3 minute read

After nearly facing a TV blackout by the collapse of a production company last season, the A-Leagues have signed a two-year deal with Eddie McGuire's JAM TV.

The television company founded by high-profile AFL figure Eddie McGuire will become one of the key players in the production of televised A-Leagues matches.

JAM TV, which McGuire chairs, will oversee broadcast production of matches for the upcoming A-League Men and Women campaigns alongside Gravity Media and EMG.

JAM TV has previously produced broadcasts for the NBL and AFLW, but the two-year deal with the Australian Professional Leagues represents its first significant foray into live football production.

The company had previously produced documentary-style program A-Leagues All Access. 

"We are excited to be partnering with JAM TV and EMG/Gravity Media for the next two seasons, to deliver a premium broadcast of our game, and increase the amount of A-Leagues' content for our fans," said commissioner Nick Garcia. 

"Along with the production of over 320 A-Leagues' games through the seasons, this partnership also gives the league and our clubs more content to engage fans and showcase the great stories of our game."

The announcement of the deal with JAM TV, Gravity Media and EMG ends a testing six-month period for the A-Leagues.

The APL was left in the lurch by start-up Global Advance entering administration at the end of last season.

The company's financial turmoil forced NEP to step in at the eleventh hour and help the A-Leagues avoid the embarrassment of a TV blackout. 

Global Advance was founded in 2021 and its first major deal was producing ALM and ALW matches which were shown on Network Ten's free-to-air channels and its sister streaming platform Paramount+ . 

Under the previous agreement with Global Advance, and unlike with rival elite level competitions in Australia, the A-Leagues paid approximately $12 million - a figure which later blew out to roughly $18m - for matches to be produced and then broadcast on Network Ten's platforms.

It is understood the A-Leagues are still paying for broadcast production, but it is believed to be on much more favourable terms.

The new production deal comes amid news announced last week the new major sponsor of the ALW, SharkNinja, has helped ensure at least 10 games of the women's competition will be broadcast on free-to-air channel 10Bold. 

Network Ten recently signed a new broadcast deal for Socceroos and Matildas matches and is yet to make a decision on whether it retains rights to the ALM and ALW.

The current deal is due to expire at the end of the 2025-26 season, although Network Ten retains a three-year extension trigger in its favour.