FFA receives welcome boost as Fox extends A-League media deal for three seasons

By David Gold

April 16 – Fox Soccer has renewed its media rights deal with Australia’s Hyundai A-League for three seasons, a boost to the embattled Football Federation Australia (FFA).

In the last week one A-League team, Gold Coast United, have gone out of existence, while another, Newcastle Jets, have said they are giving back their licence and do not intend to compete in the coming season.

Though the FFA has also in recent days announced that it will set up a new team in Sydney, as well as insisting the Newcastle Jets were not able to simply hand back their licence, the proposition of a nine team league next season was a blow to their position when renegotiating television rights.

Therefore, the news that Fox has extended the agreement, which was brokered by World Sport Group, is a timely boost.

The television rights include 31 matches on Fox Soccer and Fox Soccer Plus, as well as a highlights package.

“We are very excited to renew the Hyundai A-League for three more seasons,” said Joshua Glassel, vice-president of programming and acquisitions for Fox Soccer.

“Fox Soccer viewers are fans of the global game, and this renewal ensures continued coverage of one of the sport’s fastest developing leagues and talent pools.”

Ben Buckley (pictured), the FFA chief executive, was delighted and said: “The extension of the Fox Soccer agreement shows the growing stature of a competition that’s on the move.

“We’re delighted that North American audiences can see the Hyundai A-League live and exclusively on a major channel.”

Since the league was set up in 2005, the Australian league has been dominated by Melbourne Victory (pictured top) and Sydney FC.

Last season the FFA reported an increase in its aggregate attendance to 1.4 million, and claimed that television viewing figures had increased by 46 per cent.

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