A-League on free-to-air

A-League on free-to-air

Ladies and Gentlemen, Joel Griffiths is actually talking sense...
EXCLUSIVE: Jets superstar Joel Griffiths says the A-League is catching on so fast that a free-to-air TV deal must be negotiated when the competition grows in number. �The A-League is expanding so quick. Rugby league, union and AFL are always looking over their shoulders,� Griffiths told au.fourfourtwo.com.

�The finals series looks massive with so many rival teams playing each other with a state of origin feel to Queensland and Sydney, and of course this F3 derby.

�It's all great for the league and not only for this year, but for next year and the following years."

The FFA confirmed that expansion will happen - it's just a matter of when. But Griffiths feels that would force the issue of free-to-air A-League coverage.

�You've got new clubs coming in � maybe." he said. "And it's good to expand because that's what we need.

�Now we need a free-to-air deal on Seven, Nine or Ten. That's the cherry on the cake, isn't it.�

Currently, the A-League is available live on Foxtel's Fox Sports channel as part of a seven-year, $130 million deal with the FFA launched when the league kicked off in 2005.

And Fox Sports have been happy with the arrangement. They trumpeted the success of the league again this week by claiming a 23% increase in ratings.

Round 21�s Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory match ranked as Fox Sports' most watched regular season game in the history of the competition, claimed the channel, reaching a total audience of more than 370,000 and with average audiences of 136,000.

This year more than 2.8 million viewers have watched Fox Sports' regular season coverage, added the broadcaster.

David Malone, CEO of Fox Sports, said: �The success of the A-League on Fox Sports and the closeness of the Premiership is indicative of a very healthy competition.

"We�re confident this level interest will continue in the coming weeks and look forward to some more fantastic ratings results throughout the Finals Series.�

Griffiths agreed Fox Sports have been integral to the game's growth, but he hopes the FFA can strike a deal at some point in the future that adds to the current arrangements with a free-to-air broadcaster.

�There's about 25% of people who have Foxtel, the other 75% that's where we should be looking now,� said Griffiths.

�One game a week, whatever the main game is, free-to-air and live. It's got to be live.

"Look at Rugby League, obviously they are supported by the Packers, so it's always interesting to see how they go about their business. And I think that's what we need.

�Fox Sports have been great this year and in all the three seasons but I think Fox know that if we want to take the code further, whether that be two years or five years down the track, I don't know...

�We do need Fox, the coverage has been magnificent but we've still got a long way to go.�

Griffiths added: �It won't happen overnight, but hopefully it will happen.�

That speech was written for him. He has spent all season practicing it.

Well whoever the idea belongs to it's a very good one. Televising the Friday or Saturday night game on say Ten (please God not SBS) would expose the league to a much wider audience and I have every confidence it will get more fans ob board.

on a related note, i emailed sky and they wont have coverage of soceroos wc qualifying. they only take espn wc qualifying

It's a lovely theory, but if FTA don't want it, where does it leave them ?

Put live games on free to air and the value to Foxtel drops dramatically.  Nothing wrong with a Match Of The Day type idea though (for the non POMS, an English weekly highlights show on the BBC, Sky Sports have the live rights). danielsleftball2008-01-30 17:06:20

Ahh nostalgia...

Yeah a MOTD approach seems more likely.

And it would still do exactly the same thing.

da da dadada da da, da da dada da,
da da dadada, da da dadada,
da da dadada da da, da da dada da,
da da dadada, da da dadada,

der der derder der

well, something like that anyway

my favorite part of the week when i was a kid!!

This is my first season watching the A League on Foxtel, most of it in often trying conditions in pubs and bars (Aussies would generally rather watch championship tiddlywinks than a New Zealand team playing that poofters game), but I'd say that for the most part the coverage has been excellent. There is no possible way that free to air TV could, or would, offer as good a coverage. As an example, Channel 7's effort at the Sydney v Galaxy game was laughable. Also, try watching a League match in Melbourne - you'll be lucky to see a delayed screening before 2 in the morning. Such would almost certainly be the fate of the A League.

Well I was thinking Fox could just sell their coverage to the free channel.

didn't realise you were in Aus, Stopout

enjoy the weather and hope you get a good price for the cutlery

now that's what i call good parenting!!

Good link thanks.

Brought back memories of sitting in the lounge with the old man around lunchtime, he partaking of a few quiet ones from his flagon, the fire blazing, the smell of the roast wafting through from the kitchen when the door opened, a great Sunday ritual.

Bring back MOTD !!

I'm a bit late in on this hate Joel Griffith thing.

Where should we start...?

Give FTA one game a week. Let FOX protect 2 games each round and FTA can choose from the remaining 3 (after expansion). The match should still be a decent one and FOX keeps the blockbusters.