Glimmer of hope for state-based football on ABC
State-based Australian Rules football may yet remain on the ABC after talks with sporting bodies resume.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News
State-based Australian Rules football may yet remain on the ABC after the broadcaster confirmed it was revisiting talks with sporting bodies.
Managing Director Mark Scott said a Senate inquiry into the issue would next week be told new broadcasting agreements would be negotiated with the individual sporting bodies over coming weeks.
But ABC also wants more money to continue broadcasts.
“The ABC will commence negotiations to bring the state-based Australian Rules competitions, Queensland’s Rugby League competition and NSW’s Shute Shield to audiences on ABC1 in 2012 and 2013,” he said in a written statement.
“The ABC will look to work with the major football codes to secure the substantial support, both financial and logistical, that is necessary to continue the coverage of local football on ABC TV.”
But it isn’t clear if it will uphold the current coverage, or if it will be outsourced or produced in-house.
Coverage of local sports including SANFL and WAFL have been under a cloud following recent job losses, while ABC is also dropping coverage of lawn bowls at the end of the year.
AÂ Senate inquiry into ABC cuts continues.
Source: Adelaide Now
7 Responses
Well, one of the ABC commentators in Perth tweeted WAFL was back on. @ClintWheeldon “…WAFL set to continue on ABC TV. I could have sworn others said it was defo all over.”
The AFL should use some of that $billion to support state-based AFL being broadcast on the ABC. After all, without strong state leagues, where are they going to recruit their next lot of national stars from? Direct from school?
No need for their stupid 24 hour news channel. More football less news.
Nice pic.
Carn the mighty Redlegs!
At a cost of $22 a viewer in Tasmania they cold buy those who were interested a ticket. At an average audience of 135000 it’s silly to spend that sort of money on it but then again only 6000 people watched the broadcast of Bliss.
The major footballing codes are all professional and depend on grass roots football as feeders to the top tier code. They are well resourced. It is not unreasonable for the ABC to cofinance all these games with them using independent production companies. The ABC can then reduce, but not eliminate the expensive OB units they maintain but only after a proper cost analysis is done as to what is cheaper based upon a minimum performance standard. OB broadcasting and coverage is not rocket science. If they were not cash cow professional sports then the ABC position could be different.
I actually agree with the ABC. If people want them to cover these statebased leagues then they need more money, and yes we can all complain that the 24hr News channel has taken alot of their budget and yes that is true but that does not mean that the abc does not need more money, if people want their SANFL or WAFL then the money will need to come from somewhere.