New Media Deal

[midfielder]

http://nelbie.com/kevmarl/2015/5/28...-he-will-dump-underperforming-a-league-rights

SBS Chairman indicates he will dump underperforming A-League rights - See more at: http://nelbie.com/kevmarl/2015/5/28...s-he-will-dump-underperforming-a-league-right

SBS Managing Director Michael Ebeid has provided the strongest indication yet the government broadcaster is looking to escape from its current A-League broadcast contract while responding to questioning in Senate Estimates yesterday.

When asked about the performance of A-League on SBS, Ebeid described 2015 broadcast ratings as “pretty much flat” in comparison with 2014, this despite SBS having moved the competition to the main channel in a bid to attract bigger audiences.

“We put it (A-League) on SBS One in the hope it would get a good uplift, that uplift didn’t happen.”“It has meant that we have lost more on the A-League in this financial year than we did last financial year, its hurt us both in terms of audience share and ratings.”
SBS’s Director of Content Helen Kelly added, “The A-League was significantly lower than our average ratings on SBS One. It significantly brought down our Friday night performance on One and that’s something were going to have to consider.”

SBS Managing Director Michael Ebeid in Senate Estimates yesterday.
image source - News Corp

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SBS Managing Director Michael Ebeid in Senate Estimates yesterday.
image source - News Corp

In an intriguing exchange, former Communications Minister Stephen Conroy put it to Ebeid that he was aware “that there are negotiations going on between SBS to off-load the (remaining two years of) A-League.” It has been widely speculated that both 7 and 10 are considering putting A-League on one of their multi-channels.

Ebeid responded to the allegations stating “Their confidential conversations, Senator”. Kelly added, “We would breach our FFA Agreement”

When asked directly by Senator Conroy if SBS was negotiating to offload its A-League commitments, Ebeid stated he “had nothing to report” and that it was“completely confidential.”

While Fox Sports and SBS are only two years into a four-year deal to broadcast A-League, Football Federation CEO David Gallop told journalists in December that negotiations over a new broadcast deal had already begun and the existing contract could even be terminated early. He also added that there had been dialogue with the Ten Network.

“All the signs are that Channel Ten recognise the value of live sport,” Gallop said.

The FFA is hoping to double the value of the next deal to 80 Million Dollars. Sources at Fox Sports have to indicated to this website they were unlikely to seek exclusive rights to A-League in a new deal with two games on commercial Free to Air Television the preferred outcome. Fox Sports is hoping increased exposure and marketing of the game by a commercial network would also benefit their business.

As well as A-League, SBS holds all Australian broadcast and Internet rights for the FIFA World Cup until 2022 including events in Russia and Qatar. Ebeid was asked if SBS was looking to sell part of these rights to offset recent budget cuts.

“At this stage there is no suggestion of that” “I can’t say to you it could never happen.”
Ebeid went on to indicate it might be possible if “Government continues to cut our funding,” however “There are no discussions that are happening at all around on-selling, off-selling, part-selling of The World Cup.”

Ebeid also denied recent media reports that SBS would not bid for UEFA Champions League rights, “It’s nonsense, we have been broadcasting Champions League for 20 years. We don’t plan on losing it now if we can help it.”

SBS’s current broadcast deal for the Champions League has now expired. An announcement on a new deal is expected next month with SBS competing against Pay TV operators Fox Sports, ESPN and beIN Sports.

​

 

[midfielder]

Despite the successful Sydney visit of English glamour clubs Chelsea and Tottenham, football boss David Gallop looks like he will struggle to ink a new TV deal for the A-League. SBS is trying to convince Nine, Seven or Ten to take over the last two seasons of its $7 million a year deal to broadcast the Friday night match. The skinny is this: Seven will not bid; Nine’s David Gyngellwants to take a Saturday night game, which Fox Sports’ Patrick Delany will not agree to; and Ten’s Hamish McLennan is unlikely to invest in a Big Bash-style makeover for the A-League with the risk of losing the rights in two years. Back to you, SBS.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...-300000-revealed/story-fni0cx4q-1227385300816

 

[pjennings]

Ten’s Hamish McLennan is unlikely to invest in a Big Bash-style makeover for the A-League with the risk of losing the rights in two years.

This reads to me that Channel 10 wants to be involved long-term and would be interested in a longer re-negotiated Foxtel/Channel 10 deal that stretched beyond the next 2 years.

I can see Ten stepping in this year to show Friday night HAL games this season without any BBL makeover. It is the perfect sport for Channel Ten without NRL, AFL and other forms of cricket and and would fold nicely with the BBL with cross-promotion between the 2 from Mel which can only help the HAL.

