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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 »

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 »

AFL 2012 Schedule Released

by johnson — Sat, 2011-10-29 04:57 — Last Updated: Mon, 2011-10-31 11:42

by Johnson Leung reporting for AFANA from Melbourne with contributions by the AFANA staff

Greater Western Sydney (GWS) Giants, the AFL's newest team, will kick off the 2012 season with a local derby against cross-town rival Sydney, according to the schedule revealed recently in Melbourne. The Giants will play the Swans at ANZ Stadium on Saturday, March 24 in the only match of the week, to celebrate the new club's entry into the national competition. Richmond and Carlton have kept their season-opening marquee fixture on the following Thursday night (March 29), with Hawthorn hosting Collingwood on Friday, March 30, in Nathan Buckley's first game as Magpies' coach. High-profile Melbourne recruit Mitch Clark will face his old club, the Brisbane Lions, in his first game for the Demons, on Saturday afternoon (March 31) at the MCG, while reigning Premiers Geelong will kick off its title defense with a trip to Patersons Stadium to play Fremantle that night.  The schedule changes adversely affect fans in North America as there are fewer games that start prior to 1:00 AM US EDT.  Even if ESPN and TSN wanted to show a match at 12:00 MN US EDT every week, that will no longer be possible as the schedule caters (predictably) to the needs of the Australian television networks.  read more »

International Rules Television and Radio Coverage

by fondacaro — Tue, 2011-10-25 17:49 — Last Updated: Fri, 2012-04-20 22:00

Television and Radio Coverage of 2011 International Rules Tests

Premium Sports and afl.com.au will be providing television and radio coverage (respectively) of the AFL/GAA 2011 International Rules Series, scheduled for October 28 in Melbourne and November 4 in Gold Coast.

Premium Sports (http://www.premiumsports.tv/index.html) coverage may be seen by subscribing to the feeds on UStream (http://www.ustream.tv/internationalrules2011) or Setanta-I (http://setanta-i.com/).  There is no coverage on ESPN in the US or TSN in Canada.  Coverage will begin at 4:30 AM US EDT for the first match and 4:30 AM US EST for the second.  We will update this if it changes.

The cost for the tests is $19.99 each. 

Radio coverage may be heard per usual through afl.com.au.  Further information is available on our AFL Radio page.

Grand Final Day Events and Timeline 2011

by admincms — Wed, 2011-09-28 12:14 — Last Updated: Fri, 2011-09-30 16:19

The following is the time line for the the Grand Final day events including key times for match and TV related activities.   All times are listed first in Australian AEST and then in US EDT.  This is based on information from the AFL, AFANA, press reports and past history. This story will be periodically updated with late information.  Click on "read more" to see the entire table of events.


Start Time AEST Start Time US EDT End Time AEST End Time US EDT Event US / Can Network Coverage
10:00 AM 8:00 PM 12:30 PM 10:30 PM Season in Review / Grand Final Day from the MCG (Relayed from Ch. Ten Australia) 3AW radio pregame begins ESPN3.com (TV Internet only at this time)

 read more »

2011 Grand Final Live on ESPN3 and ESPN2 in North America, Delay on TSN!

by admincms — Sun, 2011-09-25 16:16 — Last Updated: Mon, 2012-03-12 10:57

ESPN2 and ESPN3 in the USA will carry the Grand Final between Collingwood and Geelong LIVE on Friday night / Saturday morning, September 30th / October 1st.  US coverage on ESPN3.com will begin at 8:00 PM EDT Friday including most pre-match festivities; Coverage will continue until 4:00 AM EDT Saturday concluding after the awards ceremony.   ESPN2 will join the live coverage in progress with the pre-game at 12:00 MN (Midnight) EDT and continue until 3:30 AM EDT Saturday. First bounce is about 12:30 AM EDT. Canadian coverage on TSN (not TSN2) will be joined in progress at 1:30 AM EDT and run to 4:00 AM. The entire Grand Final will be repeated on delay on TSN at 11:30 AM on October 1st and conclude at 3:30 PM.   TSN.ca will have live coverage beginning at 11:30 PM EDT. through to 4:00 AM. (Canadian fans should press "read more" below and see our full info on this issue).  If you have no access to any of the preceding options, the game will be live on LiveAFL.tv.  If available to you, then you can signup at this link.  Fans should check our TV Schedule page for details on the coverage and our TV Info page for more information on ESPN3, ESPN2, TSN, TSN2, and TSN.ca.   For those looking for parties, see our listings on our Grand Final Party page.  We have a timeline of Grand Final Day events posted here.   (Note:  the only live coverage in North America is via these outlets and they are available nationally via cable and satellite services -- see our TV Info page.)  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 (Replay) Day Events and Timeline 2010

by admincms — Wed, 2010-09-29 20:24 — Last Updated: Fri, 2010-10-01 10:10

The following is the time line for the the Grand Final day events including key times for match and TV related activities.   All times are listed first in Australian AEST and then in US EDT.  This is based on information from the AFL, AFANA, staff member Johnson Leung, press reports and past history. This story will be periodically updated with late information.

Time AEST/US EDT  Event             
12:00 PM / 10:00 PM Coverage of Grand Final preview and entertainment begins on ESPN3
12:30 PM - 12:45 PM / 10:30 PM - 10:45 PM Draft Combine, On-Ground Presentation
12:55 PM / 10:55 PM Delivery of match footballs to Umpires
1.00 PM / 11:00 PM On-field pre-match set up
1.10 PM – 1.25 PM / 11:10 PM – 11:25 PM Preliminary on-field warm-up opportunity for competing clubs
1:25 PM / 11:25 PM Stage and sound set in centre square
1:35 PM -- 2:00 PM / 11:35 PM --12:00 MN Pre-match entertainment featuring Lionel Ritchie. 
1:46 PM / 11:46 PM Motorcade of players who featured in 1966 VFL Grand Final between Collingwood and St Kilda
2.00 PM / 12:00 MN Pre-match entertainment concludes
2:00 PM / 12:00 MN International TV feed begins. The host broadcaster is Channel 7 and the announcers will be lead by Bruce McAvaney and Dennis Cometti. US and Canadian TV coverage begins on ESPN Classic, ESPN Mobile, TSN2, and TSN.ca.  Coverage continues on ESPN3.com

 read more »

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