Why Fox?

Agree.

The problem is that expansion could adversely effect the financial health of football.

The fact that so many Aussies are infatuated with AFL (that no other country plays) or league (which only a few play), seems to be irrevocable. They soak up too much money and media interest.

This noxious smog also permeates Tasmania - which has no AFL team!

I think preaching to the converted who want more involvement from clubs outside the 10 team HAL milieu has been a significant factor in current HAL disinterest.

The FFA Cup, and to a lesser extent the NPL Cup, have been good for fans to enjoy much wider participation. 

Dont worry. Lowy will be in the country to make executive decisions...oh wait. 

Expansion to 14 teams would mean one less round altogether, home and away. Not sure what they would do with twelve. Twelve is the problem I feel. 22 rounds way too short. 33 rounds add a whole heap of costs with potentially small gains in revenue. These are the metrics that scare them most.

Good post GyFox, didn't realise the stats had jumped that much.

Expansion means the season will have to extend anyway - I'm wondering whether it would make send to start the first week of September and then have the sugar rush of derbies in October.

The clubs asked for the  season to be shifted to the October start to get attendances back on track.  The first season saw a 24% increase in average attendance and this was followed by an 18% increase.  Similarly average STV rating jumped from 45k to 66k a 47% increase and jumped another 23% the following season to the highest average rating we have had i.e. 81k.  Since then both attendance and ratings have eased to a point still well above the average achieved during the 6 years of early start to the season.  Is the rise in both metrics the result of the season change or are there other factors involved?

We all agree on the earlier kick off to the season, and the ridiculous 'clear air' argument, but I think its Fox who would oppose this.
Remember it was them who helped finance the league so they could fill their 'summer sport' programming in NRL and AFL off seasons.

You think it's any better in other states?

The seasons starting soon???

You wouldn't know it in Melbourne

so the season would begin on chopped up cow paddocks ....brilliant !

@primtech

And allow for the expansion all except the FFA crave!

Forget the bloody "October kickoff Clear air" bullshit. Moving the damn season back to Mid August kickoff would actually give us WAY MORE clear air. For most of August, half the teams from the AFL/NRL are playing in dead rubbers, then even less play games throughout the whole of September. Imagine a 3pm Melb or Sydney Derby kicking off yesterday arvo, instead we are sitting around twiddling out thumbs for a ridiculously long off season.

Would open up way more opportunities for stadium availability, would allow or international breaks as well as a standalone FFA cup Grand Final weekend, it would reduce the fixture congestion and spread competitive games over a much longer period of the year. 

must admit it's boring. players need something to play for...
all these over hill players will make or break a season. either injuries or just not giving a shit.

You cant formulate a decent argument. 

I'll see what the new ad campaign (if there is one) and overall level of promotion is like first, and then I'll make my judgement.
Yes, the FFA are leaving it late, but what's new, it happens every year! Is that acceptable? Of course not, but it's very predictable by now, and shouldn't really come as a surprise to anybody.

It looks like the club membership numbers will be ok, which most likely and usually means attendances will too. A few more double headers with W-League games can only be a good thing, particularly how well the women's game is going at the moment, and it's our first season on Ten/OneHD, so let's see how we go. Potentially that could be a massive gamechanger, hopefully we have some cracking Saturday night games this season, and it rates well.

The sameness of the league is a concern of course, but hopefully we hear more about that this coming season, with a blueprint for expansion and some dates to keep the fans interested. That should happen, but maybe only after the FFA has sorted out their own backyard with the clubs and FIFA. Also an independent A-league is not an 'if' but a 'when' proposition, and we could have word on that before the end of this next season. Either way, this will happen.

But overall, I'm very much looking forward to the season, as it's been a very long offseason, too long. Looking forward to checking out the new players coming into the league this year, specially the foreigners as many seem promising, there may even be another Broich or Berisha in amongst them, we'll see. But looking forward to seeing them perform, as well as the new coaches, to see what they bring to the table.

