EXCLUSIVE | Three-way streaming tussle emerges for SOCCEROOS and MATILDAS broadcast rights

The revolution of Australian sporting codes moving to streaming platforms is intensifying, with more deals on the way to decide the future of Australian Football. 

TV Blackbox understands the fight to secure Australian broadcast rights for our two national teams, the Socceroos and the Matildas, has now come down to three major players.

US streaming giant Amazon Prime Video, in partnership with free-to-air broadcaster SBS, is currently considered to be the favourite to secure the next broadcast deal which was put to tender by Football Australia last month.

But the battle is far from finished with the Nine owned Stan platform also contending, while ViacomCBS is understood to also be interested in securing the rights for its new streaming platform Paramount+ and Channel 10.

The winner of the next Football Australia deal will secure broadcast rights to all Socceroos and Matildas Internationals, Friendlies, Asian Cup qualifiers and World Cup qualifiers.

Due to matches involving national teams being placed on the Federal Governments anti-siphoning list, the party which secures this contract will need to ensure matches are broadcast on free-to-air television in addition to streaming.

After a slow start, Amazon Prime is now starting to considerable investments in the Australian market. The streaming platform recently secured rights to the Australian Swimming Championships and is increasing its investments in local drama and reality content.

Stan launched its own standalone sports package earlier this year. The platform has already secured rights to Australian Rugby and will soon move into tennis with commercial-free coverage of the French Open and Wimbledon.

Details of the Football Australia negotiations are emerging at the same time as the APL (Australian Professional Leagues) has now confirmed details of a new A-League and W-League broadcast deal with Paramount+ and Channel 10.

Priced at $8.99 per month, Paramount+ subscribers will have access to more than 20,000 television episodes and blockbuster movies in addition to the A-League. The new streaming service is set to launch in Australia in August.

This new arrangement marks the first time the national and domestic football deals have been negotiated independently. Previously, all of these rights were held in a combined bundle by Foxtel and sub-licensed to the ABC.

In a statement supplied to TV Blackbox, Foxtel Group CEO Patrick Delany, said:

“We have enjoyed a 16-year relationship with Australian football, starting as the inaugural broadcast partner for the A-League in August 2005 supporting the game through its highs with international marquee players in 2013 and its more recent challenges completing the 2020 COVID-interrupted season.

“While we would have preferred to retain the A-League and W-League, we chose early on in the process to maintain our cost and valuation discipline in relation to these rights.

“As the Australian Professional Leagues look toward a new future, we thank them for their partnership. We have been incredibly pleased to bring the A-League and the W-League to the many fans of football in Australia. We wish the APL well and for football fans, we remain the go-to destination those who love the best in European football league action including Italy’s Serie A, Germany’s Bundesliga and Spain’s La Liga.”