Heidelberg United FC launch new initiative honouring corporate partners

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Heidelberg United is honoring their business and corporate partners with H.U.B (Heidelberg United in Business).

Heidelberg United is honouring their business and corporate partners with HUB (Heidelberg United in Business) – creating networking opportunities at events and highlighting their contribution to the club, with larger events planned for the coming months.

The venture aims to celebrate their partners and create opportunities to connect through a mutual love of football. The Victorian National Premier League team honoured the support their corporate and business partners have given the club throughout the years in a launch event that is planned to be the first of many.

The launch of HUB at Heidi’s Café saw a keynote speech from former club great and Melbourne Victory technical director Gary Cole. The launch was attended by over 80 guests, made up of club members and representatives from the club’s partners. Also in attendance were high-profile guests including State Legislative Councillor Lee Tarlamis OAM, and ex-Collingwood premiership-winning AFL player Ben Johnson.

Heidelberg United president Steve Tsalikidis oversaw the implementation of HUB, and says that the launch has been a success for both the club and its corporate partners.

“The concept was created because we want the ability of our partners to network and create opportunities, and also to say thank you to them because without them we couldn’t continue to do what we do,” he said.

Tsalikidis believes clubs within Australia need to engage more with their partners in the future to expand their support.

“One thing clubs need to get better at, generally speaking, is having engagement and respect with our partners. There is an obligation to invest back into the community, and that is what we are doing through Heidelberg United in Business,” he said.

Tsalikidis elaborated that the first event was a success for the club and its sponsors, with future events being open to the public and other prospective sponsors.

“I’m hearing already that they’ve started working together. The next event will be a proper business-to-business event at the Olympic hotel, where people can buy tickets to the event,” he said.

Future HUB events are planned to continue to strengthen the ties between Heidelberg United Football Club and their affiliated partners, while also allowing for their contribution to the team’s success to be promoted to the wider footballing community.

Heidelberg United is assessing how to develop and refine the “HUB” concept to further engage the corporate sector as an integral partner to the club both on and off the field.

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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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