BBL to start 16/12/2015 (18/12/2014) and play everyday but Friday until Thursday 21st Jan - semis on 23rd and 24th Jan. (24/1/2015 and 25/1/2015) GF on Wednesday 27th January 2016 (28/1/2015). Last years dates in brackets.

BBL is a total of 35 games played in December and January. Channel 10 needs a sport that runs longer as well The HAL runs from October until end of April early May and would probably be interested in at least 1 game per round.

In the current league Channel 10 could take 47 games plus possibly finals even if delayed. Friday and Saturday night for the first 9 rounds, Friday only for 7 rounds while the BBL is on then back to Friday and Saturday for the last 11 rounds.

 

[midfielder]

Fox has just purchased 15% of 10. Strong rumours they are going after both the NRL and AFL. Interesting article from AFR below.

If 10 get either the AFL or NRL and maybe both ... logic would say we need go to 7 or 9.

If ten used NSW, ACT, QLD their main channel for the NRL and ONE in Vic, Tassie, SA, WA, NT

For the AFL swap the channels ..

More likely the AFL will try to get a bit on each of the FTA commercials... at least 2 ... how Fox react will be interesting in the past the AFL have managed TV negotiations very well and have had the upper hand but if Fox say with 10 this is our offer ... use 7 or 9 and this is our offer and they can use selling contract as detailed in the AFR aeticle as their reason for a lower offer on 9 or 10.

To the AFR article..
http://www.afr.com/business/media-a...-key-to-ten-and-foxtels-tieup-20150615-ghnxf3

High-powered sport the key to Ten and Foxtel's tie-up

by James Thomson

It is closing in on three long and mostly barren years since Ten Network's then chairman Lachlan Murdoch's fateful and unsuccessful decision to throw all the broadcaster's efforts into winning rugby league rights.

Then, Murdoch ignored AFL – Ten had rights to some live matches and finals – and went all out for the NRL. He lost out to Nine Entertainment and Fox Sports, and Ten's ratings arguably have never recovered.

Which is why two things underline the importance of Ten Network's deal with Foxtel – the side-deal involving Foxtel's advertising sales company, Multi Channel Network, and the very fast cars that race in Formula One. Not to mention rugby union prop forwards, netballers and potentially A-League footballers, the AFL and NRL.

Confirmation that Foxtel (which is owned by News Corporation and Telstra) will finally take a 14.9 per cent stake in Ten Network has been a long time coming. The Australian Financial Review broke the deal on November 5, 2014 and confirmed the details in Street Talk on Monday.

MCN's ability to sell advertising across two networks will have NRL and AFL bosses buoyed by the prospect of a Foxtel-backed Ten emerging again as a serious rights bidder.

Clearly, the cash Ten will receive here – $77 million from Foxtel and as much again from a rights issue to a Ten's existing shareholders including Murdoch, James Packer, Gina Rinehart and Bruce Gordon – will help give the company much-needed stability.

But it is notable Ten is appointing MCN to act as its ad sales representative and taking a 24.99 stake in Foxtel's sales company.

One area where the MCN arrangement is likely to offer a big advantage is in the lifeblood of television, and the one thing viewers can't fast-forward – live sports. The same sales company will now sell packages that will allow advertisers to access pay television and free-to-air television audiences in one transaction.

Ten and Foxtel, or Fox Sports, already cover Formula One in tandem and the local V8s series as well. They also cover rugby union together, with a new deal pending that will see Ten show one Super Rugby game each week on replay.

The duo could bid jointly for sports rights and then divvy up those rights such that the FTA coverage is used as a way to tempt viewers to subscribe to Foxtel for extended coverage – and there's also two balance sheets to apportion costs to. Perhaps Ten would be amenable to allowing higher-quality games to be pushed to subscription TV as well.

One deal in the short term could be A-League football. Already covered by Fox Sports, Football Federation Australia want a free-to-air partner to take over from SBS. Ten could be the solution.

And now, of course, MCN would be able to sell advertising across both networks, giving advertisers the best of both worlds.

A Ten-Foxtel rights arrangement will almost certainly be pitched for a slice of the AFL and NRL rights. The chief executives of both sports much be licking their lips at the prospect of a Foxtel-backed Ten emerging again as a serious bidder for these rights.

Ten isn't out of the woods yet, but this deal gives it a shareholder with plenty to gain from making it a strong network again.

 

[midfielder]

Very interesting…

Google to broadcast the AFL? maybe headline from the article

Is in line with where the AFL was / is heading re their commercial broadcast facilities .. also the new media broadcast methods ... would be interesting to see how it works and how much money they would throw at it...

