AFL signs 2 year radio deal with SCA, SEN, ABC, Nine, Krock and 5AA

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Jul 2, 2010
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AFL announces new radio rights deal​

The AFL has announced a two-year rights deal with radio partners SEN, Southern Cross Austereo, FIVEaa, Nine Radio, K rock, and ABC

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AFL Statement

The AFL today has announced a two-year rights deal with radio partners SEN, Southern Cross Austereo, FIVEaa, Nine Radio, K rock, and ABC, in which rightsholders have been given digital rights for the first time making match calls available on digital platforms as well as analogue stations.

The new deal also sees a change to the current SEN licensing model for metro AM commercial radio partners, with all rightsholders now contracting directly with the AFL to produce and distribute their own AFL content on their channels directly.

In a win for footy fans, the AFL has given rights holders access to deliver zero latency calls at AFL venues, meaning AFL fans will be able to experience a call at certain AFL match venues with little to no delay, with zero latency calls to be made available on the AFL website and app.

The AFL and Southern Cross Austereo have additionally entered a content partnership to co-create productions for distribution on both the AFL website and app together with the LiSTNR app.

Executive General Manager of Customer and Commercial, Kylie Rogers said the priority of the AFL was to provide fans with unrivalled access to footy – anytime, anywhere.
"Our radio partners service millions of AFL and AFLW fans across the nation, and the addition of digital rights and zero latency Wi-Fi access will ensure they receive the best possible match experience on any platform of their choice.

"We want all Australians to have access to our game, and we are proud to be partnering with SEN, Southern Cross Austereo, FIVEaa, Nine Radio, K rock, and ABC, and thank them for their continued support and commitment to delivering unparalleled content for our fans."

Sports Entertainment Network Chief Executive Craig Hutchison said: "We've worked with the AFL to accommodate their request to work directly with the Nine and NOVA networks and unlock them from our previous rights structure, a decision we've supported in the strong interest of our shareholders and own platforms," Hutchison said.

"With the growth, acquisition, and maturing of our own SEN stations we were fully focussed on a deal that served the SEN listenership via our own stations, app and extensive regional partners. And we are rapt to be able to call local teams in Adelaide and Perth for the first time.

"SEN's AFL Nation continues to innovate and broadcasts more matches than anyone, and ever before. We are really proud of the fact we take the game throughout all of Australia including NSW and Queensland, whether it be regional towns or capital cities with more footy broadcast than anyone else.

"Be it via up to 100 radio frequencies across every state and territory, the SEN app, sen.com.au, afl.com.au, aflnation.com.au, SEN Stadium and beyond – AFL Nation really is the place for unparalleled live AFL footy of the Toyota AFL Premiership season."

"We have also been delighted with the continued expansion of SEN Stadium over the last few years as we continue to deliver live commentary with no delays direct to the fans within AFL venues."

"We are absolutely delighted to extend and expand our audio partnership with the AFL to branch into co-created podcasts on LiSTNR. The AFL has been a long term partner of SCA and, given our expertise with the product, we are pleased to have been granted privileged status in this exciting new on demand offering. The AFL is an important pillar in our sport offering on the Triple M network and LiSTNR and the appeal of AFL to our listeners continues to grow," SCA CEO, Grant Blackley, said.

Tom Malone, Managing Director of Nine Radio, said: "We are delighted to be extending our decades long partnership with the AFL. Our listeners are the big winners of this new deal. They will have access to 3AW's and 6PR's unrivalled commentary and coverage through their local station, and importantly the new agreement incorporates full streaming rights across Australia, giving fans the ability to listen anywhere, anytime on any device. We're also very proud to be increasing our support for the AFLW by calling more matches and implementing our groundbreaking broadcast internship program."

ABC Manager of Sport, Nick Morris said: "As a long-term radio partner of the AFL, the ABC is thrilled to be in a position to continue broadcasting AFL on our audio platforms, including, for the first time, ABC Listen. The AFL & AFLW is a massive part of our live sports offer, and we are delighted that under this new agreement, starting with the 2023 season, our audiences will be able to hear our uninterrupted, play-by-play commentary on whatever platform they choose."

