Football returns to free-to-air TV on SBS

SBS has secured the exclusive free-to-air TV rights for the Hyundai A-League in a four year broadcasting deal with Football Federation Australia (FFA). SBS will also broadcast the Qantas Socceroos FIFA World Cup Qualifiers effective immediately.

The agreement sees SBS become the official free-to-air broadcast partner of the FFA. SBS’s coverage of the Hyundai A-League will commence from the 2013-14 season and will be the first time the A-League is broadcast on free-to-air TV since the competition’s inception.

Under the agreement, SBS has the rights to: One LIVE Hyundai A-League match per week on a Friday night; All Hyundai A-League Finals Series matches on a one hour delay; The Hyundai A-League Grand Final on a one hour delay; A weekly highlights show; Online and mobile rights including simultaneous streaming and highlights; and Radio rights.

SBS will broadcast the Qantas Socceroos FIFA World Cup Qualifiers on a one hour delay.

SBS Head of Sport Ken Shipp said: “SBS is the spiritual home of football in Australia and our passion, dedication and football expertise is unrivalled. We are excited to continue to grow the game in Australia through this new partnership and deliver the high standard of coverage for which SBS is known across all our platforms, including on-air, online and mobile devices.”

SBS will broadcast the next Qantas Socceroos FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Oman in Sydney from 8:00pm Tuesday 26 March 2013 on SBS ONE.