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/google-to-broadcast-the-afl-20150616-ghp650.html

 

[midfielder]

Very interesting…

Google to broadcast the AFL? maybe headline from the article

Is in line with where the AFL was / is heading re their commercial broadcast facilities .. also the new media broadcast methods ... would be interesting to see how it works and how much money they would throw at it...

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/google-to-broadcast-the-afl-20150616-ghp650.html

Further to the AFL google talk…. This needs to be considered when looking at where media advertising is going

Some comments about free to air TV advertising from mUmBRELLA

• Advertising revenues are forecast to stagnate through to 2019
• In a static market with a fragmenting audience TV networks are innovating or looking to other markets for new revenue streams
• Viewers now watch TV shows on a number of different platforms and is increasingly defined as video
• “in the longer term, an industry standard ratings system, with a common panel across TV and online is required”
• Regulatory reform around anti-siphoning and reach rules stalled amid lack of consensus
• Sports rights remain big business but PwC notes how “sports bodies are allowing sports to be delivered directly to a viewer digitally”

http://mumbrella.com.au/internet-ad...nt-of-australian-ad-market-by-2019-pwc-299720

 

[midfielder]

NRL has approached both Google and Facebook to be part of the next bid ... the AFL is expected to follow suit ... Ch 10 said today from a FTA world this is scary...

Interesting times ahead ...

http://www.theage.com.au/business/m...ays-ten-network-boss-mclennan-20150621-ghqvo9

Ten Network boss Hamish McLennan has described rumblings of Google making a bid for AFL or NRL sports rights as "10 out of 10 scary" as the week-old $1.2 billion MCN-Ten Network advertising joint venture declared an all-out assault on Google, Facebook and other hungry online video networks.

In a joint interview after inking the proposed $1.2 billion advertising sales joint venture last week between Ten and Foxtel, Mr McLennan and Multi Channel Network chief executive Anthony Fitzgerald said the new free-to-air and pay TV alliance would simultaneously leapfrog current broadcast TV turf wars and counter rapidly emerging competitors in the online video sector.

We have to compete with overseas technology companies so our universe is much larger than ever before.

Hamish McLennan, Ten

"Google is a really scary threat," Mr McLennan told Fairfax Media.

"The vast majority of all video consumed today on any device is broadcast quality content." ... MCN chief executive Anthony Fitzgerald.


"They have got deeper pockets than all of us and I think that is part of their mission. They have got virtually unlimited resources and they can afford to lose money to achieve a commercial outcome over time. It's reasonable to think Google now or in three years' time is a real live competitor for sports."

Cause for concern
The rapid expansion of US venture capital-backed tech-media start-ups is an escalating concern for Australian media companies challenged with turning profits against these new digital players burning cash to build global scale.

"A lot of these publishers are raising money on the basis of being a tech business rather than being just a content play and that's why they're getting such big valuations," said Neil Ackland, CEO of Sound Alliance, a local, independent digital publisher focused on younger audiences.

"But to justify their valuations they're going after global scale. So for us what it's really about is how local publishers and media need to prepare for this. That's definitely going to impact on our market in the next two or three years."

The closure of Wendy Harmer's The Hoopla in April was a case in point – Ms Harmer said at the time the economics became too hard as online publishing was "evolving at dizzying speed and increasingly becoming one for players with very deep pockets".

Online video challenge
Mr McLennan said the challenge for local broadcasters from offshore online video competitors was equally serious.

"Our competitive set is not a Seven, Nine and Ten play any more," he said. "We have to compete with overseas technology companies so our universe is much larger than ever before. This [MCN alliance] is about premium video in all its forms. The quality of our [advertising] inventory, the quality of our product and the way we integrate brands is far superior than online pre-roll ads running on

 

[midfielder]

Interesting

From Buzz Roth

Network’s fight for A-League

http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/wh...mmers-foul-mouth/story-fndujljl-1227438279952

NETWORKS TRY TO SCORE A-LEAGUE

CHANNELS Seven and Nine are chasing TV rights to show live A-League soccer in a massive breakthrough for the code. On Thursday night, we spotted Seven Network heavies David Leckie and Bruce McWilliam with FFA boss David Gallop at the Centennial Hotel in Paddington.

Gallop is using the massive wave of interest around club visits by Liverpool, Manchester City, Roma and Real Madrid — hot on the heels of Chelsea and Spurs — to get the A-League on to the big TV networks. The Matildas’ efforts at the World Cup (it rated its socks off) is also creating huge interest around the networks.

 

[pjennings]

To my mind the FFA need to be working with Fox and their potential FTA partner and looking at what can work to give the HAL its next spark for the next TV deal and they need to be doing it now. The new deal could potentially kick in next year if brought forward as has been suggested so a couple of new teams should also be on the agenda.

