The Beautiful Game

Del Piero has helped to lift A-League TV ratings With the valuable addition of free to air broadcasting to the A-League's already growing media footprint it appears the war to win viewers has already begun. This ratings war is not against traditional Friday night ratings winners in the AFL, NRL or "Better Homes and Gardens" but in fact between A-League clubs themselves. Since the announcement of a FTA Friday night match to be televised on SBS from next season clubs have been queuing up to increase their own brand's exposure. Speaking on the issue, Melbourne Victory Chairman Anthony Di Pietro backed his clubs to be heavily involved in the FFA's free to air strategy. "We've got the highest ratings on the Friday night" Di Petro stated Melbourne Victory's case is strengthened by their prominence in the A-League's TV ratings records featuring in 10 of the top 10 highest rating matches ever up until the inclusion of Del Piero. It ap...

After 7 years of nothing but subscription television coverage the A-League will find a new home next season with SBS signing on to televise one game a week live. The A-League’s latest television deal totals a $160 million dollar investment into the game over a four year period commencing in June 2013 and running through to June 2017. The A-League television and digital rights have been sold which may result in possible subscription access to games online. SBS will be broadcasting Friday night matches, a strategy implemented by the NRL that will lead nicely into  Foxtel’s weekend broadcast and is hoped to drive subscriptions and ratings. SBS will televise all A-League finals on a one hour delay. Socceroos World Cup Qualifiers will also be broadcast on SBS on a one hour delay with Foxtel to cover all Socceroos games live.