Optus Sport is the right platform to show 2023 Women’s World Cup

Late last week, Optus Sport announced that they had secured the Australian broadcasting rights for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Optus are believed to have outbid big players such as Amazon Prime and other international streaming companies to show the global competition in two years’ time.

The news comes after another broadcast deal was recently announced among Australian football circles, with the APL signing a $200 million deal for the A-League and W-League with ViacomCBS.

In what is a major coup for the streaming platform, Optus will showcase all 64 games of a tournament which is set to be the biggest sporting event held on Australian shores since the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

Optus have announced however, that key matches such as all Matildas games will also be co-broadcasted on a free-to-air channel.

Overall, one match a day of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia will be shown on free-to-air.

Alongside the games, the telecommunications company will produce a range of additional digital content and programming such as preview and review shows.

The rights are a major coup for Optus and Australian football fans should be satisfied that the company is showcasing the tournament.

Optus, over the past few years, have built up a strong portfolio of football rights content in Australia which includes the English Premier League, J-League and international football tournaments like the Copa America and European Championships.

Their strong coverage and care for their product offerings shine through on their streaming platform, something which hasn’t been the case in recent years for competitions such as the A-League on Foxtel.

Yes, they did have difficulties streaming the World Cup to hundreds of thousands of viewers in 2018, but since then they have learned from their mistakes and addressed the flaws on their service.

Optus also have a notable short-term history of showcasing top tier women’s football on their service, including the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France and the FA Women’s Super League, with the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 set to also be shown in the build-up to the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

Optus Vice President of TV, Content and Product Development, Clive Dickens, believes women’s football is a core element of Optus Sport’s elite football offering, resulting in unprecedented coverage that would lead to even more Australian fans to women’s football.

“We have built an unparalleled pedigree in enhancing and supporting women’s football and building unique customer relationships with football fans, from the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 in France to being amongst the first broadcasters of the Barclay’s FA Women’s Super League, to recently securing the exclusive rights to the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 in England,” he said.

“The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 represents a huge opportunity to help drive growth and visibility of women’s football in Australia and deliver football fans the best-ever coverage.

“We are committed to changing the future children see and the importance of promoting women in sport to drive that change. It is a privilege, and an endorsement of our credentials by FIFA, to be awarded the rights to showcase this monumental event,” Dickens concluded.

The Australian football community have responded in kind to Optus’ treatment of both men’s and women’s football, with the telco currently having over 888,000 active subscribers on their streaming platform.

Those numbers will continue to lift in the years to come, especially now that they have further invested significant funds into showing the biggest event in women’s football.

“The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 is not just a football tournament, it’s one of the world’s biggest events and to host it in Australia and New Zealand is a dream come true. Young boys and girls, mums and dads will get the chance to see their role models – the Matildas – who are amongst the best players in the world,” said former Matilda and Optus Sport pundit Heather Garriock.

Optus broadcasting the 2023 Women’s World Cup seems like a move which is good for them, but also good for football.

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A-League should heed Dynamic Ticketing issues

Dynamic Ticketing is seen as a new revenue builder by struggling clubs in Europe needing to inject more funds into their clubs. However, the backlash reported by supporters worldwide should make clubs think twice about this divisive option.

Dynamic Ticketing is a system that gives tickets adaptable prices based on demand. The most recent upheaval on this system has come from the Oasis reunion tickets, where fans have queued up for hours expecting tickets to be $292.39 only in a few hours, skyrocketing to $699.38.

This has caused outrage and even opened an investigation by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority.

The footballing world has recently been riddled with ticket price controversy. Aston Villa fans raised concern at the prices of their Champions League tickets for their first return to competition since its earlier iteration, the European Cup, which they competed and won in 1982, 42 year ago.

A Champions League home ticket for Aston Villa has been increased form the cheapest non-season home tickets at $167.37 AUD rising up to $191, with a discounted price for season ticket holders ranging from $137.83 to $163.43. This comes at a 55% increase for non-season holders and 21% increase for season ticket holders from the clubs official cheapest ticket bracket of $108.

This decision has been defended by Aston Villa’s president of business operations Chris Heck saying that the financial problems facing the club and fears of Financial Fair Play (FFP) stepping in have made the ticket increase a viable option.

Other clubs such as 2023/24 Premier League champions Manchester City prices range from $74 to $123. Liverpool, 6 time champions league winners charge $59 to $120.

Valencia and Celta Vigo have taken it a step further by already imposing dynamic pricing onto its game tickets explaining prices will rise closer to the date of the game based on demand.

From a business point of view, clubs losing revenue see Dynamic Ticketing as an easy cash stream back into the club.

It is no lie that the A-league is under a strain financially, with little respite in sight. The league’s attractiveness as a business venture is vastly diminishing.

Ticketing for the A-leagues has much more financial importance than other more lucrative leagues in Europe. Also, it is worth mentioning that dynamic ticket price range would be substantially smaller than the larger supported and wealthier European clubs and leagues.

A more financially stable league would presumably result in more quality signings and revenue injected into youth development and infrastructure.

The negative effects for the fanbases, however, are glaring.

