The deal guarantees one A-League match each week,on Saturday nights,will be broadcast live on Ten’s main channel for the duration of the agreement,preceded by a magazine-style discussion show - ensuring a level of free-to-air coverage hitherto only dreamed of in the league’s 16-year history.
In a further sign of the company’s commitment to growing the sport,Ten’s owners ViacomCBS have bought a minor share in the Australian Professional Leagues,the club-run body now in charge of both the A-League and W-League after securing independence from Football Australia at the end of last year.
The other five A-League games each round will be behind a paywall on Paramount+,which is aiming to use football as the cornerstone of its launch in Australia,where it will be available for $8.99 per month from August 11.
One W-League match each week,on Sunday afternoons,will also be shown on Ten’s secondary channel,10Bold,with both free-to-air matches to be syndicated on 10Play,the network’s free streaming service.
The APL has also agreed to share responsibility for broadcast production,a move rarely undertaken by major sporting competitions in Australia. This ensures a minimum standard of production will be upheld across both the A-League and W-League and the ability to scale the number of cameras used at matches up or down based on the importance of certain fixtures.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Australian Professional Leagues to become the new home of football for both the A-League and Westfield W-League,giving all Australians access to more football than ever before,” said Beverley McGarvey,the chief content officer and executive vice president of ViacomCBS Australia and New Zealand.