Football Australia agrees new multi-platform media rights deal with Paramount

August 28, 2024

Football Australia has announced a broadcast rights extension for its national teams with Paramount, which will include all games featuring the Matildas and the Socceroos through to 2028.

The multi-platform deal with Paramount Australia (parent company of Network 10 and Paramount+) includes all Matildas and Socceroos in Australia, including the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 being hosted in Australia and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027.

The agreement, which was negotiated with IMG, marks the first time Australian national team rights have been sold as part of a bundle with both the AFC competition rights and the Women’s World Cup. Football Australia bought the AFC rights and the Women’s World Cup rights and on-sold them to Paramount, to help boost the value of its own package.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Paramount was said to be unchallenged in bidding for the package, with Football Australia prioritising selling the rights to a single party. The broadcaster also owns the rights to the A-Leagues, with two seasons left to run on the current deal.

Announcing the deal, Football Australia Chief Executive, James Johnson stated “this landmark agreement with Paramount Australia is a pivotal moment for Australian football. It brings unprecedented exposure to our national teams and provides fans with unparalleled access to the CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos.

“Reacquiring the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) National Team rights and securing the broadcast rights to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 are strategic moves designed to maximise control over our content, enhance fan accessibility and unlock new revenue streams.

“These rights are integral to our strategy to secure a transformative broadcast deal that we anticipate will set new benchmarks in the valuation of football media rights in Australia. Bringing as much national team content as possible to a multi-platform partner was a key objective from a fan’s perspective, and we are thrilled to achieve this.”

Beverley McGarvey, President of Network 10 and Paramount Australia’s Head of Streaming and Regional Lead, added “never before have fans had such incredible access to the sport they love, ranging from the A-Leagues all the way through to premium international games broadcast on the one free-to-air network and on one of Australia’s fastest growing streaming platforms.”

All Matildas World Cup games and any World Cup qualifiers played in Australia will have to be shown on free to air channel Network 10, as per the Federal Government’s anti-siphoning list.

Image: Football Australia's James Johnson and Network 10's Beverley McGarvey agree the new broadcast deal.

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