While the reporting of the AFL’s next TV rights deal can seem over the top, and at times akin to throwing darts, footy fans can at least draw satisfaction from the fact the negotiations are getting some scrutiny. This is in stark contrast to the league’s internet rights deal, which gets next to no scrutiny in the media.
And it’s a shame. The AFL’s online presence has been a constant source of frustration for footy fans over the years.
Yet there have been no articles criticising the performance of Match Centre on the AFL website this year, an application that can have ridiculous loading times – and for many fans, that’s if it loads at all.
There’s also been no coverage of the fact the aforementioned troubles with Match Centre have meant radio streams of matches have been difficult to access, a problem made worse by the fact the AFL demands radio stations – even the ABC, a public broadcaster – shut down their online streams so that fans go through the AFL website.
There’s also been little – or any? – criticism of the fact Telstra looks set to re-claim the online rights despite the frustration among supporters, and the question of whether there were any other bidders has, to the best of my knowledge, not been explored.
It’s remarkable.
Now yes, the online rights won’t have the same impact on the game as the TV rights. But their importance is steadily increasing. And the fans’ irritation is also growing.
These two factors alone show why this is an issue that needs more scrutiny than what it’s getting.
To illustrate how far behind the times the AFL are, one needs to look to the United States and see how the leaders in this area are doing. Not only do the NBA and Major League Baseball manage to put together a live scores application that actually loads with some consistency, they offer fans the option to actually watch games.
NBA League Pass and MLB.TV allow fans who are willing to pay live streaming of games on their computers, iPhones, iPads and other mobile devices. This is the future of sports online.
Incidentally, there was a suggestion this week Telstra may pick up the rights to broadcast one game a week online and on mobiles. It’s a good start, but there’s a lot of catching up that needs to be done.
If you need any confirmation of that fact, just try checking the scores or tuning in to a live radio stream this weekend.