AFL secures four-year broadcast deal for its women’s competition

The AFL has secured a four-year broadcast deal believed to be worth $2.5 million for its women’s competition with all games to be broadcast during that period.

The AFL has secured a four-year TV deal believed to be worth $2.5 million for its women’s competition, with all games to be broadcast during that period.

Foxtel will show every AFLW game live from 2019 to 2022 while Channel 7 will show two games on a Saturday each round in 2019, as well as all non-Victorian club matches into local markets.

Head of AFLW Nicole Livingstone said the cost of broadcasting the games, believed to be between $60,000 and $100,000, will be covered by Foxtel and Channel 7 and the league will also be paid a fee.

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“There is a fee … but importantly for us as well, production costs are covered,” Livingstone said.

“A four-year-deal obviously offers the ability for us to guarantee broadcast, which is brilliant, but it’s also from a network point of view, they see the value in AFLW, they see the value in women’s sport.

“It’s not costing the AFL anything to broadcast AFLW.

The AFLW has announced its TV broadcast rights agreement. Picture: Mark Stewart

“I think it’s exciting. It’s exciting for AFLW, it’s also exciting for women’s sport to continue to grow.”

Both networks will broadcast all finals throughout the four-year deal.

The season was kept at seven home and away games in 2019 despite the inclusion of two new sides (North Melbourne and Geelong), but semi-finals have been added ahead of the grand final.

It’s unclear what the fixture will look like in the 14-team league in 2020, but Fox will continue to show every game.

In 2020 Seven has committed to showing three games per round.

“We obviously need to figure out what is best for the competition with 14 teams coming in and trying to make sure that we continue to give AFLW an ability to draw audiences and attendances with a very crowded sports scapes,” Livingstone said.

Entry to AFLW games will remain free for next season.

“For us, in year three, we want to make sure it’s completely accessible to anybody that wants to come and watch AFLW and that there’s not a price point or family budget that’s stopping them coming along,” Livingstone said.

The AFLW season kicks on Saturday, February 2 when Geelong host Collingwood at GMHBA Stadium from 6.40pm.

Originally published as AFL secures four-year broadcast deal for its women’s competition