SBS and ABC radio have jumped and secured rights to broadcast A-League matches live on air.
For the ABC, the A-League has come in the nick of time, filling in the gap left by domestic cricket. Football Federation Australia has signed a four-year deal with the ABC, which includes live coverage of the A-League on local and digital radio, the ABC’s phone app and streaming on the Grandstand website.
FFA boss David Gallop described the soccer deal as a breakthrough into mainstream media.
“Live sports on ABC Radio have long been a staple of Australian life and I’m delighted that hundreds of hours of A-League action will be on the radio this season,” he said.SBS will be broadcasting Friday matches on SBS Radio 3 with expert live commentary. In Sydney, games will be hosted by SBS Radio Italian broadcaster Marco Lucchi and joined by SBS sports journalist and commentator Vitor Sobral, with expert analysis from former Socceroo Aytek Genc. In Melbourne, the team will be led by SBS Radio broadcaster Erdem Koc and will have SBS sports journalist Glenn Osborne and former Socceroo Clint Bolton stepping into the role of football analyst.
SBS also secured free-to-air rights to the Friday matches, and will broadcast them live on SBS 2 from 7pm.
