June 15 – Football Australia has picked up the broadcast rights to all the AFC’s rights in partnership with its new broadcast partner, 10 ViacomCBS. It has been a good week for the Aussies who saw their men’s team guarantee a slot in the Asian Cup 2023 and the final group rounds of World Cup qualifying.
The AFC’s national team football package covers the rights cycle 2021-2024 and includes the final round of the Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar, the Asian Cup China 2023, and the Women’s Asian Cup India 2022.
ViacomCBS are moving fast in Australia and are using football as a key pillar in the platform content for the Australian launch of streaming service Paramount+. Last month Australia’s men’s and women’s top tier leagues agreed their first major commercial partnership since taking control of their rights from the national federation, securing a five-year $155.5 million broadcast deal.
The deal for the AFC’s national team competitions, including all matches of the Australian national teams, will air across a mix of channels including 10, 10 Bold and 10 Play, as well as Paramount+.
No figure was announced for the deal but an AFC press release said the deal “will see significant programming and promotional commitments.”
Noting the involvement of Federation Australia in getting the broadcast deal done, Dato’ Windsor John, the AFC General Secretary, said: “I would like to applaud Football Australia for sharing the AFC’s ambitions to ensure football continues to maintain its place as the Continent’s most popular sport through this unique partnership.”
Football Marketing Asia, the AFC’s commercial partner highlighted the collaborative nature of the deal with CEO Patrick Murphy highlighting the “creative proposition” that ensures the AFC content will be widely available on a football-driven content platform in Australia.
James Johnson, CEO, Football Australia, echoed this, saying: “We are extremely pleased to welcome Network 10 and Paramount+ to the Australian football family. This is an enormous vote of confidence in the future direction of football in Australia including the bold 15-year vision and strategic agenda we have set for the game.”
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