The ABC will run teh Australia Network for the next 10 years, the Federal Government has just announced.

It has just been announced today by the Federal Government that the ABC will run the hotly contested Australia Network service for the next ten years. This is good news for those wanting to see AFL coverage.

Below is an excerpt from The Age newspaper.

The ABC has been awarded a permanent contract for the federal government’s Australia Network broadcasting service, the government says.

Sky News and the ABC had both bid for the 10-year $223 million contract to broadcast the Australia Network to 44 nations in Asia and the Pacific.

But the federal government announced on November 7 it had cancelled the tender and called in the Australian Federal Police to investigate media leaks which had suggested the evaluation board had recommended the contract be awarded to Sky.

The ABC was originally set to continue to provide the service until August 2012.

…ABC managing director Mark Scott said he was delighted with Senator Conroy’s decision.

“The ABC takes seriously the responsibility to take Australia into the Asia Pacific Region, building on the outstanding services we have delivered over 70 years,” Mr Scott said in a statement.

To read the full article, click here.