Talks May Signal New AFL Coverage Through New Distribution System

The Australian Football League "could be the first major Australian sporting body to sell footage of matches directly to fans via high-speed broadband," according to Lucy Battersby of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou said his COO Gill McLachlan ''may'' have already held discussions about the new multi-casting technology with officials from National Broadband Network. An AFL spokesperson did not deny it had spoken to NBN, "but refused to discuss the matter." NBN Head of Product Development and Industry Relations Jim Hassell said that a new distribution system that uses multicasting technology will begin next month (SMH, 8/20).