A-League scrambling for solutions as broadcast partner goes into administration on cusp of finals

A-League organisers are in the midst of crisis talks with the administrators of the now folded production company that was responsible for producing its TV broadcast.

Joe Lolley of Sydney FC. Picture: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images

Administrators of Global Advance are in crisis talks with the A-Leagues organisers after the production company folded - leaving the league weeks out from finals with no camera crew.

It is just another major hiccup for the Australia Professional League who have just this year been forced to make half of its own workforce redundant, shut down its digital arm and prop up struggling football clubs to keep the competition afloat.

A spokesman for the APL said news of Global Advance going into administration took them by surprise.

“We were made aware today (Wednesday) that Global Advance (GA), the independent production company that produces the telecast for our women’s and men’s matches, has gone into administration,” the APL said in a statement sent out late on Wednesday night.

“We are disappointed in the manner in which this has come to our attention, and the risk this has placed on our fan, player, club, broadcast and commercial commitments. We have been let down, and will be working with the administrators to recoup monies owing to APL.”

Global Advance handles the production of all the men’s and women’s A-League games which are broadcast on Ten-Paramount.

As part of the broadcast contract with Ten-Paramount the APL are responsible for the production of the matches.

Global Advance have gone into administration as we near the pointy end of the A-League season. Picture: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

APL outsourced this to Global Advance, a company that launched in July 2020 and is propped up by its deal with the APL.

While it is understood Ten-Paramount was the only option for the broadcast deal following the league’s split with Football Australia in late 2020 - an insider told Code Sports there were other options for the production - including NEP, the company APL has signed a last minute deal with to produce the remainder of the games this season and the finals series.

CODE Sports understands the APL opted to go with Global Advance despite the fact they were a start-up as it was a cheaper option.

While the board would have signed off on the deal, the people who brokered it such as former CEO Danny Townsend are no longer with the APL.

An insider said the relationship between Global Advance and the APL was rocky at first. They went through three heads of broadcast in the first season.

But the insider said those early kinks were ironed out and the two companies had been working well together.

The APL has refused to reveal the costs of producing the A-Leagues - but it was reported it cost former broadcast rights holder Fox Sport $15 million a year prior to the women’s competition being expanded to 22 games and new teams joining the men’s league.

Men’s games are given a much higher quality broadcast than then women’s - with multiple cameras and the ability for a video referee to be used.

While women’s matches are often filmed with just one camera on the sideline.

It is terrible timing for the APL with the finals series for both leagues fast approaching and a deal with a new Canberra team pending.

Women’s matches have not received the same quality of production as men’s in the A-League. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

An APL spokesman confirmed that all matches would be broadcast as planned this weekend - including tonight’s blockbuster women’s match between Central Coast Mariners and Western United.

“Through a lot of hard work by a new production company, Ten-Paramount, and our team, we are close to finalising an agreement and are confident all matches will be broadcast, starting (Thursday),” the spokesman said.

“There are many challenges that such a short timeframe presents, but we are working through this urgently with all of our stakeholders, and we thank the production company for their cooperation, flexibility and expertise at such short notice.

“Finally, we want to acknowledge all of the great staff at GA, along with their suppliers, that have been impacted by this. They have played a big role in bringing A-Leagues football to screens over the past few years and we are thinking of them through this tough time.”

A statement issued by Global Advance administrators Said Jahani and Philip Campbell-Wilson of Grant Thornton Australia said they were in crisis talks with the APL.

“We are undertaking an urgent assessment of the Companies which currently provide television production and playout support to the Australian Professional Leagues (APL), including both men’s and women’s A-League games, which is then distributed via Channel 10 and Paramount broadcast and streaming services,” Jahani, National Managing Partner – Financial Advisory at Grant Thornton said.

“We have immediately commenced a dialogue with the Australian Professional Leagues at the most senior levels to determine whether television coverage for all A-League men’s and women’s games this weekend can continue to be provided.

“At this stage, it remains uncertain as to whether this will be possible and will depend on the outcome of negotiations between the relevant stakeholders.”

The administrator said it was not in a position to provide details on how much was owed or the impact on suppliers, customers and its workforce until all discussions were completed.

Originally published as A-League scrambling for solutions as broadcast partner goes into administration on cusp of finals