Rob's Thoughts

National and International or Not

OK, I'm back.  My daughter is having lunch with my ex's parents (her grandparents in other words) so I have time to blog.

The VFL became the AFL over 15 years ago now.   It's still fighting for recognition in places like Queensland as a "national" sport.   From all reports I've seen and my experience (on holiday a year ago in places like Cairns and Sydney), the TV coverage there draws maggots (and not the umpiring kind).

Quite apparently the AFL did not get commitments in writing and in the contract from the Aussie networks to guarantee live coverage in the traditional rugby states.   Verbal promises and marketing pitches to help win the contract are meaningless unless they are in the contract and there is some penalty or loss to the other party if they fail to do it.   Apparently though all the AFL really got from Nine, Ten, and Foxtel was the song and dance.   Bad negotiating AFL House.

So I guess since the AFL did such a poor job improving coverage in NSW and QLD in the last TV contract we shouldn't be surprised that international TV coverage is where it is today.  Part of the contract with the Aus networks was a clause giving international distribution rights outside Australia exclusively to FOX Sports International (FSI) (London, UK and Los Angeles).   Nominally there was a million pics of Aussie heros included for international rights.   Of course, it unless it was broke out in a separate line item, that price is meaningless.  AFAIK, it wasn't.   (Side note:  AFANA broke the story that international coverage was in the contract despite Jacko's public denials.)

For years, negotiating the international distribution of footy highlights shows and live Grand Final distribution has been a huge headache at the AFL.  So, throwing all that "over the transom" to FSI probably seemed like a great idea to Jacko and his boys.   And the Foster's naming rights payments help to make it a neutral cost to FSI.   However, what incentive does FSI have to get footy on the right networks right around the world?  Not much I reckon.

So if the local FOX/Sky outlet in Upper Slobovia doesn't want it, just how hard is FSI going to work to market it to say an ESPN branded network or local sports network in Upper Slobovia?  Not that hard I'll wager but I always want to be fair and let the results speak for themselves.  

This season it has been harder than ever to find out where and when footy is on on countries around the world.  Thanks to lots of fans who tell us what they see in their countries our international TV page is probably the best source on the web for that info.   The AFL no longer seems to have a page on it's site with such info and they surely aren't sharing what they know with AFANA.   So we do our own research, verify the schedules directly with the networks, follow up on fan tips, etc.

Addendum:  Wonder of wonders.  AFANA received information from the AFL today on the international TV coverage.  We've incorporated it into our Intl TV page.  -Rob  9/1/03  

Over the past quarter of a century, television has done more than any other single factor to publicize footy around the globe.  Pity the AFL doesn't understand that or even worse, seem to care.

-Rob (Head of Research and Housekeeping)

Keep those survey responses coming!