The HAL really needs some true marquees that transcend the football media into the mainstream media in the lead up to and the beginning of the new media deal

Victory at this stage don't need any help they have an incredibly strong squad as it is but the possible availability of Melbourne boy Bresciano might be of interest.

Luke Wilkshire and Brett Holman both have one season left at their clubs. Holman will be 32 and Wilkshire will be 34. These 3 will add interest. Wilkshire can be the local boy made good at a new Wollongong Wolves team and Sydney boy Holman is the type of pressing forward that Arnie loves.

However, if you throw in Timmy as the face of a new Southern Sydney team and Melbourne City uses the financial clout behind them to bring in a true big name then it takes mainstream interest in the HAL to another level. The mainstream media interest suddenly ramps up and the value of the TV deal goes up, not only with 47% more content with two new teams but with competition marquees to rival Dwight Yorke and ADP.

 

[Rowdy]

Wholeheartedly agree!

Wollongong only just the other day announced the rebadging of the 'Wolves' as a 'first-step' in their plan to making their way back to the National platform.

Wolves return to Wollongong for a bite at the A-League:
9th July; Ben Somerford.

The NSW South Coast bid to be part of the A-League has seen the region’s top club return to the past by re-branding as the Wollongong Wolves.

The NPL1 NSW club has been known as the South Coast Wolves in recent years, but launched their new logo, name and brand on the weekend.

The Wolves were famously crowned Australian champions in 2000 after coming from 3-0 down in the grand final against Perth Glory.

In one of the great sporting comebacks the Wolves – featuring the likes of Scott Chipperfield, Paul Reid and Saso Petrovski – won on penalties.

Chairman Andrew Byron said the history associated with the club meant they wanted to return to their former name given their A-League ambitions.

“We know the formula to make our club strong going forward,” Byron told FourFourTwo.

“We won’t throw away such a good brand that everyone outside of the region still remembers and cherishes. People still talk about that grand final.

“We’re looking to strengthen our position as an NPL outfit to start with and we have been engaging in discussions with certain people in corporate circles too.”

(Things to take into consideration)

The FFA has hinted they won’t look into A-League expansion until the 2017-2018 season, with the current television rights dictating timeframes.

Wolves would easily provide reasonable support for a standalone team, even more if they 'crept' into southern sydney

Wollongong hosted its first A-League match in 2014-2015 with almost 12,000 fans turning out, while more than 5,000 supporters witnessed the Wolves v Central Coast FFA Cup clash.

The region also hosted an Asian Cup warm-up between Iraq and Iran as well as an A-League All-Stars clash with the Young Socceroos in the past 12 months.

FFA CEO David Gallop has said that expansion will be based in regions with population bases in the millions not hundreds of thousands. That comment has raised the prospect of a joint Southern Sydney/Illawarra venture.

But Byron remains positive that a stand-alone Wollongong club would be the A-League’s best option.

Reastically the one thing we’ve got that the others don’t is 60,000 people attached to football locally that can be contacted at any given time through our database,” he said.

Byron said the Wolves had aimed to get their “house in order” from grassroots, along with the Illawarra Stingrays. With that in place, he is hopeful of bringing in corporate support.

“As a stand-alone Wollongong outfit, we need the corporate support to bring the money and we’ll make the rest of it happen from grassroots upwards,” he said.

The Wolves chairman saw infrastructure and a home facility as key issues to be addressed, with WIN Stadium as their ideal A-League home.

The club has played their NPL 1 NSW home games at WIN Stadium in 2015. The Wolves currently sit 10th on the table after four wins, five draws and seven losses, with coach Nahuel Arrarte recently departing.

At a 35-year reunion last weekend former stars attended, including Alvin Ceccoli and Reid were present, along with foundation captain Chris Dunleavy.

Watch "WOLLONGONG WOLVES 2016" on YouTube

Read more at http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/wolves-return-wollongong-bite-league#sTj9jYgtFVhKz4Ax.99

 

[Rowdy]

I'd suggest Canberra as viable second team.

But I'm guessing the numbers that we get down there this week for the Mariners Pre-Season games, as well the attendance at the A.C.T's up-coming FFA Cup matches could be a better indicator of that viability.

Previously mooted 2nd Team for Brisbane would be ridiculous considering the Indo'Bakrie'Billionare's 'pull-out' this week.

Otherwise Tassie (get GreenPeace to pump some of their 'green-stuff' in as sponsorship) or Northern Territory (likewise Fortescue & Co, although price slumps in red dirt doesnt help).

