Football Federation Australia (FFA) has announced that Australia’s largest independent sports radio producer and program syndicator, Crocmedia, has secured exclusive commercial radio rights in a landmark five-year deal.
The agreement will deliver mass distribution of the game across metropolitan and regional radio and online audiences in Australia and New Zealand commencing from the Hyundai A-League 2017/18 season.
The first commercial radio deal for FFA, the agreement reflects the continued growth of football in Australia and growing consumption of FFA content, including the two national leagues and national teams.
As the radio master rights holder, Crocmedia, will establish the Football Nation brand for football fans to connect with the sport.
It will include live match calls and ancillary programming broadcast via Australian and New Zealand radio and streamed online via www.a-league.com.au as well as www.myfootballnation.com.
Football Nation will broadcast on the Super Radio Network which includes 2SM in Sydney and 21 regional stations across NSW and South East Queensland; Fiveaa in Adelaide; 6PR in Perth and other markets soon to be announced.
FFA CEO David Gallop said the partnership was an exciting move that would accelerate growth of the sport.
“Along with our Network Ten, FOX SPORTS and News Corp Australia partnerships, this Crocmedia deal will allow more fans to access more of our great game and that’s a win for football. It’s another vote of confidence in the growth of the game, from the media industry,” Gallop said.
Crocmedia CEO Craig Hutchison said the company would leverage its other media assets and programs to drive interest and excitement in football.
“As well as broadcasting the biggest matches on Football Nation, we’ll use our broader programming ecosystem to grow the A-League fan base and build the profile of its players,” Hutchison said.
“This will include parochial content to support clubs in their local markets to help them drive memberships and game attendances,” he added.
In the deal, Crocmedia has also secured big screen and LED boundary signage rights at all Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League games.
Crocmedia changed the radio landscape in 2017 with its watershed AFL radio rights deal which sees its broadcast AFL games via AFL Nation across Australia.
The Football Nation call team will be announced shortly and is expected to include some of the biggest names in the sport as well as younger emerging talent.
