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AFL-BigPond expands free live steaming offer

by lberns1 — Fri, 2009-07-24 07:01 — Last Updated: Fri, 2009-07-24 07:54

Found this on the BigPond site:

ARE YOU a footy-loving ex-pat? Are you living or holidaying in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States or Canada?

Are you keen to watch all the round 17 AFL action live?

Well you can, right here, on afl.com.au.

With AFL matches no longer available on the Setanta Network in some territories, BigPond Sport is giving AFL fans the chance to stream every AFL game live to their desktop ... free from any subscription costs...AFL article here

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admincms's picture

Re: AFL-BigPond expands free live steaming offer

Submitted by admincms on Fri, 2009-07-24 08:22.

Thanks for catching this.   The AFL did notify us (overnight 7/23-24/09) so we hadn't had a chance to post something.   There will be a front page note shortly.  (Ed. note:  the front page note is here.)

-Rob
AFANA Chairman Emeritus and Site Admin

Bob's picture

Re: AFL-BigPond expands free live steaming offer

Submitted by Bob on Sun, 2009-07-26 10:13.

Has the AFL given any indication as to whether they will stream subsequent rounds too, or was this just for round 17?

admincms's picture

Re: AFL-BigPond expands free live steaming offer

Submitted by admincms on Sun, 2009-07-26 11:01.

No, they haven't.  See our story on this:  AFL Extends Free Streaming to North America

-Rob
AFANA Chairman Emeritus and Site Admin

Bob's picture

Re: AFL-BigPond expands free live steaming offer

Submitted by Bob on Thu, 2009-07-30 11:37.

Looks like they extended it to round 18

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=81749

admincms's picture

Re: AFL-BigPond expands free live steaming offer

Submitted by admincms on Thu, 2009-07-30 11:58.

See the details here: 

http://www.afana.com/drupal5/news/2009/06/23/setanta_enters_administration_setanta_us_ok_now-1448#comment-1010

-Rob
AFANA Chairman Emeritus and Site Admin

lberns1's picture

Re: AFL-BigPond expands free live steaming offer

Submitted by lberns1 on Thu, 2009-07-30 09:40.

I just looked at the upcoming schedule at ESPN360, (Ed. note: 5/2010: now ESPN3) and it looks like they will be carrying AFL starting August 7th with the Carlton vs. Geelong Cats match.  I'm not sure if they (the AFL) are going to  force ESPN to blackout the games like Setanta

admincms's picture

Re: AFL-BigPond expands free live steaming offer

Submitted by admincms on Thu, 2009-07-30 11:49.

There will be a major announcement about the future of US and Canadian TV coverage on the front page of this web site later today.   Give us a few hours, as the situation is rapidly evolving and we are trying to get factual details out there ASAP. 

-Rob
AFANA Chairman Emeritus and Site Admin

kewloz's picture

Re: AFL-BigPond expands free live steaming offer

Submitted by kewloz on Sat, 2009-08-01 11:51.

It's great the BP/AFL are streaming the games and hopefully they will continue to do so, tonights games (Ed. note:  URL removed as it did not work.)

Sat up last weekend and watched all games,  it was the first time to see my team the Western Bulldogs in over 2 years...... and they lost:(

I would suggest emailing BP/AFL congratulating them on their decision to stream games and for them to continue, use quarter, half and three quarter time breaks to advertise local and international products and services. Ideal opportunity for the travel industry to advertise the Land of Oz.

Here is the link to contact them:   telstra.com/subscriptions/afl/contactus/feedbackchoice.asp (Ed. note:  broken URL fixed.)

I am sure many of us would subscribe to live streaming if this option was available.

John

admincms's picture

Re: AFL-BigPond expands free live steaming offer

Submitted by admincms on Sat, 2009-08-01 15:39.

The games have been available for some time on afl.com.au.  (Via a subscription service produced by Aussie Sport TV, an arm of Perform, Ltd.  The AFL, Telstra BigPond, and Aussie Sport TV live services are the same.)   See:  AFL Online Video Becomes 'Aussie Sport TV'

What is different is that the service have been free to some greater or lesser degree in recent weekends.   Unfortunately, that may be well be temporary until a new TV coverage deal is in place. We simply don't know yet. 

-Rob
AFANA Chairman Emeritus and Site Admin

admincms's picture

Re: AFL-BigPond expands free live steaming offer

Submitted by admincms on Fri, 2009-08-07 10:09.

Based on the information we have now received from the AFL, the free streaming on afl.com.au of video for the UK and North America will not continue now that new TV contracts are in place as of Round 19, 2009.  Streaming of radio (audio) was and continues to be free. 

-Rob
AFANA Chairman Emeritus and Site Admin

Jason Hutty's picture

Re: AFL-BigPond expands free live steaming offer

Submitted by Jason Hutty (not verified) on Fri, 2009-08-07 05:09.

So now there is a deal with ESPN 360, 3 live per week. Like Setanta, I can't get ESPN 360. Great.
My big question... Why can't the AFL host the games through Aussie Sports TV or something themselves? Is it really that expensive for an organization like the AFL to steam live? Cant anyone sponsor?

admincms's picture

Re: AFL-BigPond expands free live steaming offer

Submitted by admincms on Fri, 2009-08-07 09:58.

Hi Jason,

I didn't get Setanta through my cable system and I can't get ESPN360 either.  So, you are not alone, the issues affect many of us.  

ESPN360 is a technologically better "solution" than Aussie Sport TV.  Despite promises, I've been disappointed in how Aussie Sport TV has evolved as it still suffers from many of the same issues the previous service did.  Whether this is due to the digital rights management Telstra/BigPond imposes on the video I can't say.   Yes, streaming is expensive and moreover, the AFL does not want to undermine their domestic TV contracts.   While I believe the the historical trends are moving against that approach (see MLB.com), it is what it is.   Could the AFL do better in-house?  Don't know. 

As for sponsors, I'll say what we say on our TV FAQ in a slightly different way:  if you know of any sponsors willing to underwrite AFL live feeds/telecasts/whatever to North America, please put them in touch with AFANA.  We'll take it from there.  If sponsors are out there, we haven't heard from them (yet).

-Rob
AFANA Chairman Emeritus and Site Admin

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