Football streaming versus the national second division – where to next?

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Online streaming continues to be a popular choice for football fans around the country, but have we been better off since these services have changed the landscape?

The EPL is exclusively on Optus Sport to stream for $15 a month whilst other Major European leagues, as well as the A-League, W-League and FFA Cup, is on Kayo Sports for $25 a month.

Telstra also offers a service for streaming Socceroos and Matildas games on the My Football Live App, as well as giving fans of the A-League, W-League and FFA Cup another alternative streaming option.

At a local NPL level, significant progress has also been made in this area.

A recent initiative was introduced this past season by NPL Victoria and other NPL associations around the country, with all senior NPL games live streamed on Facebook and YouTube. This in turn has increased the visibility of the local game and given fans the chance to stream games on familiar online platforms.

Football Victoria recently posted record audience numbers on their YouTube and Facebook streams for their Grand Final Triple Header broadcast on September 15. Some of these figures were up 32% on last year’s spectacle, highlighting the appetite for the local streaming coverage.

While the implementation has been successful, there are infinite possibilities for growth through these digital platforms.

I’m sure those who are in charge of the creation of the proposed national second division will be looking at various options to find viable streaming options which will grow the game.

Could that body invest heavily in producing a streaming service that will charge a subscription fee to fans?

Or is it more suitable to keep costs lower, give out the service for free and expand digital advertising across the board, with the associated revenue making it a viable solution?

It certainly is an interesting debate, without knowing the finer details.

Maybe NPL clubs such as South Melbourne or Heidelberg United can put the onus on themselves to find a partner to stream their games (or do it themselves), when the second division is up and running.

They may try to strike a deal similar to that of Los Angeles Football Club in the MLS. LAFC secured an agreement with YouTube TV in 2018, as not only a sponsor of the team but a streaming partner. 30 of LAFC’s 34 games are streamed on the paid subscription service in 2019, available to those in the Los Angeles area. Pre-existing media deals that have been secured by the MLS are not affected by LAFC’s deal with YouTube TV. The streaming partner does not produce the coverage of the game by itself, instead partnering with the MLS and LAFC. Content produced for the service includes pre and post-game shows and other LAFC related content.

Traditional NPL clubs could package archival footage in a similar type of setup, giving fans of the team more value for their dollar. Advertising revenue could then be generated for themselves or split with the streaming partner.

These are all possible alternatives, as it becomes increasingly hard for traditional media companies (such as FOX Sports) to shell out money for sports broadcasting rights.

If FOX Sports’ current attitude towards the A-League is any indicator, the chances of them investing in a national second division are not very high.

Sports such as Basketball have taken the hint and are seeking out other viable options.

Last week the NBL announced they are in a partnership with Facebook to live stream 52 NBL games into America. This was a significant announcement for the NBL as Facebook will pay a fee to stream the games, something that they have struggled to garner domestically from traditional media outlets.

The NBL will broadcast a number of games on ESPN and SBS VICELAND this season in Australia, sharing the advertising revenue with both of these partners.

Games will also be available to stream on SBS ON DEMAND, as well as the NBL TV streaming service which is a model the national second division will be considering.

The NBL TV model gives fans access to all games live streamed for $5 a month, with full game replays and NBL Classics on demand.

It’s time for those in charge of the national second division to find the right balance for football. The streaming waters have been tested this season with NPL associations around Australia, but the decision makers will have to do their due diligence and find the right model for the future of the game.

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Football NSW calls on clubs to Make It Red for Heart Health Round

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Image Credit: Shutterstock

Football NSW is calling on clubs and associations across the state to register for the 2026 Make It Red campaign, joining a national awareness movement aimed at reducing heart-related deaths on sporting grounds ahead of Heart Health Round on the weekend of June 5 to 7.

The campaign, developed by the Heartbeat of Football Foundation, asks sporting clubs to wear red, raise funds and build awareness around heart disease and sudden cardiac arrest, which is the leading single cause of disease burden and death in Australia for both men and women, and one that health authorities say is largely preventable through modifiable risk factors.

