Football Australia has announced a pioneering, world-first partnership with Live Graphics Systems (LIGR) and its parent company, Crionet. This collaboration aims to centralise the live production and distribution of over 3,500 games annually from state league level to flagship national competitions such as the National Premier Leagues, the Hahn Australia Cup and Australian Championship.
This ambitious project is unique in its scale and scope. It's set to revolutionise sports broadcasting efficiency while unlocking future commercial opportunities for Football Australia and its nine State and Territory Member Federations. The initiative comes as Football Australia prepares to launch the Australian Championship this October – a brand-new competition designed to connect the football pyramid and tap into the rich history of Australian football.
In mid-2024, Football Australia began work on a new production strategy that defined requirements across multiple tiers of Australian football. This multi-tier integration is unique because no other Australian rights holder has consolidated production across such a diverse range of competitions under one centralised model.
Rigorous selection process
The appointment of LIGR followed an extensive Request for Proposal (RFP) process led by Football Australia in partnership with Member Federations. The goal was identifying a single partner capable of handling this national aggregation project's scale and complexity. The successful outcome will enable more flexible live sports broadcasting approach with on-site production seamlessly integrated into LIGR's scalable workflow.
Football Australia Chief Executive Officer, James Johnson, said:
"This partnership marks a defining moment in Australian football and represents a paradigm shift in the way the game is produced, distributed and commercialised both in Australia and abroad. By unifying production across thousands of games and multiple tiers of competition, we are not only streamlining operations but also reshaping the future of football broadcasting in this country. This is innovation at scale.
“Through this centralised model, we are building long-term operational and cost efficiencies and can focus on building sustainable revenue streams for the connected football pyramid. By embracing new technology, we are enhancing efficiency, driving revenue and ensuring that our sport continues to innovate in a competitive landscape. This is a significant step football in Australia – one that cements our commitment to delivering the best possible experience for fans, broadcasters and commercial partners at all levels of the game,"
LIGR, an Australian technology business recently acquired by European-based technology company Crionet, will provide technical broadcast management services across all levels of competition within Football Australia’s remit. Key services provided by LIGR: live monitoring, end-to-end operational services, Integration of automated (AI) camera workflows at selected venues, world-leading streaming, graphics automation platform and highlights automation platform. These services will allow Football Australia, Member Federations and clubs to seamlessly integrate key sponsors and commercialise their broadcasts effectively.
Blueprint for global sporting organisations
This model is expected to serve as a blueprint for other global sporting organisations seeking to optimise their production workflows. It also aims at unlocking new commercial opportunities in the evolving broadcast and streaming landscape.
The announcement follows the publication of Football Australia’s 2024 National Participation Report. The report confirmed football’s position as Australia’s most popular and fastest-growing sport, with over 1.9 million participants nationwide – an 11% increase compared to 2023.
This partnership between Football Australia, LIGR, and Crionet is set to transform sports broadcasting in a way that has never been seen before. It's not only a win for these organisations but also for sports fans who will benefit from improved access to games across multiple tiers of Australian football.