Supporters are not blind to the recent worldwide football news and know that fan’s frustrations at rising prices and where this profit goes, often falls on deaf ears. These same people could be the first to be hit hard.

The clubs in Spain that have imposed Dynamic Ticketing have caused uproar by their respective fans and other fan bases around the country. It has also soured an already fraught relationship between supporters and club owners.

Many view it as blatant greed, that they treat fans as customers and not as supporters important for the dynamic of the club.

The stage of development that Australian football is currently at means the fans have an important impact on the club’s activity. The popularity of leagues such as the Premier league or even La Liga club management see the benefits outweighing the negatives. This room for decision does not correlate with the popularity of the sport in Australia.

Football clubs should be finding angles to increase attendance and not increasing prices that could minimise interest in matches, with the cost-of-living crisis taking a hit to the public, individuals are thinking twice on where to spend their money.

Big games such as derbies draws in the largest attendance, with last season’s Sydney derby drawing in 28,152 and 27,998 for respective home and away games. Wellington Phoenix’s top of the table clash against Melbourne Victory back in May had the largest attendance at 33,297.

These type of games would be the key moments for Dynamic Ticketing and an increases in prices. The argument is that increased prices could cause less attendance for the casual viewer and an increase of season tickets pricing.

The not as important games could also be effected if they seem to increase in price. This has been mentioned by many fan groups as an increasing occurrence from worldwide clubs struggling with ticket prices.

The A-league clubs must still be realistic with their push to gain more support for football in Australia’s saturated sporting environment.

Australia is no stranger to successful rises in domestic league viewership and stadium-goers.

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is recorded to have helped garner a big increase in casual viewers to regular supporters for domestic leagues.

It’s possible this profit-building option in Australia could backfire tremendously and impact the league’s development and fan numbers. Something it cannot afford, quite literally.

The league needs more investment there is no denying that, but this volatile option could do more harm than good for Australian football.

Saudi Pro League’s TikTok deal: A media blueprint for Australia

The Saudi Pro League (SPL) has confirmed a new partnership with TikTok for the 2024/25 season, designating the short video platform as its official digital partner.

This collaboration aims to enhance digital engagement for football enthusiasts both regionally and internationally.

As part of the agreement, TikTok will unveil a dedicated ‘SPL Exclusive Hub,’ offering fans access to a wealth of content from the league’s clubs and partners.

This exclusive content will feature behind-the-scenes footage, in-depth player interviews, and other unique insights into the SPL.

Additionally, TikTok will provide its creators with special opportunities to engage with the league.

This includes access to training sessions, matchday experiences, and interactions with players, allowing for a richer and more immersive fan experience.

The SPL is determined to solidify its position as one of soccer’s premier domestic leagues. While high-profile signings like Cristiano Ronaldo have captured headlines, the TikTok partnership is set to amplify the league’s global visibility.

TikTok’s involvement in football is extensive, with previous partnerships including UEFAfor  Euro 2024 and Women’s Euro 2022, Major League Soccer (MLS), and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The platform is also deeply embedded in other sports, including the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and UFC, and recently extended its multi-year partnership with the National Football League (NFL) to include long-form content.

Saudi Arabia ahead of the game again

Saudi Arabia is leading the way in sports marketing by leveraging apps like TikTok.

Their strategic use of these platforms enhances global visibility and engagement for the Saudi Pro League, showcasing a commitment to innovative digital strategies that connect with a broad, international audience and elevate their brand on a global stage.

It is clear that the SPL’s ambition is to be ‘bigger than the top European Leagues’ per a statement from newly appointed CEO Omar Mugharbel.

Mugharbel mentioned enhancing the product after recent signings Ivan Toney and Joao Cancelo capped off a relatively quiet summer window for the league and hinted at ‘advancing the league’s brand off the pitch with new deals (TikTok) to create a more attractive proposition for star players and fans abroad.’

Everything the SPL do is for attention and they are close to designing a social media juggernaut that is ready to shake the traditional European football landscape, even if some may find it incredibly unpopular. It is certainly working.

How a deal like this would benefit Australian football

Capitalising on the fantastic viewership and engagement from the younger generation is the key to success for the A-Leagues’ future.

According to YouGov Sport in 2023, between the ages of 18-34, the A-League is the second most engaged league in the country, sitting only behind the AFL.

The data showed that 15% of Australian sports fans aged 18-34 regularly streamed the A-League Men whilst 19% of the demographic follow the league on its respective social media channels.

Improving the content on these channels, which is certainly required, has been on the mind of the league for a while and KEEPUP’s failure gives them a blueprint on what not to do this time around.

A deal with TikTok would almost certainly benefit all stakeholders given the league’s lack of engaging, behind-the-scenes content and lacklustre highlight reels leaving many dissatisfied at the overall product.

Now with international marquee signings like Juan Mata and Douglas Costa, the A-Leagues can try and attempt to do what Saudi Arabia do, albeit on a much smaller scale, in terms of leveraging these big names to draw bigger crowds and engagement on social media.

The ability to nail short, bite-sized content is almost essential with the increasingly shorter attention spans and hunt for easily digestible videos that don’t require too much brain power.

In 2024, the A-Leagues must improve in this area and ensure they don’t fall behind the 8 ball again with this sport getting back on its feet.

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