Australian Football Association of North America

Australian Rules Football Television Coverage in 2008

We have full schedules at this link. 
We have our complete TV Q & A at the TV FAQ page.
We have weekly radio listings for the AFL at our AFL Radio page.

This page will give you the basic facts you need to know about TV Coverage in the USA and Canada in 2008.  (Information will be updated as necessary throughout the 2008 season.)  The coverage is largely the same as in 2007 but with some incremental improvements plus the addition of coverage on NexTV and GekTV.  Nationwide coverage of Aussie rules in 2008 for North American fans is as follows:

• Setanta Sports US (nationally in USA - for Canada see below).  This is available on the DirecTV (channel 615) (ch. 621 as of 8/27/08); DISH Network (channel 406); on NexTV and GEKtv (IPTV providers - see below); and the WorldTV (powered by Globecast) (channel 752) satellite services. (WorldTV is a a lesser known direct to home satellite service carrying mostly ethnic channels - see below).  Setanta is now on DISH Network but not yet on major cable systems such as Comcast however we continue to hope that will change soon.  Setanta Sports is by subscription only and runs about $14.99 per month.  Coverage on Setanta ONLY is LIVE each week.  Up to three matches are carried live and the other five matches are carried on a delayed basis each week.  In 2008, coverage will begin with the preseason NAB Cup in mid-February.  Setanta also carries the taped one hour AFL Highlights on one week delay.  Some bars and pubs carry Setanta Sports, see below.  We also expect AFL coverage on...
  
  
  
• MHz Worldview (nationally in USA).  This is available on WorldTV (powered by Globecast)(channel 52). This is also available (with the same schedule as MHz Worldview, adjusted for the time zone) on WNVC, Comcast, Cox and RCN cable, as well as Verizon FiOS in Washington, DC; and on MPS on Time Warner ch. 76 in Minneapolis, MN and Comcast Ch. 20 / St. Paul Neighborhood Network in St. Paul, MN; WEIU (digital ch. 51-2) in Charleston, IL; KCSM (digital ch. 60.2) in San Francisco, CA; KBTC in Seattle / Tacoma, WA (digital ch. 28.4) or Centralia, WA (digital ch. 15.4); WYCC-TV (digital ch. 21.2) in Chicago, IL; WHTJ-TV (digital ch. 41.3) in Charlottesville, VA; KUEN-TV (digital ch. 9.2) in Salt Lake City, UT; KBDI-TV (digital ch. 12.4) in Denver, CO; WDCQ-TV (digital ch. 19.1 or Charter Cable ch. 433) in Flint, MI; WCVE-TV (digital ch. 23.3 and Comcast ch. 202) in Richmond, VA; Student Cable ch. 182 at Stanford Univ, CA; and DirecTV (international package only, ch. 2183 and requires special dish); all with the same schedule as MHz Worldview.  Future coverage on KVCR and KLCS, Los Angeles (date TBA). More schedule info on these outlets will be added as it becomes available.  Please check http://www.mhznetworks.org/mhzworldview/carriage/ for the latest in affiliate updates.
  
  
  
• Washington DC area viewers (only) on MHz Networks 1 via WNVC-TV (ch. 56 and digital 30-1) over the air and via digital cable.  Viewers of MHz Networks 1 over the air in the Washington DC area please note:  On 9/1/2008, MHz Networks analog broadcast channel 56 and its digital counterpart DT-57 will go away, to be replaced by the the new digital transmitter.  MHz Networks' digital broadcast channels DT-30.1 to DT-30.6 will still be in operation.  This only affects over the air broadcast viewers in the Washington, DC area.  Metro DC viewers who receive MHz Networks channels through cable, DirecTV, Dish Network or Verizon FiOS will not be affected nor will viewers on any of the above outlets elsewhere in the USA.  For more information on where to find MHz in the DC area see: http://www.mhznetworks.org/programming/carrier
• Setanta Sports Canada (nationally in Canada) carries similar coverage as their US channel with a slightly different schedule.  It is available on some Shaw and Rogers cable systems and on Bell ExpressVu ch. 420. 
  
  
• NexTV and GekTV (available anywhere in North America) These services relay Setanta with the same live, delayed, and repeated matches as shown on Setanta USA (refer to the Setanta US schedule on our TV pages for schedule information). These services are viewed on your TV but the box is connected to the Internet rather than a cable or satellite (broadband connection required). Subscriptions cost US$14.99 per month on both services with the first month free on NexTV. With NexTV the set top box can rented or purchased and is free with a one year contract. Shipping is free on the box. GekTV has different but similar terms.

Coverage on MHz Worldview, and MHz Networks 1 consists of taped one hour AFL Highlights and taped 2 hour "Match of the Week" edited matches running one week behind.   There is no coverage on ESPN, Fox Sports Net, Fox Soccer Channel, and Fox Sports World Canada.  The coverage schedules on Setanta, MHz Worldview, Setanta Canada, and Setanta Broadband are the same everywhere in the USA and Canada respectively.  There are no regional feeds of those channels.  In other words,  you get the same programs at the same times (adjust for your time zone) regardless of what state or city you live in. 

To get DirecTV check out this link:
DirecTV

To get DISH Network check out this link:
DISH

To get WorldTV check out these links:
WorldTV:  http://www.globecastwtv.com/ or call 1-888-988-5288
Sadoun Sales (installer and hardware provider):  http://www.sadoun.com/
A Globecast WorldTV system installed will cost about $250 or so.

To get NexTV check out this link: 
NexTV or call 1-866-645-8792 or e-mail:  seta...@getnextv.com

To get GekTV check out this link:
GekTV or call 1-888-435-8866 or 1-650-871-8138

Setanta Sports is available in many bars and pubs.  They have a Venue Finder available online. 

For further information on coverage of footy on TV in the US and Canada see the TV schedules page and our TV Q & A and don't forget to read our free e-mail media newsletter as recent and urgent info is only in the newsletter! International readers should check our international TV page .  Please subscribe to our newsletters and join AFANA today! (Registration at the web site does not make you a member.)  Only our newsletter carries the complete weekly news on AFL coverage.  Since it's free and we don't send you more than one message a week on average, there is NO reason to be in the dark on the latest info. View a sample here. 

Comcast Requests

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2008-03-19 10:47.

Seeing as ITVN is out of service, I called Comcast to see about putting in a request for Setanta Sports. The lady was very sweet, and told me to tell anyone that I know that is also interested in Comcast getting Setanta to call and make a "Channel Request". You can do it easily over the phone, 1-800-266-2278. PLEASE CALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The more that call, the closer we will get to them getting an agreement.

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