Every time I travel back to Argentina, my place of birth, I am always amazed by the amount of football in the media. There are multiple radio programs that provide live commentary of matches as well as detailed analysis and talk back segments. Then of course you have the many sports channels on TV that mostly show football, all day every day. You also have the afternoon panel style shows that analyse and discuss matches to the finest of details and if that's not enough, you have the late night football variety shows which do interviews, gags and skits. It's hard to believe but Australia is not far from this football media feast at all.
In recent times there has been an explosion of football in Australian media. Once the footy seasons are over, football takes over all the newspapers, radios and TV sports channels. As usual Fox Sports leads the way with their coverage of the EPL, A-League and now La Liga and Serie A. SBS are close behind with the show that started it all "The World Game" and acquiring a landmark deal to bring the A-League to free to air television. The ABC is leading the way on radio with a historic four year agreement to broadcast all A-League regular season games plus five finals matches. There has never been more football on offer.
Fox Sports
Fox sports has an amazing array of football coverage. It all kicks off on Friday nights with the aptly named "Kick-Off" show at 6:30 PM, which previews all the weekend's action. This is followed by the first A-League match of the round at 7:30 PM, which includes a pre and post match panel to discuss the game. On Saturday the football ramps up with "Matchday Saturday", starting at around 5:00 PM with the A-League. Bozza and the boys stick around until the early hours of Sunday morning with the EPL coverage, which Fox Sports has been providing for years now. On Sunday you get more A-League and it's all wrapped up by the "Shootout" show at 7:00 PM that reviews all the weekend's action. In between all this, for the first time ever, Fox Sports have acquired the rights to La Liga and Serie A football. This is great as Australians will be exposed to a different flavour of football in a country that is very much obsessed with the EPL only.
This year I have named Monday nights "Football night". Why? Because you have the EPL Highlights show at 6:30 PM, followed by Santo, Sam and Ed's Total Football at 7:30 PM and then the A-League Highlights show at 8:00 PM. Since the 2010 World Cup I have fallen in love with Santo, Sam and Ed's comedic take on everything and anything football. They bring their football variety show to Fox Sports for the first time and continue with their very particular form of humour that somehow just seems to work. The chemistry between the three presenters is great as always and lets face it, the A-League provides plenty of laughs on its own. If you haven't had the chance to watch it yet, I highly recommend you do. Here is one of my favourite skits by Santo, Sam and Ed from WC 2010:
Radio
The ABC leads the way here with uninterrupted live commentary of every regular season A-League match and five finals matches through their digital and grandstand streaming platforms. SBS also has A-League football through their digital radio service.
The level of football coverage has skyrocketed this year in Australia. It will give a massive boost for the game in the country. It has never been a better time to be a football fan in Australia!
In recent times there has been an explosion of football in Australian media. Once the footy seasons are over, football takes over all the newspapers, radios and TV sports channels. As usual Fox Sports leads the way with their coverage of the EPL, A-League and now La Liga and Serie A. SBS are close behind with the show that started it all "The World Game" and acquiring a landmark deal to bring the A-League to free to air television. The ABC is leading the way on radio with a historic four year agreement to broadcast all A-League regular season games plus five finals matches. There has never been more football on offer.
Fox Sports
Fox sports has an amazing array of football coverage. It all kicks off on Friday nights with the aptly named "Kick-Off" show at 6:30 PM, which previews all the weekend's action. This is followed by the first A-League match of the round at 7:30 PM, which includes a pre and post match panel to discuss the game. On Saturday the football ramps up with "Matchday Saturday", starting at around 5:00 PM with the A-League. Bozza and the boys stick around until the early hours of Sunday morning with the EPL coverage, which Fox Sports has been providing for years now. On Sunday you get more A-League and it's all wrapped up by the "Shootout" show at 7:00 PM that reviews all the weekend's action. In between all this, for the first time ever, Fox Sports have acquired the rights to La Liga and Serie A football. This is great as Australians will be exposed to a different flavour of football in a country that is very much obsessed with the EPL only.
This year I have named Monday nights "Football night". Why? Because you have the EPL Highlights show at 6:30 PM, followed by Santo, Sam and Ed's Total Football at 7:30 PM and then the A-League Highlights show at 8:00 PM. Since the 2010 World Cup I have fallen in love with Santo, Sam and Ed's comedic take on everything and anything football. They bring their football variety show to Fox Sports for the first time and continue with their very particular form of humour that somehow just seems to work. The chemistry between the three presenters is great as always and lets face it, the A-League provides plenty of laughs on its own. If you haven't had the chance to watch it yet, I highly recommend you do. Here is one of my favourite skits by Santo, Sam and Ed from WC 2010:
SBS
SBS has made history this year, becoming the first free to air network to show A-League football. This has to be one of the best things to happen to the A-League since its inception. It will not only bring the A-League to the masses but also create new fans that will want to go to the stadium and watch their team play. SBS has always worked hard at bringing football to Australian homes and this continues their tradition. They will show all Friday night matches starting at 7:00 PM, which includes a panel to analyse the game. On Monday nights they continue the famous show that started it all, "The World Game". However, they have taken the odd decision to only stream it online live and show it delayed on TV at 11:00 PM. Along with the new A-League rights comes an A-League Highlights show on Monday nights at 8:40 PM on SBS2.
The biggest addition to the SBS lineup is the light entertainment football show "Thursday FC". It's on Thursday nights at 8:30 PM on SBS2. This is their first attempt at a football variety show, which focuses on the A-League. It mainly contains interviews, match reviews and fan involvement, similar to the UK's Soccer AM. To say the show is a bit awkward is an understatement. The hosts Matt Okine, David Zdrillic and Lucy Zelic don't look comfortable at all. The more football the better though right? Although I really think they need to leave the comedy to Santo, Sam and Ed.
The ABC leads the way here with uninterrupted live commentary of every regular season A-League match and five finals matches through their digital and grandstand streaming platforms. SBS also has A-League football through their digital radio service.
The level of football coverage has skyrocketed this year in Australia. It will give a massive boost for the game in the country. It has never been a better time to be a football fan in Australia!
