Daily Australian News 2012

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Football Federation Australia holds breath over TV rights deal

by: Ray Gatt
From: The Australian
August 29, 2012 12:00AM

FOOTBALL Federation Australia and Fox Sports have moved a step closer to finalising the long- awaited television rights deal for Australian soccer following a further round of intense negotiations yesterday morning.

The Australian understands FFA and Fox Sports met in Sydney and an announcement could come as early as next week as the code continues to nervously hold its breath for the final outcome of what is widely regarded as the most crucial deal in Australian soccer history.

Exactly a week after the Australian Rugby League Commission sealed a $1.025 billion deal for the sport, FFA and Fox Sports executives were yesterday tight-lipped and would not confirm or deny a meeting had taken place.

An FFA spokesman issued a statement later which read: "Talks are continuing with subscription and free-to-air broadcasters about the rights to international and domestic football. The talks are at an advanced stage and FFA anticipates a positive outcome for the game."

It is no secret the game's head body is holding out for a $200 million financial windfall over five years for the pay-TV and free-to-air rights - a considerable rise on the $125m, seven-year deal with Fox that ends next year.

The concern, however, is that there might not be enough money left in the bank after last year's billion-dollar AFL deal and the recent rugby league contract.

Further complicating the issue was yesterday's announcement that Fox Sports has signed a deal, along with the Nine Network, for the rights to cover the International Cricket Council's major tournaments - the World Twenty-20, the one-day 50-over World Cup, the Women's World Cup and the under 19s World Cup - until 2015.

The local Big Bash 20-20 cricket competition, which is shown exclusively on Fox Sports, is also attracting huge interest for its television rights and is seen as a serious competitor to the A-League, although it is played over a much shorter period.

Also at issue for FFA is the free-to-air component of its new deal.

The Australian has been told that one-time front-runner Channel Ten has not been back to the negotiation table for "quite some time" and that SBS, which used to be the home of Australian soccer, was now in the box seat.

Former television sport guru David Salter believes Ten, which lost out on the rugby league rights, "would be unlikely to buy their way into an A-League deal".

"The viewer numbers on Fox weren't spectacular in FTA terms, while the coverage costs around the country are substantial," Salter said.

"But if the best game of the round was already being covered for Fox Sports, TEN might run it late night just so FFA could tell their sponsors they were on network television. But I doubt much cash, if any, would be involved."

Salter, a former head of sport at the ABC and the Seven Network, cast doubt on the code's ability to get the $35m-$40m five-year deal.

"Soccer makes more sense as a pay-TV proposition, where it fills up hundreds of hours of airtime, but I suspect the money they are hoping to get is out of the question in the current climate," he said.

"Sport is certainly the main driver of subscriptions, but the penetration of pay in Australia now seems to have levelled off at just under 20 per cent of households.

"League and AFL underpin that level and I doubt there's any convincing data to show that the A-League coverage has made much of a contribution to subscription rates.

"But you'd have to ask Foxtel about that."

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spor...-1226460244401

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Might not be long to go now till its all settled, hopefully FFA get exactly what they are looking for.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league...829-2506o.html

Cockerills best ever article.

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Western Sydney Wanderers coach Tony Popovic directs traffic at training. Photo: Wolter Peeters
Western Sydney Wanderers fingered as Sydney United in disguise? You have to be kidding. Sadly, people who should know better, among them former Socceroo Ray Richards, seem all too ready to peddle the myth.

Normally it wouldn't matter too much. This, after all, is a game built on conspiracy theories. And there have been no more enduring conspiracy theories than those mired in Balkan politics. For more than three decades, this has been the hotspot for the game.

So here's the rub. The Wanderers are taking their first tentative steps as the A-League's newest team. Their selling point is to become the sum of the parts of the entire Western Sydney region. That includes all sides of the Balkan divide. Being put only in the Croatian corner isn't just wrong, it hurts. Hurts the Wanderers, hurts the A-League. Those pushing that barrow need to take a long, hard, look in the mirror. In this case, the idle gossip is doing far more damage than it's worth.

So what's brought it about? The coaching appointments, fundamentally. Head coach Tony Popovic and his assistant, brother-in-law Ante Milicic, played for Sydney United, and have Croatian heritage. Does it matter they were born here, and played for the Socceroos? It does, and it should. The same goes for goalkeeper Ante Covic – another fall guy for the Chinese whisperers.

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True enough, the first two imports signed by the Wanderers (Dino Kresinger and Mateo Poljak) came from Croatia. So what? Does the fact that John van't Schip once signed Rutger Worm make Melbourne Heart a Dutch club? Was Rini Coolen guilty of the same charge because he signed Andy Slory for Adelaide United? Are Perth Glory a Scottish club because Ian Ferguson signed countryman Steve McGarry? What about Sydney FC, when former Czech coach Vitezslav Lavicka signed Karol Kisel not once, but on two occasions? Popovic went to Croatia for his first two foreigners because he knows the league, and the players were available at the right price. His judgment should stand or fall on their performance, not their passport.

