Triple M has secured the rights to continue its live coverage of AFL games for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Triple M Melbourne has “Rocking Footy” for 15 years and gains a significant ratings advantage from its live calls in the AFL mad city.
Retaining Tier One status, Triple M will continue to select the key matches each week to ensure the most anticipated games will be called by the station with at least four matches of every round called into Melbourne and Adelaide.
A significant addition to match calls is that Triple M has now secured the right to broadcast Sunday twilight games, providing the option of a fifth live match call every weekend. As usual all Lions matches will be called into Brisbane and similarly all Swans games will be heard in Sydney on Triple M.
Since its inception in 1997, Triple M Football has used new broadcast technology to get the best out of the games, and from next year, Triple M’s calls will also be available on the new DAB Plus Digital format.
Melbourne Austereo General Manager Ben Amarfio says he is thrilled with the extension of the broadcast deal:
“We have secured an extension of the right to call AFL matches over the next few seasons into Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane. With the introduction of our digital channels, we will also be broadcasting AFL matches in digital format with all the functional benefits associated with digital broadcasting.
“Triple M has a long history of broadcasting the most entertaining call of footy, as is evidenced by our consistent domination of the under 55 audience across Friday nights, Saturday afternoons, Saturday nights and Sundays. In seasons 2010 and 2011 we are excited that, as a Tier One radio broadcaster, we will continue to have the pick of the best matches each week but this time on significantly more exclusive terms. Plus we have the added bonus of selecting an extra game by being able to cover the Sunday twilight matches when there’s a blockbuster on.”
AFL Chief Executive Andrew Demetriou welcomed Triple M’s new two-year agreement:
“The AFL is privileged to have outstanding radio support in the coverage of our game for our fans across the country. We are delighted that Triple M has again made the commitment to call AFL matches, extending further a tremendous partnership for us that began in 1997. Triple M has always sought to combine a serious footy call while entertaining us with the humour of the game and Triple M is always seeking to bring the game to new fans and new audiences… we look forward to continuing to hear Brian, James, Garry, Jason, Danny and the team calling all the action of our games.”