Football Australia and Free TV Australia have announced an extension of their partnership, promising to deliver more football matches across the Pacific through PacificAus TV. This move is set to enhance the profile of Australian football in international markets while strengthening cultural ties with the Indo-Pacific region.
The extended agreement covers all Football Australia-controlled home matches for both CommBank Matildas and CommBank Socceroos. Additionally, select fixtures from Hahn Australia Cup and Australian Championship will be distributed through to 2027. This builds on the success of their original agreement which commenced in 2021.
One notable inclusion in this extension is the broadcast of the Australian Championship. At least two quarter-finals, two semi-finals, and a final match are guaranteed as part of this package.
Reaching out to more broadcasters
This extended partnership ensures that matches will be available for broadcasters in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
Launched in 2020 as a key part of the Australian Government's Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy; PacificAus TV provides at least 2k hours annually of free commercial television content to its partner broadcasters across seven time zones.
PacificAus TV aims not only to entertain but also strengthen cultural ties between Australia and the Indo-Pacific region by providing high-quality trusted television content from Down Under. By offering access to credible Australian sports broadcasts like these football matches they contribute significantly towards diversifying media content within this region.
This agreement aligns perfectly with Football Australia's strategy aimed at growing its profile internationally using iconic national teams along with premier competitions as leverage points.
Building relationships through football
Beyond just broadcasting games; this agreement underscores Football Australia's ongoing commitment to using football as a tool for building relationships and capacity in the Pacific and Oceania region.
Football Australia Interim CEO, Heather Garriock, said:
"Football Australia's partnership with PacificAus TV is an important expansion of Football Australia's strategy to be a leader in the Pacific region. We are thankful for the ongoing support of FreeTV and its network and are excited to expand football coverage from international matches and the Hahn Australia Cup, to now include two quarterfinals, two semi-finals and the Final as well as the Australian Championship. This partnership will ensure international reach for the Australian Championship from its inaugural season and greater audience reach more broadly.
This extended partnership between Football Australia and PacificAus TV is set to bring more thrilling football action to sports fans across the Pacific while simultaneously promoting cultural exchange and fostering international relations through sport. It's a win-win situation for all parties involved - from the teams on the pitch, broadcasters, right down to every single fan cheering from their living room.