Peter Charlton, NOVA Entertainment CEO said, "This new two-year agreement is a continuation of FIVEaa's enduring 32 year relationship with the AFL and demonstrates the evolution of the partnership by giving listeners access to commentary across NOVA's broadcast and digital platforms. In addition, we are excited to broadcast live the Adelaide and Port Adelaide matches of the increasingly popular AFLW season. FIVEaa has a long history as the home of AFL in South Australia and a passion and dedication for the role the game plays in Adelaide's culture."

Andy Mathers, K rock General Manager, said, "As the Cats prepare for a grand final and we celebrate 90 years of K rock/3GL broadcasting VFL/AFL football, we're pleased to be extending our partnership with the AFL. We're delighted, under this new agreement, to be able to provide K rock's award-winning coverage of Geelong games through not only FM 95.5 but also via our digital platforms. Since 1932 we've been proudly parochial when it comes to the Cats, and we'll continue that in 2023 and beyond.

The new deal commences on 1 November 2022, until the end of 2024.

 
Hutchy loses his monopoly advantage.

In 2016 Crocmedia purchased the overarching commercial radio rights for 2017-22. The ABC had separate rights. IIRC they paid $23mil.

It meant in SA 5AA got to call the 2 local teams' games, but rather than take their sister station feeds from 3AW, 6PR etc call like they had for a couple of decades or more, they had to take Crocmedia's AFL Nation feed and they co produced more sports shows for those old radio rights stations, eg the Sportsday program in Vic, SportsdaySA, SportsdayWA etc produced by Crocmedia had 1 hour exclusively on country stations and the other hour on country stations + 3AW, 5AA, 6PR respectively.

Then in January 2018 the owner of SEN, Pacific Star Network, acquired 100 per cent of Crocmedia, and Hutchy became SEN's CEO and largest shareholder.

In Adelaide the last few years the only time you get a broadcast of a game on SEN is one game on Sunday, as the SEN feed is on 5AA and on SEN they have horse racing or the SANFL.

Southern Cross Austereo, = MMM network, Nine Radio = 2GB, 3AW, 4BC, 6PR.

So that means SEN and the other individual commercial stations will work out some sort of deal. Some places will be identical, others will change as per Hutchy's comment, although if the previous deal only covered 2017-22 not sure how he can say SEN has worked with the AFL to accomodate other networks. You just lost some rights.


Sports Entertainment Network Chief Executive Craig Hutchison said: "We've worked with the AFL to accommodate their request to work directly with the Nine and NOVA networks and unlock them from our previous rights structure, a decision we've supported in the strong interest of our shareholders and own platforms," Hutchison said.

"With the growth, acquisition, and maturing of our own SEN stations we were fully focussed on a deal that served the SEN listenership via our own stations, app and extensive regional partners. And we are rapt to be able to call local teams in Adelaide and Perth for the first time.

"SEN's AFL Nation continues to innovate and broadcasts more matches than anyone, and ever before. We are really proud of the fact we take the game throughout all of Australia including NSW and Queensland, whether it be regional towns or capital cities with more footy broadcast than anyone else.
 
Last edited:
Jul 2, 2010
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SPORTS Entertainment Network has extended its AFL radio rights partnership in a deal that delivers unprecedented coverage, more matches and greater distribution than ever before.

In a landmark deal, SEN has secured audio rights to all nine AFL matches in each round of the Toyota AFL Premiership Season for the next two years and unlocked a new range of distribution rights around Australia.

Sports Entertainment Network’s AFL Nation call – already the largest ever audio distribution of live sport in Australia – will now be more available than ever before.

Details for the radio rights partnership include:

• Rights for all West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers matches, to be broadcast on SEN WA, 657am Perth, SEN Spirit 621 Bunbury and SEN Peel Mandurah DAB+.
• For the first time, rights for all Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide Power matches on SEN SA 1629am.
• For the first time, exclusive right to syndicate/sub-license to other AM stations in Adelaide and Perth.
• Exclusive AM broadcast on the AFL platforms including the AFL App and AFL.com.au of the AFL Nation call.
• Dedicated and exclusive coverage of Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast Suns, Sydney Swans and GWS Giants games on SENQ 693am (Brisbane) and SEN 1170am (Sydney) platforms respectively.
• Regional syndication exclusivity, with the exception of SCA-Triple M owned stations nationally and K-Rock in Geelong.
• Continuation of live coverage of all matches on the SEN app and growth of the in-venue product, SEN Stadium.

