Channel Seven has indicated its interest in purchasing the TV rights for Australian football, with the Socceroos' games highlighted by its managing director "as a major drawcard," according to Dominic Bossi of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Channel Seven Managing Dir Lewis Martin "gave a major hint that the network will negotiate with Football Federation Australia to purchase the rights of the league and international games and highlighted the growth of the game and the popularity of the Socceroos." The current TV deal shared between Fox Sports and SBS "is set to expire in 2017 and Football Federation Australia is understood to be in the early stages of negotiations with other parties over a new broadcast deal." FFA "is eager to get the A-League and international fixtures on a major network" as part of the next TV deal to further football's push into the mainstream of Australian sport consumption. It is hoped that "the next deal will come close to doubling the current one," which could land the governing body up to A$80M ($61M) each year, providing clubs with an annual check of approximately A$5M ($4M) each season (SMH, 3/18).
SBS SCALING BACK: In Sydney, Sebastian Hassett wrote "the spiritual home of football on Australian television, SBS, is in advanced plans to cut ties with the sport as part of a dramatic programming overhaul." While the decision has not been finalized, the network's content division "recently concluded that SBS's 35-year relationship with football -- among Australian television's most iconic -- should be scaled back dramatically." The government broadcaster "has the rights to show the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Champions League and one A-League match on free-to-air television each Friday night." Tentative discussions "have been held with other free-to-air broadcasters about offloading their A-League commitments for the next two seasons." SBS and Fox Sports signed a four-year, A$160M ($123M) agreement "to share the rights until 2017." The network has been frustrated by a lack of access to premium games, with primary broadcaster Fox Sports requesting FFA schedule big matches -- "like most derbies and traditional clashes -- on Saturday nights" (SMH, 3/18).
