FOX Sports, SBS in joint broadcast on Socceroos World Cup Qualifier

Following media speculation, FFA, FOX Sports and Foxtel and SBS have today announced that the FIFA 2014 World Cup Asian qualification match between the  Socceroos and Jordan in Amman will be broadcast Live on FOX Sports this Wednesday morning, with a one hour delay by SBS.

Live coverage of the match will be broadcast on FOX Sports 3HD and FOX Sports 3 from 1.30am AEST Wednesday.

SBS coverage will commence on SBS ONE at 2.30am AEST.

“I thank our long-term partners FOX Sports and Foxtel for accommodating this arrangement,” said FFA CEO Ben Buckley. “Australian football would not have achieved so much growth and development since 2005 without the significant investment of FOX Sports.

“I welcome SBS’s support in broadcasting Wednesday’s match. SBS has a rich history in covering domestic and international Australian football.

“The discussions have reached an advanced stage and the parties have displayed good faith, which has allowed this one-off arrangement for Wednesday’s match.”

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, said, “For the good of the game I congratulate everyone involved in showing the Socceroo game tomorrow morning.

“It’s great to see that all Australian football fans will have the chance to cheer on their Socceroos as they work to qualify for the World Cup.”

SBS has been tipped to secure rights for A-League matches for four years from 2013, plus Socceroos games for five years, in a new $40m a year with FOX Sports.

Buckley confirmed FFA is currently in ongoing discussions with FOX Sports and SBS over the long-term broadcast rights.