The FFA would REALLY, REALLY have to do their homework on those 2 options.

 

[midfielder]

MASSIVE FOOTBALL NEWS.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/footba...ve-on-fox-sports/story-fndkzvnd-1227440637705

W-League games to be played as A-League curtain-raiser and broadcast live on Fox Sports

Plus the ABC want to broadcast at least one match

 

[Big Al]

MASSIVE FOOTBALL NEWS.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/footba...ve-on-fox-sports/story-fndkzvnd-1227440637705

W-League games to be played as A-League curtain-raiser and broadcast live on Fox Sports

Plus the ABC want to broadcast at least one match

Interesting
We have 6 Sunday home games so would be a nice addition to home games. Shame it won't be to watch our own team.
Might be potential to add a woman's game to NYE as well, would add to the occasion

 

[Rowdy]

Fantastic news for the women's game.

Shame it won't be to watch our own team.
Might be potential to add a woman's game to NYE as well, would add to the occasion

I feel that it'll be the club's that have invested in the W-League by backing their own team that will reap the extra exposure these televised games will provide, as well as the 'extra game' that their members will now get as a part of their memberships for belonging to an A-LEAGUE club that supports womens football.

Unfortunately, that ain't us

 

[Big Al]

Fantastic news for the women's game.



I feel that it'll be the club's that have invested in the W-League by backing their own team that will reap the extra exposure these televised games will provide, as well as the 'extra game' that their members will now get as a part of their memberships for belonging to an A-LEAGUE club that supports womens football.

Unfortunately, that ain't us

Maybe but half our Sunday games are stand alone so possibly get it by default and the others we are the early game. Wouldn't make sense to have the woman's game up against a men's game even though would be on abc vs fox.
More likely would be the woman's game before the early game. 2 pm kick off before 5pm men's game.

Would it get people out of the pubs early prob not and would it entice families prob not but a few would likely watch both. Not sure what a woman's game gets as a crowd but shorely we can match it for people to turn up early.

Our first Sunday game is against WSW so could have their woman's team play first making it a worthwhile trip for their fans instead of them saying 5pm kickoff to late and by time I get home say 8.30 9.00 it's to late not worth it but a full afternoon may make them come

 

[midfielder]

Decent article on future broadcasting...

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/techn...eed-in-australia/story-fni0byo9-1227467220011

 

[midfielder]

The NRL just announced for 4 matches per round over 25 rounds + SOO + Finals a 925 million dollar deal with 9, with payTV, streaming and digital to add...

There rating are good but we get around 25% to 40% add Socceroo matches ... wonders aloud what ours is worth.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...-nrl-925-million-tv-deal-20150809-giv9vt.html

 

[dibo]

NRL ratings average 700k on metro FTA vs our 114k, and their ratings average 245k on STV vs our 62k.

Spinning that out across the games (25 x 3 x 700k for the metro FTA and 25 x 5 x 245k) you get a viewer total of 83m across the season.

The HAL equivalent (27 x 1 x 114k metro FTA and 27 x 5 x 62k STV) totals 11.5m.

If you're wondering why we get less money for TV, just look at the maths.

I think a large part of this is actually a generational issue.

I suspect that on average football fans are younger. I suspect we're *very* thin in the 65+ age group, but also thinner than other sports in the 30+ age group (people who grew up with the NSL, basically).

This youth means that A-League fans are probably more likely to be living with parents and therefore less likely to be the decision-maker as far as what's watched on the primary TV in the household (where the Fox box is connected).

This might help to explain why EPL matches rate very well by comparison - the mad-keen 16yo at home is able to get control of the remote at 11pm on a Sunday night for their Chelsea game but less able to get control of the remote at 7:45pm on a Saturday night for their Mariners game.

As this changes, we'll probably see a switch to a heavier TV audience.

I'd be *really* interested in seeing within-cohort numbers comparing the different sports. I reckon we'd do better and better as viewers are younger. In particular, I think *preferred* sport will show up strongly for football.

 

[dibo]

Those ratings numbers, FWIW, are drawn from http://footyindustry.com/.

 

[dibo]

I should add, the numbers get really interesting if you grow our league to 12 teams in a 33 week season.

Assuming we add one STV game, and each game is watched by the same number of people, our viewership goes from 11m to 16m for a season.

Counting only the regular season (so this is 100% back of the envelope mucking about), if the $925m deal (or $231m/season) is matched in terms of dollars per viewer, we'd go from a fair price of $32m to $45m for the A-League.

That'd fund a $500k boost to the club grant. But we need more games per week and more weeks (i.e. more games to show and sell advertising) to make the money stack up.