In conjunction with the AFL radio rights, SEN has also extended its supply of AFL Trade Radio exclusively to the AFL until the end of 2024.

Sports Entertainment Network Chief Executive Craig Hutchison said while details of the deal were confidential, it also delivers a significant saving to SEG shareholders and is in turn a great deal for the AFL.

“We’ve worked with the AFL to accommodate their request to work directly with the Nine and NOVA networks and unlock them from our previous rights structure, a decision we’ve supported in the strong interest of our shareholders and own platforms,” Hutchison said.

“With the growth, acquisition and maturing of our own SEN stations we were fully focussed on a deal that served the SEN listenership via our own stations, app and extensive regional partners. And we are rapt to be able to call local teams in Adelaide and Perth for the first time.

“SEN’s AFL Nation continues to innovate and broadcasts more matches than anyone, and ever before. We are really proud of the fact we take the game throughout all of Australia including NSW and Queensland, whether it be regional towns or capital cities with more footy broadcast than anyone else.

“Be it via up to 100 radio frequencies across every state and territory, the SEN app, sen.com.au, afl.com.au, aflnation.com.au, SEN Stadium and beyond – AFL Nation really is the place for unparalleled live AFL footy of the Toyota AFL Premiership season.”

“We have also been delighted with the continued expansion of SEN Stadium over the last few years as we continue to deliver live commentary with no delays direct to the fans within AFL venues.”

 

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Jul 2, 2010
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Hutchy loses his monopoly advantage.

In 2016 Crocmedia purchased the overarching commercial radio rights for 2017-22. The ABC had separate rights. IIRC they paid $23mil.

It meant in SA 5AA got to call the 2 local teams' games, but rather than take their sister station feeds from 3AW, 6PR etc call like they had for a couple of decades or more, they had to take Crocmedia's AFL Nation feed and they co produced more sports shows for those old radio rights stations, eg the Sportsday program in Vic, SportsdaySA, SportsdayWA etc produced by Crocmedia had 1 hour exclusively on country stations and the other hour on country stations + 3AW, 5AA, 6PR respectively.

Then in January 2018 the owner of SEN, Pacific Star Network, acquired 100 per cent of Crocmedia, and Hutchy became SEN's CEO and largest shareholder.

In Adelaide the last few years the only time you get a broadcast of a game on SEN is one game on Sunday, as the SEN feed is on 5AA and on SEN they have horse racing or the SANFL.

Southern Cross Austereo, = MMM network, Nine Radio = 2GB, 3AW, 4BC, 6PR.

So that means SEN and the other individual commercial stations will work out some sort of deal. Some places will be identical, others will change as per Hutchy's comment, although if the previous deal only covered 2017-22 not sure how he can say SEN has worked with the AFL to accomodate other networks. You just lost some rights.


Sports Entertainment Network Chief Executive Craig Hutchison said: "We've worked with the AFL to accommodate their request to work directly with the Nine and NOVA networks and unlock them from our previous rights structure, a decision we've supported in the strong interest of our shareholders and own platforms," Hutchison said.

"With the growth, acquisition, and maturing of our own SEN stations we were fully focussed on a deal that served the SEN listenership via our own stations, app and extensive regional partners. And we are rapt to be able to call local teams in Adelaide and Perth for the first time.

"SEN's AFL Nation continues to innovate and broadcasts more matches than anyone, and ever before. We are really proud of the fact we take the game throughout all of Australia including NSW and Queensland, whether it be regional towns or capital cities with more footy broadcast than anyone else.


Crocmedia paid about 10m for 6 years in 2016 for the 2018-2022 deal. SCA also had a 6 year deal.

I think these came to about 24m
 
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SCA and AFL extend partnership by announcing podcast co-collaboration​

byMediaweek

SCA and the AFL have announced a multi-year podcast co-collaboration agreement to develop audio-on-demand concepts for the league and extended their long-standing partnership for Audio Broadcast Rights.

