A bang for the ailing A-League as Channel Ten transforms how matches are broadcast and DROPS women’s soccer overall
- Channel 10 shows men’s A-League fixtures for the 2022/23 season on 10 Bold
- A-League Women’s Competition supporters require 10 Play and Paramount+
- Comes after Ten’s reported $200 million investment in the code over five years
- In contrast, this week AFL brokered a $4.5 billion deal with Foxtel and Channel 7
The ailing A-League was dealt a hammer blow after Channel 10 moved games to its secondary channel 10 Bold for the upcoming season.
And the network also confirmed that the A-League women’s competition – formerly known as the W-League – will not have free-to-air coverage.
Women’s games are only shown live and free on 10 Play and live on Paramount+.
It comes after last season’s dismal ratings in both competitions and Channel 10’s reported $200 million investment in the code over five years.
In better news for football fans, Channel 10 will be showing two men’s A-League games live every weekend on 10 Bold – an increase of 26 games from last season – and round one from 7 October.
The A-League was dealt a hammer blow after Channel 10 moved games for the upcoming men’s season to its secondary Channel 10 Bold (pictured Western United star Lachlan Wales in the grand final against Melbourne City in May).
The network also confirmed the A-League women’s competition – formerly known as the W-League – will not have free-to-air coverage (pictured, Melbourne Victory keeper Casey Dumont).
These games take place every Saturday night starting at 7:45pm (AEST) plus a permanent time slot on Sunday afternoon at 3:00pm.
The development stands in stark contrast to the AFL, which this week sold its TV rights to Foxtel and Channel Seven for a record Australian deal of $4.5 billion over seven years.
Australian Professional Leagues chief executive Danny Townsend appeared pleased with Channel 10’s announcement.
“This season’s schedule is designed to bring more football to more Australian homes,” he said.
“Football fans will know exactly where and when to watch A-League football week after week.”
The development stands in stark contrast to the AFL, which this week sold its TV rights to Foxtel and Channel Seven for a record Australian deal of $4.5 billion over seven years
The A-League men’s season begins on October 7th and runs through April 30th, with the finals series in May.
The competition will be suspended from November 13th to December 9th while the FIFA World Cup takes place in Qatar.
The fixtures for the A-League women’s competition will be announced in the coming days.
The season begins on November 18 with the 2023 Grand Final in late April next year.