The call to action comes as the Foundation continues its work to map and register Automated External Defibrillators across NSW sporting facilities, a project that has already engaged twelve football associations and fed data into both the NSW Ambulance GoodSAM registry and NSW Health’s public AED map. The availability of a functioning, registered AED on site is among the most significant determinants of survival following sudden cardiac arrest, with survival rates declining sharply for every minute without defibrillation.

Football NSW is encouraging clubs to engage with the campaign across three areas. Clubs can register for the Make It Red campaign to help fund research, education and prevention programs. Participants, particularly those aged over 35, are encouraged to seek a free heart health screening test from their local GP or enquire about hosting a Heartbeat of Football testing day. Clubs are also urged to ensure their grounds have active, accessible AEDs in place, with guidance available through Football NSW’s Rescue Ready Guide.

The Make It Red campaign runs from June 5 to July 12, with Heart Health Round taking place across the opening weekend. Clubs can register and access participation resources at makeitred.org.

What do Football Queensland’s Annual Numbers mean for Australian Football?

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FQ CEO Robert Cavallucci

Football Queensland has released its 2025 Annual Report, revealing record total revenue of $25.3 million, participation exceeding 296,000 and more than 94,000 female participants across the state, as the organisation positions itself for a decade of growth leading into the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The report, released following the Annual General Meeting on Friday May 22, documents a year in which Football Queensland recorded a pre-depreciation surplus of $306,599 while maintaining participant registration fees at their lowest level among all Australian member federations for the fifth consecutive year. A statutory deficit of $269,860 after depreciation was recorded following the recognition of a $295,953 impairment against a long-outstanding debt owed by Football Australia, a matter the board and executive indicated they would continue to pursue.

Total revenue grew from $23.9 million in 2024 to $25.3 million in 2025, driven by increases across registration income, community and advanced football programs, and other income streams. Commercial revenue declined slightly from $3.66 million to $3.36 million across the same period.

Growth on and off the field

The participation figures embedded in the report underscore the scale of the challenge and opportunity facing Queensland football. Women’s and girls’ participation reached 94,165 across all programs, with club-based women’s and girls’ participation growing to 37,946. Coles MiniRoos participation climbed seven percent to 46,448, with female MiniRoos participation up ten percent.

Girls United programs welcomed more than 3,500 participants across leagues, social sessions and carnivals statewide, while the Q-League Schools Competition has now delivered playing opportunities to close to 1,000 students since its inception. Walking Football continued to expand, with the 7th Annual QUT Walking Football Cup attracting 39 teams and more than 300 participants.

Digital engagement also reached new heights, with FQTV livestream views climbing to 2.47 million and women’s viewership surging 67 percent across the year, a figure that reflects the growing audience for female football at state competition level and points to the commercial opportunity the women’s game represents for Queensland football governance.

Coach registrations grew 22.9 percent, with Football Queensland delivering courses to close to 3,000 participants across the state including dedicated all-female Foundation of Football, C Diploma and B Diploma programs. Referee registrations grew 6.3 percent, supported by 170 courses delivered to more than 2,100 attendees and a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with three of Queensland’s leading school sport associations to strengthen referee development pathways.

The 2032 dimension

Perhaps the most consequential element of the 2025 report is Football Queensland’s progress on the Brisbane 2032 infrastructure agenda. The organisation submitted a comprehensive proposal to the Queensland Government’s 100-Day Olympic Infrastructure Review, advocating for a purpose-built Tier 2 rectangular stadium, upgrades to Perry Park and the establishment of a Queensland State Home of Community Football at Meakin Park.

The submission secured meaningful outcomes, with Queensland Government contributions toward Perry Park and a State Home of Community Football included in the government’s 2032 Delivery Plan. The infrastructure foundations being laid now will determine whether the Games leave a lasting legacy for football in Queensland or a missed opportunity.

CEO Robert Cavallucci said the year had been defined by investment in the structures that make participation possible.

“Our priority remained the delivery of accessible and inclusive participation opportunities for all Queenslanders as our community and social programs reached thousands of players in every corner of the state,” Cavallucci said.

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