NEP Steps in to Save A-Leagues’ Easter TV Blunder

Longtime broadcasters NEP have come to the rescue of the A-Leagues as they faced a potential Easter weekend TV blackout. This urgent intervention was necessary after production partners Global Advance went into voluntary administration, leaving the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) in a tight spot.

Global Advance (GA) informed the APL of their inability to produce the upcoming weekend’s matches, prompting a last-minute scramble for alternative arrangements. Fortunately, a deal was swiftly finalized with NEP just hours before the A-League Women’s clash between Central Coast Mariners and Western United.

In a statement released on Thursday, the APL expressed their gratitude to NEP for their cooperation, flexibility, and expertise in stepping in at such short notice to ensure the smooth production of all A-League Men and A-League Women matches for the rest of the regular season and the 2024 final series.

Unlike many other sporting leagues in Australia, the A-Leagues invest approximately $12 million in the production of their matches, which are then broadcast on Network Ten and Paramount+. The partnership with GA, a startup production company founded in 2021, was meant to help lower costs for the APL, but unfortunately, it ended in financial turmoil.

The APL finds themselves potentially out of pocket by up to $1 million due to advance payments made to GA before their unexpected administration announcement. This setback adds to a series of challenges faced by the APL since separating from Football Australia in late 2020.

Amidst layoffs and the dismantling of its digital arm earlier this year, the APL has had to navigate controversies such as selling grand final hosting rights to the NSW Government and dealing with ownership uncertainties at clubs like Canberra United and Newcastle Jets. The Canberra United’s future ownership remains uncertain, while the Jets’ ownership situation continues to be a concern for the club’s long-term viability.

Despite these challenges, the APL is committed to resolving the issues at hand and ensuring the smooth running of the leagues for fans, players, clubs, broadcasters, and commercial partners. The support and intervention of NEP have been crucial in averting a potential TV blackout and maintaining the integrity of the A-Leagues’ broadcast operations.