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Editorial: Did The AFL Fail Footy In The USA?

by admincms — Mon, 2012-04-23 10:50 — Last Updated: Sun, 2012-04-29 15:58

(This editorial is in response to the following post on the site of usfootynews.com: AFL Decision Fails Sport in USA.)

Our friend Wayne Kraska at usfootynews.com recently posted an editorial on why he feels the AFL has failed the sport of Australian football in the USA with it's latest TV contract with Fox Sports Plus (announcement here).  Considering his arguments and those of the many fans who commented here on this site, on our Facebook page, and in e-mails to us, I felt it was appropriate to respond. 

At the outset, I want every reader to know that I am sympathetic to the fans who feel the sport took a backward step with this new deal.  In some ways, that may be true.  I understand the frustration of fans who cannot get or afford to subscribe to Fox Sports Plus (FSP).  I also believe that there is a lack of understanding by many of the realities the AFL faced, the alternatives available, and the history of both recent events and those since 1980 when the AFL first appeared on the then nascent network ESPN.  

I want to address Wayne's key points because he raises some that many other fans have expressed.  read more »

AFANA Needs Your Opinions!

by admincms — Sun, 2009-07-26 19:30 — Last Updated: Tue, 2009-09-08 23:04

2009 Survey of Footy Fans Underway  - Survey Has Closed

Australian football fans living in the USA and Canada - this is your chance to share your opinions!

AFANA is currently conducting our triennial survey of footy fans.  We want to know who footy fans in North America are, where they are, and how they get their footy.   Let us know what you think of the TV coverage, too.  To participate, click on this link:
Take the Survey

For the sixth time since our founding we are conducting a comprehensive survey of North American footy fans and their attitudes and demographics.  This data has proven to be immensely valuable not only to AFANA but also to AFL efforts to grow and expand TV coverage and footy in North America.  It is important that we get as many fans in North America to respond as possible.  (We only need responses from fans living in North America, citizenship doesn't matter).  The survey is perhaps AFANA's single most important tool for gauging the attitudes of fans toward the TV coverage, who gets the coverage and who doesn’t, etc.  Help us by answering the survey today!  read more »

AFL Coverage on Fox Soccer Plus for Next 3 Years

by admincms — Tue, 2012-03-13 21:52 — Last Updated: Sun, 2012-04-22 11:44

The AFL announced today that it had reached a three year deal (2012-2014) with Fox Sports for weekly AFL coverage on FOX Soccer Plus (FSP).  FSP is the subscription channel counterpart to Fox Soccer (formerly Fox Soccer Channel and before that Fox Sports World).  The cost will be $14.99 a month and FSP is available to customers of DirecTV, DISH, Verizon FiOS, AT&T U-verse, most Time-Warner and Brighthouse cable systems, Cablevision, Cox, BlueRidge, Bendbroadband, SureWest, FullChannel, Frontier, and RCN cable.  The AFL was unable to come to a deal with ESPN for continued coverage on their outlets.  Coverage will be two live matches per week typically (will vary occasionally) plus all finals live. The AFL Winners weekly highlight show will be available on FSP also. AFANA will post more detailed schedules in the next few days and update all of our TV pages to reflect this change in coverage. (TV pages have been updated)  Canadian TV coverage will remain on TSN2 with one live match per week.  (Addendum: 03/23/12: MHz has confirmed they will continue coverage this season with games on Monday nights at 10:00 PM EDT, repeated on Saturdays at 4:00 AM EDT.  Matches will be edited to 2 hrs and they will not carry the highlights programs ("AFL Winners") this season on Saturdays. Also, FSP on some Time Warner systems which offer the Sports Pass package of channels,  FSP will be just $5.99 -- price may vary slightly in some areas.)  read more »

Web Site Maintenance and Upgrades This Weekend

by admincms — Wed, 2012-03-07 23:01 — Last Updated: Sat, 2012-03-10 11:28

(Maintenance is complete as of 11:25 AM EST Saturday.  The site should be fully operational.  We are resolving some minor problems that should not affect users.) Due to a server change and some planned updates, AFANA.com will be unavailable for an extended period beginning Friday morning, March 9th, US time. The service interruption will last up to 60 hours. After the server change is complete it may take several hours for the new "location" of the site (IP address to techies) to be spread around to your ISP. Updates to the status of the site will be posted on Facebook if necessary. We anticipate the site being fully operational by sometime on Sunday, March 11th.  During the downtime, you may periodically see a maintenance message instead of the normal site. Thanks for your understanding.

