Fox Sports "will continue to be the A-League's main backer," with a new A$200M ($146M) deal set to be announced this week, according to David Davutovic of the HERALD SUN. Fox Sports and Football Federation Australia are "in the final stage of negotiating" the improved A$50M ($36.5M) per-year deal. It translates to Fox Sports "almost doubling its investment" in Australian football to an "unprecedented" A$55M ($40M) per year, including the Socceroos’ rights which are negotiated separately. FFA insiders are "hopeful that the yet-to-be-struck free-to-air component" will add another A$10M-A$15M ($7.3M-$11M) to the deal annually, lifting the overall new TV contract to A$60M-A$65M ($44M-$47M) per year. It is believed that "all TV networks are supportive of A-League expansion and have privately indicated they would be prepared to subsidise extra teams." The free-to-air component is "unlikely to be decided until the Big Bash League rights are finalised," with all networks opting to save their money "for an assault on cricket’s six-week summer extravaganza." Under the new deal, Fox Sports will "continue to broadcast all five games each round, one of which will be simulcast on free-to-air television." It is unclear how A-League owners, who felt A$80M ($58M) per year "was attainable to telecast the competition," will view the A$60-A$65M figure though "they have called for greater FFA financial transparency" (HERALD SUN, 12/17).
