Asa Announces Partnership With Sbs

In a major coup for Australian Soccer fans and SBS TV, the Australian Soccer Association today announced its partnership with the network by awarding it the LIVE & EXCLUSIVE, FREE-TO-AIR Broadcast Rights to the Australian National Team’s matches, reinforcing SBS’ status as the country’s soccer network.

In a major coup for Australian Soccer fans and SBS TV, the Australian Soccer Association today announced its partnership with the network by awarding it the LIVE & EXCLUSIVE, FREE-TO-AIR Broadcast Rights to the Australian National Team-s matches, reinforcing SBS- status as the country-s soccer network. network. This agreement is until 31 December 2006.   The agreement signed, for an undisclosed figure, provides SBS with the LIVE & EXCLUSIVE FREE-TO-AIR broadcast rights for all ASA International games featuring the Socceroos, played in Australia and overseas, the first of which is scheduled for Wednesday 17 November AEDST.   “As Official Broadcaster of both the FIFA Confederations Cup Germany 2005, in which Australia will contest countries such as Tunisia, Argentina and Germany, and the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006, it was obvious to partner the National Team. A partnership that complements our commitment to soccer and its awareness and exposure in this country,” said Shaun Brown, Head of SBS TV.   “We have been committed to forming a genuine and effective partnership with the Australian Soccer Association, especially due to the determination and professionalism in the leadership of the ASA demonstrated by its Chairman, Mr Frank Lowy AC and CEO, Mr John O-Neill AO. This is an exciting new era for Australian Soccer and we are bound by our shared objectives of ensuring the Socceroos are given the status, recognition and support they deserve, during their all important Road to Germany culminating in the a successful 2006 FIFA World Cup. World Cup campaign,” continued Mr Brown.   Mr O-Neill said that the broadcast deal would allow all Australian-s to get behind their international football team.   “We are delighted with the broadcast arrangement which will ensure all of the Socceroos matches between now and the 2006 FIFA World Cup will be shown live right around Australia on SBS,” said Mr O-Neill.   “SBS have shown a tremendous commitment to the sport in this country and with a consistent free-to-air broadcast partner for the Socceroos all Australians can now get right behind the team wherever they may play on the Road to Germany.”

With the full calendar still to be confirmed, the Australian Soccer Association and SBS could divulge, however, that the first International would take place as soon as Wednesday 17 November AEDST when the Socceroos face Norway in London. This will be followed by the first of seven7 games in 2005 when Australia takes on South Africa in Durban on 9 February 2005.

SBS- LIVE coverage on Wednesday 17 November will commence at 7:20am with a full replay scheduled at 10:00pm. Its on-air presentation team will be led by non-other than “Mr Soccer” himself, Les Murray, with commentary from experts and “The World Game” regulars including: Andrew Orsatti, Simon Hill and Craig Foster.