A-League Reaches Historic Goal Milestone as Viewership Surges

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A-League reach scoring and viewership record
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Just this week the Isuzu UTE A-League has announced it has reached the 500-goal mark in record time this season in line with another recent report of another increase of viewership for the a-league.

Highlighting an exciting period of growth for the competition both on and off the pitch.

Western Sydney Wanderers defender Alex Gersbach’s strike against Western United on Sunday became the 500th goal of the 2024-25 campaign.

The milestone was achieved after just 150 matches, making it the fastest the league has ever reached this tally, surpassing last season’s record of 152 matches.

The current season’s goal-scoring rate dramatically outpaces historical comparisons.

During the 2000-01 National Soccer League season, it took 159 games to reach 150 goals, while the 1996-97 campaign required 161 matches. The 2022-23 season needed 163 games to hit similar numbers.

This scoring record was presented the same time as the encouraging news on the viewership front.

The A-Leagues reporting an 11% increase to last season in total viewership audience for 10+ and 10 Play according to recent data shared by the competition.

The league viewership currently sits at 3.96 million nationally and is expected to hit 4 million people at the end of the season.

This is a record increase of viewership and shows the popularity of the sport in a very saturated sporting market.

The twin developments of record-setting goal production and increased viewership point to a positive trajectory for Australian football and its ability to be an enjoyable an action-packed season for audiences.

The growth of the viewership should be built upon in coming seasons and proves that the league is continuing to grow traction.

One must point out if there is a connection between the number of goals and the rise in viewership.

The spread of goals however points towards not a league with huge differing quality of teams.

Another point to highlight, is that viewership is high is also being backed up by the active support at the grounds.

Big matches such as the Sydney Derby has brought in huge numbers, however, it will be at the end of the season if we see an all -round rise in ground attendance.

With this year also capping of the largest increase in transfer revenue and playing minutes for under 23 players.

These results points towards a wealth of quality players who can excite the league and develop its quality.

Also, with this comes the opportunity for increased transfer opportunities, revenue streams and sponsorship deals.

The potential for this league and its increasing popularity is something that needs to be supported and developed in the coming seasons.

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AS Monaco Signs Five-Year Deal with Mizuno for 2025/26 Season

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Image Credit: AS Monaco website

AS Monaco has entered a new five-year partnership with Mizuno, a Japanese sportswear manufacturer, that will become the club’s official technical equipment partner across all teams beginning 1 July 2025.

The agreement marks Mizuno’s first entry into Ligue 1 as a technical sponsor, continuing its strategic push into European football markets, where it already has a presence in Germany’s Bundesliga and Italy’s Serie A.

Comprehensive Supply and Distribution for AS Monaco and Mizuno

As part of the deal, Mizuno will supply match kits, training gear, and off-field apparel for all levels of the club. The partnership will also see the launch of premium merchandise lines, including lifestyle pieces and exclusive collections that combine Mizuno’s design philosophy with AS Monaco’s visual identity.

The collections will be available through Mizuno’s global retail network, helping the club connect with its growing international fan base, now exceeding 26 million social media followers.

For Mizuno, this partnership reinforces its long-term aim to re-establish its football brand presence across Europe by collaborating with historic, performance-focused clubs. The AS Monaco deal expands its footprint in France and strengthens its presence across multiple leagues.

Executive Insights: Looking Ahead to the 2025/26 Season

Mizuno EMEA Head of Sports, Mark Kaiway, highlighted the importance of the collaboration for brand growth and long-term positioning.

“We are thrilled and deeply honoured to announce our partnership with AS Monaco. At Mizuno, we are committed to delivering high-performance gear that empowers athletes to reach their full potential,” he said via press release.

“This collaboration represents a shared passion for excellence and we look forward to supporting AS Monaco as they continue to inspire fans around the world.”

AS Monaco CEO, Thiago Scuro, referred to the agreement as a key step in the club’s commercial development.

“We are proud of this future collaboration with Mizuno, an extremely innovative and creative brand with a unique history in football,” he said via press release.

“This partnership marks a new stage in the development of AS Monaco, and we are convinced that Mizuno will be able to support our aspirations and ambition.”

Both executives emphasised the partnership’s potential to extend beyond kit supply, exploring co-branded storytelling, fan engagement, and long-term retail initiatives.

Mizuno will begin supplying match and training kits to AS Monaco for the 2025/26 season, with the official unveiling of the new designs scheduled for the summer of 2025.

This collaboration includes support for the club’s academy system and association-level teams, reflecting a full-service technical sponsorship.

La Liga and HBS agree to five-year production deal

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Real Madrid and Saudi Arabia Investment Bank
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La Liga and Host Broadcasting Services (HBS) have agreed to a five-year deal to produce and distribute matches from Spanish football’s top two divisions, replacing long-time partner Mediapro.

HBS, which is owned by Infront, was originally set up to handle the TV and radio production for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan — and it’s been involved in every World Cup since.

These days, HBS also works across a range of major sports events, including the Rugby World Cup and the Roland Garros tennis tournament.

To take on its new role with La Liga starting in the 2025/26 season, HBS has teamed up with Italian company NVP through a joint venture.

HBS chief executive, Dan Miodownik, mentioned the great responsibility this is for HBS.

“It is a great privilege for HBS to have been appointed by La Liga,” he said via press release.

“We are very proud of our track record globally, and entering a new territory and partnership with such an esteemed client is an exciting opportunity.

“Along with NVP we look forward to working with La Liga to bring innovative and engaging coverage to audiences over the coming years.”

NVP Chief Executive Massimo Pintabona, expressed his excitement to collaborate with HBS.

“We are extremely proud to partner with HBS on this prestigious project,” he said via press release.

“This achievement confirms our commitment to excellence, continuous development and innovation.

“We look forward to contributing to the continued success of La Liga with our expertise and dedication.”

Mediapro, which has been working with La Liga as its production partner for over two decades, has strongly criticised the decision.

While La Liga claims that HBS scored highest in both technical and financial evaluations, Mediapro insists its proposal was stronger and more cost-effective.

In a detailed statement, the company questioned HBS’s ability to handle the contract and said it plans to formally challenge the outcome.

‘It is unprecedented that LaLiga has instead awarded the contract to a more expensive bidder — a Swiss-based supplier with no technical infrastructure in Spain and no prior experience in producing a full-season football competition of this scale,’ Mediapro said via press release.

‘Laliga’s decision is neither fair nor objective and we believe that it may jeopardise the production of the matches at the start of the season. It will undoubtedly harm the clubs and the competition both economically and in broadcast quality.

‘[Mediapro] is committed to defending its reputation — and that of its professionals — and will contest the outcome of the tender process through all available channels, both nationally and internationally.’

Mediapro will continue as La Liga’s international media agency through the 2028/29 season, handling the sale of the league’s international broadcasting rights.

The deal was renewed in 2023, but it no longer covers the Middle East, North Africa, or North America, as La Liga now works with different partners in those regions.

Mediapro also holds the rights to broadcast one La Liga match per week on its free-to-air channel, Gol TV.

This comes after a string of setbacks for Mediapro, including the loss of its contract with French Ligue 1, which led to the shutdown of its Telefoot subscription channel in 2020, and more recently, the sale and exit of its OneSoccer platform in Canada.

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