After a few tricky moments in recent negotiations, radio stations and the AFL have finally reached agreement for the broadcast of AFL football next season and into 2009.
3AW will broadcast four games per weekend into Melbourne – the Friday night game, Saturday afternoon and evening games and the Sunday match plus any games on public holidays.
3MMM will also have the right to broadcast broadcast four games per weekend into Melbourne; Friday night, Saturday afternoon and evening, Sunday afternoon and every public holiday game.
New partner SEN 1116 will jump straight to five games every weekend; Friday evening, Saturday afternoon, Saturday evening, Sunday afternoon and Sunday twilight games plus every game on a public holiday.
The ABC (774 and relays) will also broadcast five games per weekend.
ABC Local Radio stations will be able to broadcast a minimum of 5 matches every weekend into
Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia, South Australia and Northern Territory. The network may also broadcast all Finals matches and matches on Public Holidays and other days outside the regular weekend match timeslots.
In Melbourne and Victoria, the Friday night match, a Saturday afternoon game,
a Saturday evening game, the early Sunday match and the twilight Sunday match
will all be broadcast.
In Western Australia and South Australia, all matches involving the local
teams will be broadcast. Coverage of AFL into NSW, Queensland and the ACT through ABC Local Radio and ABC NewsRadio will continue. Games will be heard internationally on Radio Australia.
ABC Director of Radio Sue Howard says the Rights package represents
“outstanding value” and reaffirms ABC Local Radio’s status “as the leading
broadcaster” of major sporting events in Australia, with the widest coverage.
“ABC Radio has achieved an excellent result for Australian football
fans given protracted negotiations over recent changes to radio rights. ABC
Local Radio sports coverage is available to over 95% of Australians across the
country through a network of 60 Local Radio stations. With this significant 3
year deal, ABC Radio ensures it remains a major player in AFL Radio and sports
coverage.”
Triple M are also delighted with the outcome, claiming their call of the game was the most popular footy broadcast for under-55 audiences in the 2006 season.
Triple M national football director Lee Simon says the network will again increase its coverage of the game with new initiatives.
“We were the first commercial network to go national to cover the national game – starting with our comprehensive Melbourne coverage in 1997 and expanding into Adelaide for Crows and Port games, Sydney for live Swans coverage and Brisbane for Lions matches.
“We’ve many exciting new developments for 2007.
“But we’re not going to shy away from continuing to give our listeners our unique mix of informed but entertaining, fun commentary.
“We’re serious about football – but that doesn’t mean we have to take ourselves seriously.”