Sadly, just as the steam was going out of the rumour mill, the Wanderers turned up to play at Sydney United, and there was trouble. Not the level of trouble portrayed by the usual couple of media outlets, but enough to put some heat back into the discussion. Starting off the back foot, Wanderers boss Lyall Gorman has since been telling everyone that by the time his operation is bedded down, there will be just five employees from about 80 who have a Croatian background. It's a telling fact, but the hard part is to get people to listen.

Why all this matters is because sooner rather than later, the game needs to leave this baggage behind. There was a time when nationalists used clubs like Sydney United, like Footscray, like Preston, like Sydney Olympic, as a forum for their grievances. It is a part of the game's history, and can't, and shouldn't, be whitewashed. But where it counts – on the ground in the old Yugoslavia – things have moved on.

Just recently, I was in Montenegro. Every second car had a Croatian number plate. The owner of my hotel in Kotor, a Serb, crosses the border to have lunch in Dubrovnik at least once a week. You can have adult conversations about culture, religion and politics, and nobody pulls a knife, or a gun. You can even talk about the war if you want to, but everyone would rather leave that at the door. I've also been to Slovenia, and to Croatia, and I've seen this level of maturity evolve as the conflict becomes more distant. And yet in a corner of south-western Sydney, there are still some morons – and I only use that term because this is a family newspaper – who prefer to hold a grudge, and ambush football matches to make their point.

That is manna from heaven for hair-trigger police and flash-happy photographers, as we've seen, once again. True enough, Sydney United should have got rid of their hooligan fringe a long time ago. That apathy has come at an enormous cost. And it is a sad fact that even in the NSW Premier League, games between Sydney United and Serbian-backed Bonnyrigg White Eagles still have to be held behind closed doors. Not that long ago, Mark Rudan, a former Sydney United player, was abused by supporters when he ventured to Bonnyrigg as coach of the visiting team. It wasn't Sydney United, but Rockdale City. Some people just don't want to let go.

Eventually they will, given time, and space. Which is why resurrecting old prejudices by pointing the finger at the Wanderers needs to stop. The club doesn't need it, or deserve it. In the meantime, I'll give the final word to Alex Kennedy, who sent me this email in the wake of the so-called "riot" at Edensor Park. It makes more sense than I ever could.

"Dear Michael,

I read with great interest your article on Sydney United mainly because I have had the honour to be associated over the last year with many of the real members of this club. Prior to this year I have been pretty much a rugby union supporter and had not taken much interest in the round ball game...there is a good deal of very talented, well-behaved young men coming through the ranks of Sydney soccer and in particular Sydney United. The players from under 13 and up clearly demonstrate high respect for their coaches, managers, the patrons and the club itself. Therefore it is such a shame to see the ill disciplined, non-membered rabble attend games for the sole purpose of creating upset. The behaviour of the rabble is so divorced from that of the true membership. I have come to know many of the Croatian and other nationality members of this club and can attest to their wonderful character and behaviour. Many residents of greater Sydney could learn a lot from them. Every code has or has had this problem so the soccer officials could learn from the experiences of the other codes. The ball is now at the feet of the clubs and the association to fix this problem, so I wish them the very best to ensure the world game is as appreciated in Australia as it is in the rest of the world."

Hear, hear

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Anyone read Slater pile of shit on the weekend?
Cockerills has effectively told Robbie to STFU with this piece.

I'm Cockerills biggest hater, but this piece is spot on in so may ways.

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Originally Posted by Pico

SFC bringing back the bling?

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He will eat the A League up and spit it out.

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Originally Posted by Pico

Might not be long to go now till its all settled, hopefully FFA get exactly what they are looking for.

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It's interesting. I think that the deal from all reports will be between $40-60million a year for the A-league rights (which is huge considering that they were throw ins for the the socceroos ($17mill/year) 7 Years ago.)

The closer to the $60million we get the easier the future will be. where $40million will mean stability but probably at the expense of growth.

What gets me is the figures bandied around for NRL.
1 billion for 5 seasons..... Audience about 5 million
EPL
5 billion for 3 seasons.... Audience about 640million.


Channel 9 are going to go broke.

Fair point, although keep in mind that the $5 billion figure for the EPL is only for the domestic rights, so only an audience that is some fraction of the UK population of 60 million.

I think the international broadcasting rights were over $2 billion for 3 years, but those are pretty transient figures, and some people expected them to match or even better the domestic rights by 2013. I'm skeptical about the 640 million figure, that might be the number who have access, but I highly doubt it would be the size of the regular audience.


