Crocmedia is the official partner of Bowls Australia after signing a two-year agreement.
The broadcaster will produce exclusive radio and television content for bowls, including television coverage of the sport’s open annual event, the $250,000 prize-money Australian Open in June.
Crocmedia previously produced a nationally syndicated radio program for bowls in 2013 and 2014 and that program, Without Bias, returns and forms a key component of the renewed suite of content.
The Australian Open, the Bowls Premier League and The Bowls Show form the combined live and post-produced television broadcast content that will be shown on SBS and Fox Sports Australia, while Without Bias will find a regular home, on Melbourne’s home of sport, 1116 SEN every Tuesday at 8.30pm and will be hosted by the station’s resident bowls commentator, Jack Heverin.
Crocmedia Chief of Content, Tim Cleary said the partnership presented a wonderful opportunity to showcase one of the highest participation sports in Australia across television and radio to broader audiences.
“We are incredibly excited about entering into this new, and in part renewed, partnership with Bowls Australia to deliver first-class action, news and interviews with the stars of the sport, to showcase everything bowls has to offer, from grassroots participation to national representation.
“Crocmedia is committed to taking the brand and exposure of lawn bowls to another level and with Jack Heverin, who is an experienced bowls broadcaster, we have a quality product to deliver to bowls fans, prospective bowls fans and the broader sporting audience nationally.
Bowls Australia CEO Neil Dalrymple said “To enter into this landmark agreement with Crocmedia puts bowls in a very strong position as we continue to strive to reach more people and showcase our great sport to broader audiences.
“Bowls Australia has enjoyed a successful relationship with Crocmedia in the past and we are thrilled to renew, and more importantly grow that relationship with this two-year deal that now involves broadcast production.
“Engaging with new audiences, attracting new participants to the sport while providing quality and valued media content to our vast existing member and participant-base are key pillars of our broadcast model and we are committed to working with Crocmedia to deliver that.”
Without Bias will commence on 1116 SEN this Tuesday, April 3, from 8.30pm, with interstate audiences encouraged to listen live via the 1116 SEN app for iOS and Android, or via the podcast of the program after each episode’s conclusion.
The Bowls Show will be shown on SBS across 22 weeks from May 13 to October 7 in the regular timeslot of 3.00pm nationwide, with each episode also replayed on Fox Sports Australia.
The Australian Open will be shown live on SBS and Fox Sports Australia from 11.30am to 4.00pm on June 21 and 22.
The Bowls Premier League will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Australia for five hours each night, for a total of 20 hours, from November 13 to 16.