ABC and Fox Sports set to share Asia Cup 2015 rights
Public broadcaster the ABC and pay-TV operator Fox Sports have confirmed they have secured the rights to broadcast the biggest football tournament ever staged in Australia, the Asia Cup, in early 2015.
The move will see the broadcasters share broadcast rights for the event, with Fox Sports broadcasting all of the games live and the ABC broadcasting a nightly highlights show at 10pm along with the live rights to the friendly match between Japan versus Australia on November 18.
The deal comes after The Weekend Australian suggested that the ABC and SBS became engaged in a bidding war over the rights. However, sources close to the deal said the original SBS bid, reported to be $700,000, was “laughable” and on this basis the Football Federation of Australia approached the ABC who made a more commercially realistic offer, thought to be around $1.2m.
Mumbrella also understands that from the outset that the ABC made clear it would not be involved in a bidding process with SBS. Both the ABC and SBS declined to comment on the negotiations however an ABC spokesman said the deal meant: “The ABC will televise Socceroos group matches on delay on ABC TV, along with live finals games if the Socceroos get through.”
You have to be kidding?? The ABC has paid more than $1m for the rights to show a highlights package at 10pm plus a meaningless “friendly” game. What a dreadful waste of OUR money. How many people really care about this tournament, care enough to sit up at 10pm to watch highlights of Taiwan V Singapore or whatever?
ABC doesn’t need a fact checker – it needs a reality checker!
surely SBS would be better placed with their football pedigree to telecast this tournament? Also at least if its on SBS they get ad revenue to balance the cost of the rights, absolute muppetts running this country..
@Jack – “How many people really care about this tournament?” So you weren’t one of the sold out 20,000 at Parramatta or 44,000 for the Melbourne derby at the weekend then. There’s an audience out there alright.
Blutack – so 64,000 people went to two soccer games last weekend. Fine – no doubt they’ll watch this regional tournament live on Fox Sports, or attend the games in person. But a million dollars paid by the ABC to screen a highlights package at 10pm? Still a massive waste of money in my book!