Australia Network - televising the footy in 2012.

Australia Network, Official Media Sponsor of the Vietnam Swans AFL Grand Final Parties in Hanoi and Saigon last year, has just issued the following press release regarding the 2012 AFL Premiership Season.

Sydney, February 17, 2012 – Australia Network is pleased to announce that it has secured the broadcast rights to televise the 2012 Australian Football League (AFL) Premiership season.

A minimum of three games will be televised each week, commencing on Saturday, March 24^th with the Round One blockbuster clash between the Sydney Swans and newcomers Greater Western Sydney.

Mr. Bruce Dover, Chief Executive at Australia Network, said he was thrilled to bring the AFL to the region. “Our commitment to viewers is that they’ll be able to watch matches every week of the season including, most importantly, the Grand Final on Saturday, 29^th September”.

“Broadcasting the AFL to the Asia Pacific is not just a service for Australian expatriates, it provides a deeper understanding to foreign audiences of Australian culture and society, in particular the inherent values of teamwork, endeavor and discipline that define the spirit of Australia,” he said.

The AFL is Australia’s premier spectator sport with numerous clubs across the region participating in regular organised competitions that target both expatriate and local players.

With the rapid expansion of the code across the region, Australia Network will continue to provide fans with the opportunity to see the game played at the highest level.

AFL Chief Executive, Andrew Demetriou said he wished to thank the Australia Network and Bruce Dover for the commitment to broadcast the 2012 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.

“As Australia’s only indigenous game, AFL football has reflected Australian society and the changes in our country have been reflected in the growth of our game,” Mr. Demetriou said.

“AFL football has always drawn migrants to our game, to welcome them into our society, and our game wants to reach out to Asia and our near neighbours to have them experience our sport.

“Players of Pacific backgrounds – Nic Naitanui, Israel Folau and Karmichael Hunt – have been established in our senior competition while we have taken teams into China to reach into new markets.

“We hope everyone who experiences AFL football for the first time, through the Australia Network, will find the game exciting and intriguing, while enabling our fans away from home to be able to retain their links to the favourite players and clubs.”

To catch all the action from the AFL’s 2012 premiership season go to australianetwork.com for all match information.

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• 6 December 2011, The Age newspaper – “Katharine Murphy reports in today’s “Age” newspaper that the ABC “will hold onto its prized international television service – and keep it in perpetuity”.