in Socceroos games too. Fox Sports will also own the digital rights, along with the ability to broadcast all five of each week’s games live.
The free TV deal will cover a simulcast with Fox Sports of one game, probably broadcast on a Saturday. SBS currently simulcasts the Friday game.
However, the report suggests that the free TV soccer deal will not be concluded until bidding is wrapped up on the Big Bash cricket, which is likely to be more attractive to networks because of its ability to attract audiences over a larger number of hours during the summer. Ten currently has the rights to Big Bash.
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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funny how they give billions to afl nrl which game cant grow for peanuts and only get greedy players wanting more cash but real football only give $50mill? so sad no wonder this country is crap at every sport..give money and follow china at least theyre smarter than us when it comes to sport..
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Is that you Kim DotCom?
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