The A-League and W-League will be shown on Channel 10 and Paramount+ after signing a five-year broadcast deal with ViacomCBS.
Key points:
- The new broadcast deal is the first major announcement since the APL and its member clubs took control in 2020
- Channel 10’s parent company Viacom CBS says further broadcast and commentary team details will be announced soon
- Under the existing deal, games are shown on Fox Sports and ABC TV
The deal means one match per week in each league will be shown live on Channel 10, with the remaining fixtures available on the streaming service Paramount+, which will launch in Australia on August 11.
The A-League match will be shown on 10’s main channel, with the W-League game broadcast on 10 Bold on Sundays. All free-to-air games will also be simulcast on 10 Play.
In a statement, Viacom CBS said football would be a ‘cornerstone’ of the expansion of its presence in Australia, and that it had acquired a small stake in the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) as part of the deal.
The APL’s member clubs took control of the A-League, W-League, Y-League (youth) and e-League (esports) in December last year.
“We are proud to be making the W-League available to all Australians for the first time on commercial free-to-air television,” said Jarrod Villani, chief operating and commercial officer and executive vice-president of Viacom CBS Australia and New Zealand.
APL Chairman Paul Lederer said: “This agreement with one of the world’s biggest content providers, is exactly the kind of significant and vital milestone we have always believed was possible — and that we intend to continue achieving.”
Under the current arrangement, games are shown on Fox Sports and ABC TV.
“Fox Sports has been a great friend of football since the beginning and we’re incredibly grateful for their support and investment over the past 16 years,” Lederer said.
“We thank Patrick Delany and his team for everything they have done for us and for their commitment to help partner us through this transition.”
In a statement, the Director of ABC Regional and Local, Judith Whelan said: “We’re disappointed the ABC will no longer broadcast W-League and A-League on ABC TV, however, we wish the APL and their new media partners all the best.”
