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 Australia Announces Broadcasting Partnership with LIGR

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Image credit: Preston Lions FC

Football Australia has unveiled a partnership with Live Graphics Systems (LIGR) to establish a world-first centralised production and distribution model for over 3,500 matches annually across multiple competition tiers.

This ambitious undertaking is set to transform sports broadcasting efficiency whilst unlocking future commercial opportunities for Football Australia and its nine State and Territory Member Federations.

The collaboration comes as Football Australia prepares to kick off the Australian Championship this October.

In mid-2024, Football Australia began developing a new production strategy, defining requirements across multiple tiers of Australian football.

The strategy encompasses the Hahn Australia Cup, NSD and the top tier of Federation Competitions for both men and women (National Premier Leagues), Futsal and National Para-Football Championships included as well.

LIGR’s appointment followed a rigorous Request for Proposal (RFP) process, led by Football Australia in alliance with Member Federations, aimed at identifying a single partner capable of managing the complex scale.

LIGR, an Australian tech business recently acquired by European-based tech company Crionet, will provide technical and operational broadcast management, live monitoring and AI integration across Football Australia’s multi and single camera productions.

Additionally, LIGR’s world-leading streaming, graphics and highlights automation platform will enable seamless integration of key sponsors on broadcasts.

Football Australia Chief Executive Officer, James Johnson, highlighted the significance of the partnership.

“This partnership marks a defining moment in Australian football and represents a paradigm shift in the way the game is produced, distributed and commercialised both in Australia and abroad,” Johnson explained via Football Australia official press release.

“By unifying production across thousands of games and multiple tiers of competition, we are not only streamlining operations but also reshaping the future of football broadcasting in this country. This is innovation at scale.

“Through this centralised model, we are building long-term operational and cost efficiencies and can focus on building sustainable revenue streams for the connected football pyramid.”

Luke McCoy, CEO of LIGR, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership.

“At Crionet and LIGR, our mission is to disrupt the traditional sports production, streaming, and distribution landscape,” McCoy commented via Football Australia’s official press release.

“Our partnership with Football Australia and its State and Territory Member Federations represents a groundbreaking shift towards a truly aggregated model, marking a significant milestone for sports coverage in Australia.

“Our cutting-edge technology and innovative approach sets us apart, and we are excited to elevate the game, enhance fan engagement, and drive innovation across all levels of the sport.”

This multi-tier integration represents an unprecedented approach, as no other Australian rights holder has consolidated production across such a diverse range of competitions under a single centralised model.

This new centralised approach will allow the sport to optimise its production workflows and unlock new commercial opportunities in the evolving broadcast and streaming landscape.

An exciting development in increasing viewership and commercial viability for, as Football Australia’s 2024 National Participation Report confirmed, the most popular and fastest growing sport in the country.

Sydney FC and Arnotts Collaboration Enhances Team Spirit

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Sydney Arnotts
Image Credit: Sydney FC

Sydney FC have announced an impressive partnership with iconic Australian brand, Arnotts.

The collaboration will see Arnotts’ branding feature in a highly visible location on the back of the Sydney FC Men’s team shorts for the rest of the A-League 2024/25 season.

Sydney FC CEO Mark Aubrey expressed how valuable the partnership was to the Sky Blues.

“We are thrilled to bring Arnott’s on board as an official partner of Sydney FC,” he said via press release.

“This is a brilliant alignment between two recognised brands that specialise in creating moments that matter.”

We also both value the importance of a high performance, high integrity environment as well as standing for equality and diversity.

“I hope this will be the beginning of a long and trusted partnership, and we can’t wait to see where this journey takes us.”

From the collaboration, both Sydney FC and Arnotts will work on a special content series featuring the “Arnotts Moments Matter” campaign.

Arnotts Group CMO Jenni Dill highlighted how excited the organisation was for the partnership.

“This partnership builds on Arnott’s desire to support Australian’s on and off the football field with healthier and delicious lunch and snacking choices,” she said in a press release.

“Whether it’s a Vita-Weat with your favourite lunchtime toppings, or a pack of Snack Right Puffs on the way to game, we look forward to inspiring Sydney FC players and fans with more tasty and convenient ways to enjoy a snack or lunch.”

Further highlighting the importance of the brand deal, Arnotts branding will not only feature on the Sydney FC Men’s kit but will also appear on the LED screens on matchdays, presenting with Arnotts with highly desirable marketing material.

The Arnotts-Sydney FC partnership is yet another major landmark deal for the club in recent months, adding to collaborations with Guaraná Antarctica and WHEN Fertility.

 

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