Aussie Rules Football Returning To ESPN
Deal will televise matches through 2011
By Alex Weprin -- Broadcasting & Cable, 8/6/2009 11:31:01 AM
Australian Rules Football, which helped ESPN grow during the 1980's before it had the money or muscle to acquire basketball, baseball or football, is returning to the network.ESPN and the Australian Football League have inked a deal to televise the matches through 2011, including the Toyota AFL Grand Final, in the U.S. and Canada.
In the U.S., the matches will be available on ESPN360.com, the company's digital platform, with select matches-including the AFL Grand Final- being televised on ESPN2.
The last Australian Football League event to air live on ESPN was the 1997 Grand Final.
"AFL presents a great opportunity for us as a company and is in line with our commitment to covering the world sports scene through our media platforms," said Tim Bunnell, senior vice president of programming, ESPN International. "The AFL and ESPN have a long relationship, stretching back to the early years of our company. We look forward to bringing the excitement and passion of Australian football back to fans in North America."
The deal kicks in immediately, with the first game available live to ESPN subscribers Friday August 7. The 2009 Grand Final will be televised live on ESPN2 September 26 from the Melbourne Cricket ground.
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The sparse 2010 coverage does not do justice to this tremendous sport! More TV coverage creates fans who in turn become loyal viewers. Please consider expanding to full season coverage!Myself and most viewers would be willing to pay for a package fee for the once a week telecast throughout the season.
Thank you
Don Luckham - 2/3/2011 6:48:13 PM EST -
Apparently I can't question the service in this forum because TSN has set up some common terms that will automatically be rejected
Pete Smith - 8/25/2009 1:45:01 PM EDT -
GO LIONS !!!! can't wait to see games
CLIFF - 8/10/2009 3:49:26 PM EDT -
Full schedule details are on afana.com including matches, frequency, etc. See the front page story and the TV Info and TV schedules pages.
Also, one factual correction: ESPN did air any matches live in 1997. The only match scheduled to be live that year was the Grand Final, but it was delayed 90 minutes for a baseball game that ended late and no bearing on the pennant race. The last live coverage was in the early 1980's.
Rob de Santos - 8/7/2009 2:21:27 PM EDT -
So when is the FIRST game on ESPN2?
Amnesia - 8/6/2009 4:11:52 PM EDT
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