Basil

Responses To This Message:

Return the internet audio broadcasts

Thursday, 21 February 2002, at 1:16 a.m. US Eastern Time

It is clear that internet broadcasts of AFL matches are no longer available without payment.

The ABC (National Broadcaster), who previously provided audio links of broadcast matches through the ABC and AFL websites, can no longer do so according to their contracts with the AFL (Source: AFL page of ABC Sports online abc.net.au/afl ). In other words the alternatives to subscription appear to no longer be available.

It seems this reduction and commercialisation of basic coverage (TV, website, internet audio) is all aimed at making the fans pay for the enourmous sums bid by the successful broadcasters in last year's auction for the rights.

It is exceptionally shortsighted as a number of contributors to the bulletin board have noted as the growth of the game is dependent on making sure that fans have access to the game. It is the AFL that must take some responsibility for apparently not appreciating that holding out for a high price from rival bidders could have the dramatic impact on fans that is now apparent.

I urge the AFANA to make representations to the AFL on behalf of all isolated fans seeking at the very least to have live internet broadcasts returned without cost..

Email to general@afl.com.au

Thank you.
Basil Cameron
basilcam@nor.com.au

Rob de Santos

In Response To:

Basil

Re: Return the internet audio broadcasts Web Link

Thursday, 21 February 2002, at 1:55 p.m. US Eastern Time

> It is clear that internet broadcasts of AFL matches are no longer
> available without payment.

> The ABC (National Broadcaster), who previously provided audio links of
> broadcast matches through the ABC and AFL websites, can no longer do so
> according to their contracts with the AFL (Source: AFL page of ABC Sports
> online abc.net.au/afl ). In other words the alternatives to subscription
> appear to no longer be available.
...
> I urge the AFANA to make representations to the AFL on behalf of all
> isolated fans seeking at the very least to have live internet broadcasts
> returned without cost..

Basil,

Thanks for your post. AFANA is doing everything it can to get the AFL, Telstra, the ABC, etc. to give us the facts on this. So far, we are not getting much cooperation and we won't wait much longer before urging fans to take action.

The folks at the AFL who went along with this plan clearly do not appreciate the consequences for internationalizing the game. I'm sure that News Ltd. is quite pleased as fans outside Australia must now accept their TV offerings or get no footy whatsoever.

We'll keep fighting for fans.

-Rob de Santos
AFANA Chairman

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