Football Australia announces new four-year broadcast deal reportedly worth double of last contract

Football Australia has officially locked in a new four-year broadcast deal understood to be worth twice as much as the last one.

Football Australia has officially locked in a new four-year broadcast deal with Paramount Australia with all Matildas and Socceroos matches, bar the men’s World Cup, to be shown on Network 10 or the subscription streaming platform.

The deal doesn’t come as a surprise with discussions between the two parties ongoing for months.

While Football Australia didn’t reveal the final value of the “landmark” deal it is understood to be worth $200 million, double their previous contract.

It follows the huge success of the Matildas at the FIFA Women’s World Cup where TV ratings set a new standard for women’s sport.

Under the deal more than 100 international fixtures featuring either the men’s or women’s national teams will be beamed into homes around Australia.

Every Matildas match for the next four years will be on Network 10 or Paramount. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

At least 50 games will be on free-to-air with the remainder available via the paid-for streaming platform.

Paramount have also won the rights to broadcast the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup – meaning the only matches the broadcaster won’t be able to show until 2028 will be the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

It is the first time there has been an encompassing broadcast deal.

Football Australia CEO James Johnson described the deal as a “pivotal moment” for Australian football.

“It brings unprecedented exposure to our national teams and provides fans with unparalleled access to the CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos,” Johnson said.

“Innovation is the cornerstone of our approach to sustaining and expanding the influence of Australian football.

“Reacquiring the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) National Team rights and securing the broadcast rights to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 are strategic moves designed to maximise control over our content, enhance fan accessibility and unlock new revenue streams.

“These rights are integral to our strategy to secure a transformative broadcast deal that we anticipate will set new benchmarks in the valuation of football media rights in Australia. “Bringing as much national team content as possible to a multi-platform partner was a key objective from a fan’s perspective, and we are thrilled to achieve this.”

Football Australia CEO James Johnson. Picture: William West/AFP

Network 10 president and head of Paramount Australia’s streaming and regional lead Beverley McGarvey said it gave fans a new level of access with the network also having the rights to the A-Leagues’ men’s and women’s competitions.

“Never before have fans had such incredible access to the sport they love, ranging from the A-Leagues all the way through to premium international games broadcast on the one free-to-air network and on one of Australia’s fastest growing streaming platforms,” McGarvey said.

“Perhaps one of the most exciting aspects of the Paramount Australia agreement, which we see as an exciting extension of our coverage of the A-Leagues, is the opportunity for women’s football.

“All Matildas’ games at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 will be telecast by Network 10 on free-to-air television as will all Matildas’ games in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026.”

The A-Leagues’ broadcast deal has come under fire many times, most recently when the Australian Professional League was forced to drastically reduce funds to clubs due to the deal not bringing in the expected $40 million a year.

The APL and Paramount are yet to reveal the fixtures for the upcoming women’s A-Leagues season or how many of those games, if any, will be available on free-to-air.

Originally published as Football Australia announces new four-year broadcast deal reportedly worth double of last contract