Telstra website
Media Releases
06 October 2006
AFL fans the winners in BigPond new media rights deal
AFL fans in Australia and overseas will soon get even closer to the game, through cutting-edge broadband and Next G mobile content, under a new $60 million five-year agreement between the AFL and BigPond.
The deal, announced by AFL Chief Executive Officer, Mr Andrew Demetriou, and BigPond Group Managing Director, Mr Justin Milne, will see BigPond deliver to fans:
- full match replays available 12 hours from the final siren, instead of the previous 24 hours;
- in-quarter and post-quarter highlights packages;
- extended match highlights packages;
- video downloads that can be transferred to portable devices; and
- special features such as Fantasy Football, trivia, tipping, a ladder predictor and content from the clubs.
Mr Milne said AFL fans would benefit from BigPond's unrivalled expertise in delivering the very best online and mobile content.
"AFL.com.au is the most popular sporting website in Australia, and our plans, under this new agreement with the AFL, are to make it even better," Mr Milne said.
"Fans will get closer to the competition in ways not experienced before, across more devices and with new levels of interactivity.
"With our experience in bringing AFL to the online and mobile audiences, our new agreement with the AFL means we can really work to improve the BigPond AFL experience, particularly in the area of coverage on both BigPond Broadband and Mobile," Mr Milne said.
Today's announcement coincides with the launch of Telstra's Next G network, providing state of the art mobile and wireless broadband coverage to even more fans across Australia who will be able to access the AFL 2007 premiership in full digital quality via BigPond on mobiles, PCs, laptops and other devices.
Mr Demetriou welcomed the agreement, saying the partnership had seen traffic to the afl.com.au website rise steeply, with unique users averaging more than 707,000 each week - up 50 per cent on the 2005 season.
"We think this is a good deal for the football industry and a great partnership for football supporters whose appetite for the game continues to grow," Mr Demetriou said.
"We know AFL supporters are passionate about the game and they will welcome the opportunity to access as much timely information, action and analysis wherever they are.
"As a sport, the AFL has been at the forefront of new media and in selecting Telstra as our partner for the next five years it was important to have a partner that could work with us to provide the best possible service to AFL fans."
Mr Milne said Telstra will also expand the content range - particularly video - to non-BigPond customers.
"While some video will be made available to all internet users, BigPond customers will continue to enjoy access to all the AFL.com.au coverage, particularly the premium video content and of course their access is unmetered.
"In the future you can expect to be able to get more footy into your life in more ways and more places than ever before, all through BigPond," Mr Milne said.
http://www.telstra.com.au/abouttelstra/media/mediareleases_article.cfm?ObjectID=38379