The Australian-first agreement is an extension of SCA and the AFL’s long-term radio broadcast agreement with Triple M.

The AFL and LiSTNR will collaborate with their respective resources in creating, producing, distributing, and commercialising in app programming and feature podcasts including SCA talent and AFL league stars.

The new radio partnership covers the 2023 and 2024 AFL seasons and includes the exclusive FM radio rights in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth and rights on all other Triple M metro and regional radio stations around Australia, including SCA’s Canberra joint venture station Mix 106.3.

The new agreement also confirms that all AFL men’s matches in every round will be available anywhere in Australia on LiSTNR and selected AFLW women’s matches, including the AFLW grand final, will also be available anywhere in Australia on LiSTNR.

This partnership extends and builds on a relationship that extends over 25 years and allows a continued joint focus to grow the game from the grassroots to the elite level.

Effective from 1 November, the rights agreement will see Triple M continue its AFL programming.

“We are absolutely delighted to extend and expand our partnership with the AFL to branch into co-created podcasts on LiSTNR. The AFL has been a long term partner of SCA and, given our expertise with the product, we are pleased to have been granted privileged status in this exciting new on demand offering. The AFL is an important pillar in our sport offering on the Triple M network and LiSTNR and the appeal of AFL to our audience continues to grow,” SCA CEO, Grant Blackley, said.

“Triple M’s footy coverage and sports shows dominate adult listeners, with almost 50% more audience compared to the closest commercial competitor. We have the nation’s best line-up of AFL legends as our commentators, bringing listeners live and local broadcasts of all games, plus expert commentary. We look forward to continuing that tradition, not only on our Triple M radio network, but for all Australians anywhere, anytime on LiSTNR, with some new, exciting digital initiatives to come.”

AFL executive general manager of customer and commercial, Kylie Rogers said: “Our radio partners service millions of AFL and AFLW fans across the nation, and the addition of digital rights and zero latency Wi-Fi access will ensure they receive the best possible match experience on any platform of their choice.

“We want all Australians to have access to our game, and we are proud to be partnering with Southern Cross Austereo and thank them for their continued support and commitment to delivering unparalleled content for our fans.”

Triple M Footy’s (AFL) podcast on LiSTNR is the nation’s No.1 sports podcast in August, while 105.1 Triple M Melbourne’s Rush Hour with JB & Billy podcast is consistently in the top 20 podcasts.

 
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FIVEaa secures AFL rights until 2024

FIVEaa has secured AFL radio broadcast rights for another two years in an exciting partnership with 3AW.
LISTEN HERE:

Will Goodings on FIVEaa Breakfast revealed during Friday’s Breaking @ 8 segment:

“Significant announcement in the last 24 hours with regards to AFL radio rights. The AFL has announced that the rights for the next two years have been settled and the great news from us here at FIVEaa is we will continue to bring every Crows and Power match live.
“There will be four matches broadcast from other markets across the week, but a significant component of that is the announcement that 3AW football – our historical sister station from Melbourne – we’ll be taking their coverage of games much like we saw pre-2017. So for the other matches of the round beyond the local call… you’ll be getting the 3AW call of footy which is as good as it gets.”

PRESS RELEASE:

NOVA Entertainment announced that FIVEaa has extended its ongoing relationship with the AFL, signing a two year partnership to further cement FIVEaa’s position as the home of AFL in Adelaide until 2024.

With a long and successful 32-year history with the AFL, FIVEaa is the only radio station to have called live and broadcast every Adelaide Crows AFL match in the club’s 32 seasons, commencing in 1991. Having also called and broadcast every single Port Adelaide match since 1997, FIVEaa’s heritage as Adelaide’s AFL station is unrivalled.

Highly respected and decorated Port Adelaide Premiership Captain, Tim Ginever, teamed up with Stephen Rowe on FIVEaa’s iconic Sports Show in August this year. As part of Adelaide’s #1 AM The FIVEaa Sports Show, Stephen and Tim, together with Adelaide’s best commentary team will also deliver to FIVEaa audiences every Adelaide and Port Adelaide match live, as well as broadcasting at least four matches from all other markets each week through the 2023 and 2024 AFL seasons. Fans will be able to access AFL matches and content, live and uninterrupted on the AFL app, FIVEaa radio and online on the FIVEaa website and FIVEaa Player mobile app.

