Football Federation Australia is set to sign a four-year, A$160M ($165.9M) broadcasting rights deal with Fox Sports and SBS, beginning July 1," according to Roy Masters of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Football "is the third code to cash in on TV's need for live action." Fox Sports "will pay about A$32M a year, and SBS A$7M to broadcast the A-League's five games a week, including one free-to-air game on SBS, together with World Cup qualifiers." FFA's current seven-year TV deal is A$19M a year, meaning football "has doubled its broadcasting revenue." Although the contract officially applies from July 1, "four World Cup qualifiers -- against Oman, Japan, Jordan and Iraq -- will be played before that date and shown on SBS on one-hour delay." FFA's windfall "comes off the back of record TV ratings and crowd figures after its decision to start the A-League season in October," clear of the shadow of the Australian Football League and National Rugby League finals. TV ratings for football "have risen this season, from an average of 65,000 viewers a game to 95,000" (SMH, 11/1).
