The A-League may be on the lookout for a new broadcast partner.Credit:Getty Images
Foxtel declined to comment on its decision,which comes as the A-League remains suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic,however FFA and A-League sources suggest this could be the beginning of the end for Australian football and Foxtel.
To many in the game,that is of little surprise. The financially embattled Foxtel has sought to offload"non-core"sports to save money since posting major losses for the 2018-19 financial year and,just last week,slashed more than 200 jobs. Fox Sports has significantly scaled back its football department and FFA and A-League clubs didn't wait for the pin to be pulled on the TV deal,worth $57 million a year,before preparing their search for a new broadcast partner for next season.
While a new free-to-air TV partner or digital platforms could provide renewed interest in the game,any possible departure of Fox Sports will put a massive hole in the immediate budgets of the clubs and FFA for next season. Already,several clubs have privately floated the idea of cutting the A-League salary cap by 40 per cent due to lost revenue caused by the suspension of this season.
Foxtel and FFA declined to comment on the future of the broadcast deal when contacted by theHerald on Thursday. According to senior A-League sources,FFA and Foxtel are set to meet in the coming days to try and resolve the stand-off.
However,it appears FFA is already gearing up for a possible legal stoush,having sought advice from prominent barristerBret Walker SC,who recently worked on the appeal of George Pell and will oversee the special commission of inquiry into the Ruby Princess cruise ship saga.
Sources with detailed knowledge of the broadcast deal suggest Fox Sports withholding the April quarterly payment is a breach of the contract,while FFA must complete the A-League season by July 1 in order to meet its obligations. Failure to do that could provide Fox Sports with the opportunity to walk away from the final three years of the deal.
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