Brief Update on 2012 TV Coverage

by admincms — Sun, 2012-01-29 20:02 — Last Updated: Fri, 2012-03-09 01:29

(Update: 3/8/12: We have schedules now for TSN in Canada on our TV page.  In Round 1 TSN2 will have Hawthorn v Collingwood and 3 more on TSN.ca:  GWS v Syd, Rich v Coll, NMel v Ess.  We don't have US scheds or network yet but you can assume the matches will be the same and you can guess the network.  We will have more shortly.)  (Further info as of 2/28/12:  AFANA's sources suggest that a TV deal for both the USA and Canada is very close. We're waiting for an announcement or details from the AFL. That's all we can say at this stage since it is not possible to confirm any additional information. We don't want to jeopardize any deal or put out unconfirmed info so that's all we tell you at this time. [In other words, asking for more will not get you anything, OK?].)  Original article: This is a brief update on the expected TV coverage of the AFL in North America in 2012.  For US viewers, we can advise that at this time we do not expect any coverage on ESPN affiliated networks in 2012 based on information from ESPN.  However negotiations are on-going according to the AFL. (This has no bearing on whether ESPN covers the sport in other parts of the world.) Coverage on MHz Networks will likely continue however, no agreement has been concluded.  We understand negotiations are continuing but beyond that we do not have further information at this time.   read more »

Foxtel Big Winner In New Broadcast Deal

by johnson — Sun, 2011-05-01 00:41 — Last Updated: Thu, 2011-05-05 07:07

Pay TV provider Foxtel and its half-owner Telstra have emerged as the biggest winners of the new AFL domestic broadcast deal, as Channel Seven retains the free-to-air rights to the competition. For the first time since 1997, the primary broadcaster will not change. In the biggest media deal in Australian sporting history, Foxtel and country Pay-TV provider Austar have won the right to televise every game (except the Grand Final) live, while Seven has the right to broadcast a minimum of four matches each round during the regular season and the Grand Final live.  read more »

Grand Final Ends in a Draw! Replay Next Week

by admincms — Sun, 2010-09-26 20:00 — Last Updated: Thu, 2010-09-30 23:09

Collingwood  9 14 (68)  St Kilda    10  8 (68)

Grand Final draw means game is replayed next week

Congrats to both teams for an incredible match.  The Norm Smith medal went to Lenny Hayes.  We have the following coverage for the GF Replay (confirmed by AFL & ESPN and revised 9/30/10): ESPN3.com will be live from 10:00 PM EDT.  ESPN Classic, and ESPN Mobile will be live from 12:00 MN EDT until 4:00 AM; ESPN2 will join the coverage in progress at 1:00 AM EDT and continue until 4:00 AM. Canadian coverage will be on TSN2 from 12:00 MN EDT to 4:00 AM and on TSN.ca on demand. Omnisport.tv will have live coverage from 12:00 MN EDT to 4:00 AM at the usual US$5.99. We have a special Grand Final party page up for the replay. 
 read more »

Time Warner and Brighthouse Customers to Gain Access to ESPN3

by admincms — Fri, 2010-09-03 21:28 — Last Updated: Sun, 2011-08-07 18:00

Yesterday evening (9/2/2010), the Disney Company reached a new "retransmission" deal with Time Warner Cable and it's affiliate Brighthouse.  Part of that deal will make ESPN3.com available to all customers of Time Warner and Brighthouse regardless of whether you have TW / Brighthouse as your internet provider. No implementation date was given except  read more »

AFANA Launches Fundraising Campaign

by admincms — Mon, 2010-06-14 13:55 — Last Updated: Sun, 2010-09-12 19:16

You can help AFANA grow!

We are launching a fundraising campaign today to raise $2.000 towards the next major upgrade of this web site and to retire some old debts and expenses.  We need your support and looking, in particular, for the support of those you who haven't donated in the recent past.   Step up and help us in our efforts to make Australian football better known in the USA and Canada.

GOAL: $2,000  Received to date: $860  43.0%

The specific goals of this campaign are as follows:  read more »

AFANA's Tippers Among The Best

by admincms — Tue, 2010-06-08 21:25 — Last Updated: Tue, 2010-06-08 21:58

Opportunity for fans to enter a comp with US$50,000 in prizes... so read on:

At the mid-point of the AFL season, tippers in AFANA's tipping comps are standing up well against the best in Australia and around the world.   One of the comps we offer to fans is the Scorefive Footy Tipping competition.  Last season, two of our members were the high scorers for individual rounds of the season and at seasons end, we placed 3 in the top 400 in this comp on a worldwide basis (entries number several thousand, mostly from Australia).   This season, AFANA's recently retired Chairman, Rob de Santos, is sitting in 4th place at the half way point!  Two more AFANAns are in the top 50.  This is all the more amazing when you realize that Rob was only in a tie for 5th of our member's only tipping comp after round 10!  So, while most our members are Americans, Canadians, or Aussies living in the US, we know our footy!

So, think you have what it takes?  We hear there is this minor round ball football competition starting in South Africa in a few days.  World Cup something or other.  The Scorefive folks are offering tippers in the World Cup comp 50,000 dollars to divy up if they can beat the best at that one.  Pretty good huh?  Scorefive are big supporters of AFANA and we think you should pop right on over and enter that comp.  Let's show them we're not just good at predicting the better form of football, but pretty good at this other form, too!   read more »

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