Commencing on November 1, The FIVEaa Sports Show with Stephen Rowe and Tim Ginever will extend to 7pm, giving listeners even longer with the biggest AFL names and voices including Leigh Matthews, Caroline Wilson, Mark Robinson, Mark Bickley, Rory Sloane and Graham Cornes. As part of its commitment to all AFL football, FIVEaa has also commenced broadcasting Adelaide and Port Adelaide AFLW matches live, something that has received an overwhelmingly positive response from listeners.

Peter Charlton, NOVA Entertainment CEO said, “This new two year agreement is a continuation of FIVEaa’s enduring 32 year relationship with the AFL and demonstrates the evolution of the partnership by giving listeners access to commentary across NOVA’s broadcast and digital platforms. In addition, we are excited to broadcast live the Adelaide and Port Adelaide matches of the increasingly popular AFLW season. FIVEaa has a long history as the home of AFL in South Australia and a passion and dedication for the role the game plays in Adelaide’s culture.”

Craig Munn, Station Manager for FIVEaa said, “FIVEaa is thrilled that it will have the opportunity to continue its unsurpassed and long-standing position as the home of AFL football in Adelaide. This new and exciting audio partnership with the AFL will allow FIVEaa to demonstrate the passion, dedication and professionalism of our decorated and esteemed commentary team. Our ongoing commitment to listeners is to entertain, engage and lead the conversation for all things AFL in South Australia.”

 
Nov 10, 2013
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Hell no
does anyone know if this SENQ693am signal reached the gold coast/metricon?
i'd like to be able to listen to it at the ground on a small battery radio

online is useless due to the delay.
unless they do a stadium version i guess (how does that work, i see it on the SEN app sometimes)
 
Aug 13, 2014
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does anyone know if this SENQ693am signal reached the gold coast/metricon?
i'd like to be able to listen to it at the ground on a small battery radio

online is useless due to the delay.
unless they do a stadium version i guess (how does that work, i see it on the SEN app sometimes)
I'd imagine it'd be on SEN Gold Coast as well, radio might not be able to get 1620AM though.
 

JohnZ

Norm Smith Medallist
Mar 10, 2016
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Sounds like the AFL app will be SEN Stadium next year.

Our radio partners service millions of AFL and AFLW fans across the nation, and the addition of digital rights and zero latency Wi-Fi access will ensure they receive the best possible match experience on any platform of their choice.
 

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JohnZ

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takes it up to the same expiry date as the AFl broadcast extensions that start next year and end in 2024. They'll do a new radio deal in 2024 for the 7 year duration of the tv deal.
Plus a lot of media contracts will be tied to rights deals, generally radio won't know where talent will be until TV has been figured out first.
 
Aug 14, 2011
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The football radio ratings have thrown up a major surprise with Triple M taking an unexpected hit on Friday nights.
While the FM station has held its ground at No. 2 in the overall ratings behind powerhouse 3AW, its heavyweight Friday night team took an unexpected hit.

In a figure which would shock Triple M executives, the Friday night team registered 3.6 to finish behind 3AW (10.2), ABC (4.4) and SEN (4.4).

There was a correction back to normal programming on Saturday where Triple M rated 7.9 (3AW 10.5) in the afternoon and 7.4 (3AW 10.2) from 6pm to 11pm.

...... the Sunday 12pm-7pm timeslot the closest in the footy ratings with Triple M at 7.5, just behind 3AW on 7.8. There is then a dramatic drop-off to SEN (2.9) and ABC (2.8).

 
Aug 14, 2011
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SEN are putting a positive spin on their ratings:


The result has put SEN 1116am ahead of Nova 100 (4.2%) and KIIS 101.1FM (3.6%) for All People 10+ streaming.

SEN 1116am’s streaming results were particularly strong in the Breakfast session (Garry Lyon & Tim Watson, Tuesday to Thursday; Kane Cornes & Nathan Buckley on Monday and Kane Cornes & David King on Friday) with a 6.1% share, ahead of 101.9 Fox FM (4.7%), KIIS 101.1FM (2.5%), and Nova 100 (2.8%).
 

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