Throw in something like the NFL as well, the next deal for 8 years is worth a combined $40 billion, $5 billion per year. Not too bad comparing the NRL $0.2 billion per year.

cockerill's article is a disgrace

most of these bans are a disgrace

if it was happening at our club there would be an uproar and rightly so

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Originally Posted by militiamon

Fair point, although keep in mind that the $5 billion figure for the EPL is only for the domestic rights, so only an audience that is some fraction of the UK population of 60 million.

I think the international broadcasting rights were over $2 billion for 3 years, but those are pretty transient figures, and some people expected them to match or even better the domestic rights by 2013. I'm skeptical about the 640 million figure, that might be the number who have access, but I highly doubt it would be the size of the regular audience.


Throw in something like the NFL as well, the next deal for 8 years is worth a combined $40 billion, $5 billion per year. Not too bad comparing the NRL $0.2 billion per year.

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Spot on, those sort of figures are a bit like those bandied about with the Olympics and World Cup - "2 billion viewers" or "half the world's population" etc. So basically a random figure, greater than the previous 'event', plucked from the air.

Kennedy out, Wheelhouse in doubt for Jets game

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Attachment 98

JETS leading goalkeeper Ben Kennedy will not make the journey north to Tamworth this afternoon and captain Job Wheelhouse is in doubt after they both missed this morning’s training session at Ray Watt Oval.
Newcastle play two-time A-League champions Brisbane Roar at Tamworth’s Scully Park on Saturday night in the inaugural Northern Inland Football A-League Challenge.
The trial is expected be the Jets’ toughest assignment of the pre-season so far.
Kennedy developed swelling in his right knee following Monday’s training session and will have the fluid drained in a bid to have him fit for the Jets next trial against Sydney FC at Leichhardt Oval on September 9.
The injury to the Thornton junior will give new gloveman Mark Birighitti another chance to impress coach Gary van Egmond in the battle to be the Jets starting goalkeeper in their A-League opener on October 7 against Adelaide United at Hunter Stadium.
Wheelhouse is suffering from pain in his big toe and skipped training as a precaution.
The midfield general will travel to Tamworth and a decision will be made later on his fitness.
Defender Joshua Brillante will also miss the trip to the country music capital to recover from a hip flexor injury that ruled him out of the Young Socceroos tour to Vietnam.

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/28...s-game/?cs=303

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Originally Posted by q-money

cockerill's article is a disgrace

most of these bans are a disgrace

if it was happening at our club there would be an uproar and rightly so

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On a lighter note
Didn't you just have lunch in split?

Cockerill took a redundancy yesterday.

confirmed - http://www.crikey.com.au/2012/08/14/...-the-building/

who's going to push his agenda now?

Sydney have signed Del Piero.
http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/24967...del-piero.aspx

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Originally Posted by 442

Sydney Sign Del Piero

By Staff Writer
Aug 31 2012 19:44
Get more on: delpiero | juventus | sydney | aleague
SYDNEY FC have snared Italian football legend Alessandro Del Piero who has agreed to finalise details on a contract with the Sky Blues after rejecting all other offers.

Sydney FC Chief Executive Officer Tony Pignata will fly to Italy over the weekend to conclude the signing of the contract in what is the biggest signing in Australian sports history.

“This is huge for Sydney FC, huge for the A-League and huge for Australian football,” said chairman Scott Barlow.

“We feel honoured that Alessandro has decided to play for Sydney FC and we share his excitement that a move to Sydney FC will create a lasting legacy for football in this country.

“I want to thank Tony Pignata and Lou Sticca for the outstanding work over the last few days in progressing discussions with Alessandro and look forward to Tony finalising the contract in Italy over the coming days.”

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Wonder where we are at with a new signing ?.

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Originally Posted by sammydog

Sydney have signed Del Piero.
http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/24967...del-piero.aspx

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He hasn't signed yet!

This should help the TV deal.

This is now becoming open warfare between HSG and the Herald....how bad this is we don't really know. The Herald is sinking with Fairfax so maybe it wants to go with a bang !

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Doctors chase Knights and Jets over debts

JUST a year ago, Nathan Tinkler was flying high after his stunning coup to save the financially embattled Newcastle Knights and Jets.
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It catapulted the self-made mining magnate and racing tycoon to hero status in the Hunter.

But now the region’s flagship sporting clubs are embroiled in a debt dispute with creditors chasing outstanding bills, some almost a year old. Medical providers, tasked with keeping the players on the pitch, have joined a growing list of businesses chasing money from Tinkler’s Hunter-based companies.

Fed up, businesses came to the Newcastle Herald, some to say they had to employ debt collectors to try to extract money from the Knights and Jets for unpaid bills.

