South Australian football to be broadcast free-to-air for the first time in 37 years

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Football SA
Image provided by Football South Australia

Football South Australia has announced that both the RAANPLSA and WNPLSA Grand Finals will be broadcast live free-to-air on Channel 44 Adelaide.

The RAA NPLSA Grand Final, presented by ServiceFM, will be played as a standalone fixture on Friday September 9 at 7.30pm, while the WNPLSA Grand Final will be at ServiceFM Stadium on Friday September 23, with a kick off time to be confirmed. Both games will also be streamed as usual to the NPL.TV platform.

In addition, fans can also enjoy a full replay of the match on Wednesday night on Channel 44 from 8.30pm from this week.

Football SA CEO Michael Carter was thrilled with the partnership which will see football in the state broadcast free-to-air for the first time in 37 years.

“We’re continuing to create ways to connect the games corporate partners to the local community and have our players showcased on the national stage,” Carter said in a statement.

“Over 150,000 people watch Channel 44 each month in the Adelaide metropolitan area and we are absolutely delighted with this partnership.

“This is going to be great for the local game and we look forward to seeing the results. There’s a lot of great things planned for 2023 onwards and we’re delighted to start with this announcement.

Channel 44 Adelaide General Manager Lauren Hillman further welcomed local football back to free-to-air.

“We are absolutely thrilled that we are going to be broadcasting these Grand Finals for the first time in a very long time,” she said via Football SA.

“With the buzz around the FIFA Women’s World Cup next year, we know there is a real desire to engage with local sport, which is what we do best at community tv. We just know that our audiences are going to be really excited to be able to watch the NPLSA on Channel 44.”

Football SA welcome players from both Premiership winning sides as part of the announcement.

Adelaide City Men’s player Aladin Irabona said via Football SA:

“This is a massive opportunity for both the Men’s and Women’s game as well and I think it’s fantastic. The more people and fans you can have watching the game, the more you want to perform and play well.”

West Adelaide’s and former Adelaide United A League Women’s player Meleri Mullan believes this to be a big moment for the women’s game in South Australia.

“It’s absolutely fantastic to have the WNPLSA Grand Final on free-to-air tv ahead of the Women’s World Cup here next year, it’s great that we are able to showcase the talent we have here in South Australia.” he added via Football SA.

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Football Queensland Welcomes Musco Lighting as Official Lighting Partner

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Image Credit: Musco.com

Football Queensland has welcomed Musco Lighting as its Official Lighting Partner, bringing world-class sports lighting expertise to football clubs and facilities across the state.

The partnership will support Football Queensland clubs as participation continues to grow across the state, helping communities access safer, higher-quality and more accessible football facilities.

Musco Lighting is a global leader in sports lighting, with more than 50 years of experience delivering lighting solutions across sporting venues worldwide. The company was also the first in the world to be certified by FIFA as a Preferred Provider for Floodlight Systems and provided lighting for 12 of the 16 stadiums used at the recent FIFA World Cup.

Through the new partnership, Football Queensland clubs will have access to Musco’s specialist expertise and solutions as they look to improve and develop their lighting infrastructure.

Football Queensland CEO Robert Cavallucci said the partnership represented an important step in supporting the continued growth of football across Queensland.

“I’m proud to see this partnership between Football Queensland and Musco come to life.

“With participation continuing to grow across Queensland, the need for quality football infrastructure has never been greater. This partnership will help our clubs access world-class lighting expertise to create safer, better and more accessible facilities for their communities.

The partnership provides an opportunity to combine Football Queensland’s extensive network across the state’s football community with Musco’s global expertise in sports lighting, supporting clubs as they continue to invest in facilities that meet the needs of their growing participation bases.

Football Queensland and Musco will work together to help clubs identify lighting solutions that can enhance facility quality and accessibility, supporting more opportunities for players and communities to participate in football.

Football Queensland Official Lighting Partner – Musco Lighting

With more than five decades of experience in sports lighting, Musco has delivered projects across some of the world’s most significant sporting venues and events.

The company’s FIFA Preferred Provider certification and involvement in the recent FIFA World Cup further demonstrates its expertise in delivering lighting systems to the highest international standards.

The partnership with Football Queensland will bring this expertise closer to Queensland’s football community, providing clubs with access to a specialist lighting partner as the game continues to grow across the state.

Premier League clubs approve new strategic partnership proposal with EFL

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The Premier League and its clubs have recently approved a funded proposal for a new long-term strategic partnership with the English Football League (EFL). The deal could deliver significant additional funding to clubs across the English football pyramid.

The proposal, approved on July 30, will now go to the EFL and its 72 member clubs for consideration. The agreement could begin from the 2026/27 season, subject to further discussions and approval.

The move follows years of debate over the distribution of Premier League revenues. It also comes as English football looks to establish a more sustainable financial settlement between the top flight and the EFL.

A new financial package

The Premier League has not released the full financial details of the proposal. Reporting from the BBC and Sky News indicates the package could provide an additional $2.86 billion (1.5 billion pounds) to EFL clubs over 10 years.

The agreement includes raising transfer levies from 4% to 6% and establishing a new lifeboat fund of $38 million (20 million pounds). This pool could be used to help any EFL club that goes into administration.

The funding would support clubs across the Championship, League One and League Two. It could also include dedicated investment to strengthen the wider football pyramid.

The Premier League confirmed in a statement it already commits $3 billion (1.6 billion pounds) every three years to the wider game and communities. The new proposal would significantly increase its financial support for the EFL.

EFL clubs to consider proposal

The EFL will now assess the proposal before presenting it to its member clubs. Those clubs will consider the financial benefits and wider implications of the agreement.

The proposed partnership would also operate within England’s wider football regulatory framework. The Independent Football Regulator has backstop powers if the leagues fail to reach an acceptable financial settlement.

The latest vote marks significant progress towards a new agreement between the Premier League and EFL. However, it does not complete the process.

Attention turns to final agreement

Negotiations over increased financial support for the EFL have continued for several years. The issue gained further importance after the financial difficulties clubs faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Premier League’s unanimous approval now shifts attention to the EFL and its member clubs. Discussions on a deal have been continuing as far back as 2021. It is critical that a deal is reached soon for English football.

Both sides must still agree on the final terms of the partnership. The process will determine how future funding reaches clubs and supports the wider English football pyramid.

For the EFL, the proposal offers the prospect of greater financial support. For the Premier League, it represents a major step towards a long-term settlement with the professional game below the top flight.

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