A NEW TV deal which will bankroll football's A-League clubs is imminent, following a season of consistent ratings rivalling viewership for SANZAR's well-established Super 14 competition.
Ratings for Football Federation Australia's season of matches involving its eight clubs are only 3000 viewers per game below SANZAR's numbers.
FFA chief executive John O'Neill confirmed his organisation was close to a deal with broadcaster Fox Sports which would see annual grants to the A-League wipe out the existing debt per club of $1.5 million to $2m per year.
The revised contract would represent arguably the biggest rise in TV income for any sport in the country at any time.
FFA's current deal, struck at a time when Fox Sports had no genuine bidding rival, is only $750,000 a year for three years.
The new arrangement could see FFA earn $20m a year over a longer period.
It is understood World Cup matches and Asian league games would be bundled with the existing A-League season to provide more product.
A-League club chiefs argue their competition should be rewarded commensurate with ratings and revenue in the Super 14 competition.
The existing SANZAR deal provides $55m per year, which, when divided among Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, gives each country $18m.
The A-League offers four games per week and, apart from the single New Zealand club, all involve Australian teams.
FFA chief executive John O'Neill told ABC TV's Offsiders program that the success of the A-League's inaugural year meant "
we are in a better position to renegotiate with people like Fox Sports and we are in earnest dialogue with them at the moment."
Referring to the model used by the NRL, AFL and NFL of allocating club grants in accordance with income from TV rights, O'Neill said: "Clearly, broadcasting revenue fundamentally supports all professional sport.
"We started off modestly and now, having been successful ourselves, Fox Sports see the merit of a long-term investment in football as a mainstream sport in Australia."
Nor does O'Neill believe the sport will return to its old ethnic roots when FFA's interim board, led by Frank Lowy, faces its constituency in an election in November.
"The lunatics won't come back to run the asylum," O'Neill said.
The credible performance of A-League team Queensland Roar in last month's Tongyeong Cup in Korea is further justification for televised games against top Asian sides.
Roar were undefeated in the round robin in the southern Korean city of Tongyeong, winning one match and drawing two.
The first game, played in front of a full house, saw Roar defeat K League grand finalist, Incheon United 1-0.
Roar met Chinese premiers Beijing Hyundai in the next game, drawing 0-0, and needed a win against the ultimate victor, top-ranked K League team DaeGu to take the trophy.
The Queenslanders were reduced to nine men at one point, again drawing 0-0.
Coach Miron Bleiberg told international media: "We finished second and we should be proud that we have come to Asia, played three top teams and not lost a match.
"I think we have represented Australian football with honour and given a good account of ourselves."
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