One medical provider has refused to see players without payment up front, and another began billing players direct, due to continued difficulty getting payment from the clubs.

Phone calls, emails and letters to the clubs and Hunter Sports Group requesting payment for outstanding medical bills are regularly ignored.

“We don’t have these kinds of problem with other patients. It’s absolutely unbelievable,” a doctor said.

Other team suppliers and contractors joined the list of debtors, with several saying they had not been paid for at least six months.

Mr Tinkler’s Sydney-based public relations spokesman declined to answer questions the Herald submitted yesterday, instead providing a statement from Hunter Sports Group chief executive Troy Palmer (see below for the full statement).

More than 60 business owners from Scone to Queensland have spoken to the Herald in the past three weeks detailing difficulty getting paid for work, goods or services supplied to Tinkler-backed companies including Bolkm, Buildev, Patinack Farm and Hunter Sports Group.

Debts range from a few hundred dollars to almost $200,000.

Many have declined to be named because they fear never being paid, and the medical providers expressed concern about players’ privacy.

Following the Herald’s interest in the issue, some creditors have received payment in full and others in part.

One Hunter Sports Group supplier said it had received advice from its accountant to stop work if payment was not received in the next week.

“We are basically working for free at the moment,’’ the business owner said. ‘‘It’s been going on for months and we just can’t keep doing it.

“When Con [Constantine] had the Jets it was bad enough trying to get payment, but at least he tried to pay his bills. It’s worse just simply being ignored by them now.”

Others said they had sent final letters of demand to the Knights for outstanding bills, but received no response.

Some have been successful in using the threat of withholding crucial services to force the clubs to pay, but said subsequent bills were ignored.

“We thought when Tinkler took over the clubs there would be no problems but the situation is out of hand,” a supplier said.

“The debt is affecting our ability to pay our creditors and it’s climbing all the time.”

In an open letter to Knights fans published in the Herald last year, Tinkler wrote: “We have listened to previous concerns, and now we can provide a full decade of financial security. This will be underpinned by a sustainable financial and business model.

‘‘Additional working capital will be provided if required.’’

The Herald reported earlier this month that Hunter Sports Group is locked in a dispute with the state government over debts at Hunter Stadium.

The debts, which neither side will reveal, have been a sticking point in the drawn-out negotiations for a new 10-year access agreement for the venue.

It is understood that up to $30,000 in outstanding strata fees is owed by Tinkler’s company Boardwalk Investments for offices at The Boardwalk, Honeysuckle.

Lake Group Strata office manager Brad Gribble said due to privacy restrictions he was unable to comment on the matter.

Residents told the Herald a meeting was scheduled for September 10 to discuss possible legal action.

A spokesman for Newcastle businessman Stephen Forgacs confirmed this week he was locked in a legal battle with a Tinkler-linked company over the possible sale of Mr Forgacs’s heliport site at Steel River.

HSG says it has no cash-flow problems

By Troy Palmer, CEO of the Hunter Sports Group

I CAN assure you there are no cash-flow concerns at HSG. All suppliers are being paid, will continue to be paid and will always be paid.

It is disappointing that the Herald continues to drive this smear campaign against Nathan all because the Knights and the Jets have introduced a professional media policy which does not allow the Herald to run the agendas of both clubs.

This policy was requested by the players as they have no trust in the integrity of the journalists at the Newcastle Herald.

We are constantly reviewing our budgets, just as other organisations, particularly the Herald and its parent Fairfax [Media], are doing at the moment – but not as dramatically. Nathan Tinkler and HSG employs over 500 people, with most of them living in the Hunter Region. A huge benefit to the local community.

It was Nathan Tinkler and his HSG that saved the Jets when the FFA was going to pull the licence from Newcastle. It was Nathan and HSG who saved the Knights when the ATO and other creditors were going to wind up the Knights. In saving the town’s two main sporting teams he has so far spent in excess of $20million.

Newcastle Herald statement

By Chad Watson, Editor

THE Newcastle Herald stands by the integrity of its award-winning team of journalists.
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This newspaper has a long and proven record of championing the interests and issues of the Hunter and its communities.

We stand up for our region and our readers, providing a voice for their concerns.

The Herald has been a proud supporter of the Newcastle Knights and Jets since their inception, celebrating their successes and lamenting their losses.

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:popcorn:

This should be interesting. If it was introduced by the players, you can't blame them after the AIS incident. I'm surprised Palmer has actually called it a smear campaign, would have thought they would have tried to be a little bit more diplomatic. And for Chad's response, standard really. Would have been better though if it didn't say "see your ad here" in the middle of it :gent:

Either way :popcorn:

Award winning journalists? Does that mean they have won the Newcastle/Hunter region award over the might of the Star, Post and Mercury publications?

I noticed the article online doesn't allow comments.


Edit- it now does!