A-League men’s and women’s matches will continue to be broadcast with the Australian Professional Leagues to sign a last-minute deal with a new broadcast company after being blindsided by the collapse of Global Advance.
Since signing a broadcast agreement with Network 10 and Paramount three years ago, the APL has paid Global Advance for the production of its games, with the deal reportedly worth nearly $12m per season (per AAP).
However, on Wednesday, the APL was told the Global Advance had gone into administration, jeopardising the future broadcasting of A-League games and with money owed to the APL for already outlaid costs.
But a last-minute production deal with NEP for the rest of the 2023-24 season is set to be announced on Thursday, ensuring all A-League men’s and women’s matches will continue to be televised, including Thursday night’s women’s match between Central Coast and Western United in Gosford.
“Through a lot of hard work by a new production company, Ten-Paramount, and our team, we are close to finalising an agreement and are confident all matches will be broadcast,” an APL spokesman said.
“There are many challenges that such a short time frame presents, but we are working through this urgently with all of our stakeholders, and we thank the production company for their co-operation, flexibility and expertise at such short notice.”
The APL’s initial decision to sign with Global Advance was heavily scutinised at the time, given Global Advance was only founded in 2020 and had never produced broadcasts for a major code before the A-Leagues.
Global Advance’s demise is the latest blow for the APL, which has lost millions of dollars this season, resulting in the collapse of its digital arm KeepUp as well as nearly 50 per cent of staff being made redundant.
There are also doubts about the future of the Newcastle Jets and Canberra United.
The APL said it had been “let down” by Global Advance and would seek to “recoup monies owing to APL”.
“We were made aware today (Wednesday) that Global Advance (GA), the independent production company that produces the telecast for our women’s and men’s matches, has gone into administration,” the APL said in a statement sent out late on Wednesday night.
“We are disappointed in the manner in which this has come to our attention, and the risk this has placed on our fan, player, club, broadcast and commercial commitments. We have been let down, and will be working with the administrators to recoup monies owing to APL.”