In other news, the new Parramatta Stadium began construction today, and that's gonna be a fantastic stadium for our code. Also, Adam Peacock said that there's new Football programming on FoxSports this season, let's see what that looks like.

I know there's plenty of things to complain about, and it's not all roses, but on the other hand, it's not all doom and gloom either, the real football's back again, and I can't wait!

For loss making cash and only if they chose the 2

It is a bit like the current advertising campaign'made in the A-league' sure they have it, but really they're only going through the motions....preaching to the converted if you will.

Yes they have a contract, that hardly means they are aggressively pursuing or encouraging expansion...which they could do easily!

The fact that they have agreed to pay for more content. You know, a contract.

Yep

“The average cost to an Australian broadcaster of purchasing one hour of US drama is roughly between $200-$300,000, while the average contribution to local Australian drama is $1 million plus. It’s a huge cost differential,” she said.

https://mumbrella.com.au/panel-249709

Fox is currently paying less than 400k per game, not including FFA cup, Asian Cup including finals...which is massive unders. It works out to be well under 200k per hour.

A-league is cheap tv no matter how you dice it.

And it just happens to fit snugly between the AFL and NRL seasons....

Anyone who doesn't think Fox is happy with current situation is delusional ...after all what evidence is there that Fox are agitating for more content?

😎

Why do I have to support an ex NSL team to see that things are up the shit?

The TV deal is small and for a whopping 6 years. The "A League only" line doesn't work because the combined deal isn't even double

The A League has a larger gap from top to bottom than leagues without a salary cap. It has been proven. The only thing a salary cap does is equalise titles over a longer period of time - not create balance in an individual season. The A League also has exemptions which has seen 3 teams fall off the pace. And why is balance so important? I didn't read a single line in the Crawford report that said teams in a top tier from top to bottom need to be able to win a title. This is AFL / NRL mentality and doesn't work in a global competitive market

The attendances are ambiguous. Pull a figure out of your ass and rationalise it. The fact is attendances haven't moved in 5 years, and in the balance of things aren't much different to when the A League started. This 10k figure people hang their hats on today was the benchmark for an unknown and unproven league consisting largely of state league players. No way Sydney should be averaging 16k

Again, NSL comparisons. "Hey guys, we currently have 90% ignoring the national league. Give me $50m and I can make it 78%". That's potential right there

And what is self interest? A governing body that owns and operates all clubs and divides all revenue up as it sees fit, and doesn't even have a constitutional body that meets the basic needs of the empire it is part of? Giving teams a permanent spot in the top flight is the definition of self interest. Fans like me are asking for a fair system that rewards competitiveness and investment

We are in flux until FFA sort themselves out, or are sorted out. It appears the later will happen. That we have not gone backwards whilst they have been fiddling around says after November we should be able to improve. How quickly will depend on who's in charge then.

Such things as expansion and promotion will certainly be the first 2 cabs off the rank. Relegation should come a couple of years down the track.

Good topic Joffa.

I thought it would eventually end up being about Advertising. Although for me, something always goes wrong in the A-League. I'd like to think that we could solve this sometime soon. Wether it be expansion, or just sorting out things like underwhelming performances, atmospehre at games, atmosphere.

I think channel TEN is it ? having the live games could change the dynamic a bit. SBS is quite monotone and boring as a channel really. 7 might help with delivery a little better

What do you think? Is it a game on SBS Friday and then TEN saturdays ? u think that could help a bit, idk

Gallop. He was Murdoch's Laywer during Rugby League wars. Blame him. He is a Plant, and no assistance to our code... Unless Lowy is railroading Gallop...

Yeah. Fox are at fault. All 58 million dollars per annum, they are at fault. The FFA are mismanaging Fox's money Joff, you dill....

Another one of those paulc "facts"

Meanwhile on Earth

Number of aleague seasons that averaged attendances of over 13k

2 - 07/08 and 13/14