Football Queensland confirm radio collaboration with Sea FM and Mix FM

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Image via PxHere website

Football Queensland (FQ) recently confirmed a duel radio partnership with Airwaves Sea FM and Mix FM, with both stations to provide support for events and tournaments in the state.

The collaboration was made official via the FQ website, both stations will simultaneously provide a media platform for important FQ tournaments and events.

Both media companies are situated across the Sunshine Coast, with the agreement between the pair and FQ to operate throughout the remainder of the calendar year.

90.9 Sea FM have remained a prominent commercial radio outlet throughout the Sunshine Coast since their first live air date, stemming all the way back in 1989.

Comprehensive throughout their distribution, the outlet are predominantly a music based radio station, targeting a broader audience demographic.

To showcase further involvement within the broader community, the original partnership between the radio station and FQ has proved the fruitful acquisition for both parties, this is the second year running the two entities have collaborated.

Falling under the same ownership umbrella with Sea FM, Mix FM have made head-waves throughout the airwaves across the sunshine coast as a commercial radio targeted towards an older age demographic.

As publicised upon the FQ website, CEO Robert Cavallucci discussed his appraisal for the continued partnership between Mix FM and Sea FM.

“Football Queensland is excited to again partner with Sea FM and Mix FM for our 2024 Sunshine Coast events and tournaments following a successful partnership in 2023. We look forward to bringing these events to the Sunshine Coast community with the support of the two local stations as we work together to provide high quality and exciting events for all participants.”

A magnitude of events are scheduled to be showcased upon both platforms throughout the duration of the 2024 football calendar year.

The FQ Academy Junior Cup, WinterFest24, FQ Premier League 3 Grand Finals and Pacific Championships are all upon the broadcasting wish list.

Both Radio outlets are to continue in within the rich vein of form they showcased throughout the 2023 football season.

Continuing on with their respective on-site activities while ensuring that engagement with the community remains at its optimal level.

There is a uniqueness surrounding what this partnership means to a broader community of people within the Sunshine Coast of Queensland.

The participants involved within the events will have a profound feeling of importance, noticing that the events they are participating are being featured on a live broadcast.

It also allows for aspiring broadcasters to have a genuine platform to kick-start their journalism careers upon.

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AFC anti-doping webinar aims to modernise practices

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Image Credit: Asian Football Confederation Website

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) wrapped up the AFC Member Association Anti-Doping Programme webinar on Monday, highlighting the confederation’s desire to strengthen the honour and fairness of football in Asia.

With 40 Member Associations (MAs) present, the AFC’s webinar was designed to educate MAs on the recently implemented AFC Anti-Doping Activities and Monitoring System, a broad sweeping process aiming to standardise anti-doping practices across the confederation.

Designed to modernise Asian anti-doping practices, the AFC Anti-Doping Activities and Monitoring System is helping to transition MAs from paper-based data collection to digital alternatives. Through this, MAs will be able to observe and record doping activities far easier and will be in compliance with the AFC Anti-Doping Regulations and World Anti-Doping Code.

The AFC Anti-Doping Activities and Monitoring System also includes a number of tools to help boost MAs anti-doping effectivity, such as real-time data submission and secure access controls. Additionally, the system includes provisions to conducting educational programs, recording anti-doping violations, and programme testing.

Saudi Arabian Football Federation Medical Committee Member, Dr. Khalid Awad, outlined the importance of the anti-doping webinar.

“It was a pleasure to be part of the discussions and to learn more about this new system. I feel it has great potential to strengthen collaboration among MAs,” he said in a press release.

“We can use the platform not only to safeguard the integrity of our sport but also to develop more ways to educate ourselves and help our athletes perform at their highest levels.”

Pakistan Football Federation Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Muhd Azam Khan expressed his satisfaction for the AFC’s commitment to modernising anti-doping practices in Asia.

“This is an excellent step by the AFC to digitise records. It will serve as a stimulus for the growth and development of MAs,” he said via press release.

“Additionally, I am confident it will motivate us to organise more capacity-building initiatives in our respective federations.”

The webinar also allowed the AFC and MAs to share the discoveries of a recent AFC survey, which aimed to discover the unique problems each MA has in regard to doping in football.

Nine eyes Optus Sport as Stan Sport expansion opportunity

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Image credit: Optus Sport website

Nine Entertainment is reportedly in discussions to acquire Optus’ sports streaming service, Optus Sport, as part of plans to strengthen its own Stan Sports platform.

This would include handing over the rights to the Premier League, which has been the main selling sport in Optus’ sports streaming subsidiary.

According to the Australian Financial Review (AFR), Nine initiated talks in December, while Optus has been seeking buyers for the service since late 2023.

Optus Shifts Focus Back to Core Business

Optus initially launched its sports streaming service to diversify revenue streams and complement its telecommunications offerings. However, the company has decided to refocus on its core operations and move away from content-based ventures.

In recent years, Optus Sport has opted not to renew broadcast rights for major competitions such as La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, reflecting a strategic shift towards cost-cutting and prioritising its core telecommunications business.

Additionally, the service has seen its subscription price increase from $14.99 to $24.99 over the past two years. Optus also introduced charges for its customers, who previously enjoyed complimentary access to the platform, further signalling its move away from subsidised content offerings.

Nine’s Strategy to Stay Competitive

Acquiring Optus Sport would enable Nine to secure key sports rights, including the English Premier League and FA Cup, while expanding its subscriber base.

This move comes as the Australian streaming landscape becomes increasingly competitive, with international player DAZN poised to enter the market.

DAZN, which recently acquired Foxtel in a AU$3.5 billion deal, is expected to make a significant impact when it launches locally later this year.

Stan Sports: Building a Robust Portfolio

Stan Sports currently holds the rights to premium events such as the Olympic Games, UEFA Champions League, and several rugby union and tennis properties.

Adding Optus Sport’s rights would bolster its offerings and help Nine contend with rivals like Paramount+, BeIN Sports, Amazon Prime, and free-to-air broadcasters.

Consolidation on the Horizon

Australia’s crowded sports media market is ripe for consolidation, with multiple players vying for lucrative rights deals.

Free-to-air broadcasters have maintained a strong foothold, supported by Australia’s anti-siphoning laws, which ensure key events remain available outside paywalls.

Conclusion

While Nine has declined to comment on the AFR report, Optus noted it routinely reviews its businesses to ensure they deliver value.

As the market evolves, this potential acquisition could be pivotal in shaping the future of Australian football broadcasting.

As it stands, the average Australian consumer requires at least four subscriptions to watch every European competition and each of the Top 5 leagues which remains a frustrating solution to legal broadcasts in the country.

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