Telstra tops TV with AFL

David Swan
Thursday, 28 April 2011 15:45

Your IT - Mobility

Telstra customers have come out big winners in the new agreement between the AFL and Telstra, with all matches available live to users with a Telstra T-Box, mobile phones or tablet from 2012.

Although pricing hasn't been announced, many other details came out today at a joint press conference also involving Foxtel and Channel Seven.

Under the new the five year agreement:

• All matches including pre-season, home and away, finals and the grand final, as well as the Brownlow Medal, will be streamed live and exclusive to mobile phones and tablets on the Telstra Next G® network.

• All matches including pre-season, home and away, finals and the grand final will be streamed live to customers who subscribe to Telstra's FOXTEL on T-Box service which will be launching shortly. This may also extend to other IPTV-enabled devices connected to Telstra BigPond fixed broadband services. This includes one match per round that will be made available to Telstra T-Box customers regardless of whether they are subscribed to the FOXTEL on T-Box service.

• Telstra T-Box customers can also get access to match replays on demand, as well as other features like the interactive AFL Game Analyser.

• The AFL's website, AFL.com.au, and all AFL club sites, will continue to be managed by Telstra.

• Telstra will further evolve AFL online, mobile and IPTV services as new technologies emerge giving fans access to new content and increased interactivity.

• Telstra will continue to be the AFL's telecommunications services partner.

• Telstra will expand its sponsorship of the AFL to engage with football fans at the grass roots and match day level.

Telstra CEO David Thodey said bringing live content outside of the lounge-room and into the hands of AFL fans represented a watershed moment for the T-Box, mobiles and tablets connected to Telstra networks.

'Australians are hungry for AFL content and we're delighted that Telstra can bring them even closer to the competition from next season regardless of what device they want to view the game on,' Mr Thodey said. 'It's 89 years since the game was first broadcast on radio and Telstra is delighted to be bringing live AFL to the digital world through Next G mobiles, tablets and the T-Box.

'This agreement represents the coming of age for mobile technology and IPTV. No longer do Australians need to be tied to the lounge-room to catch Australia's favourite sporting code live.'

Telstra customers will enjoy unmetered access to games streamed live over the Telstra Next G® network or to the Telstra T-Box. More information on availability and pricing will be provided closer to the start of the 2012 season.

'Content features when Australians are choosing their service provider and this new agreement with the AFL is another reason why sports fans should choose Telstra,' Mr Thodey said.

Telstra Ambassador and Sydney Swans player, Adam Goodes, welcomed the new agreement.

'AFL supporters are passionate about the game and they will welcome the opportunity to access live games, action and analysis when they are on the move,' Mr Goodes said. 'Don't be surprised to catch me checking in on the other matches from the change-room at half time.'